Wine Tasting: Alsace and Bordeaux (2nd Nov 1998)
An assortment of wines from Hugel and from Bordeaux.
1. 1993 Hugel Riesling Jubilee
2nd Nov 1998 GBP15 Alsace Table White
Bright, gold.
Fresh, prickly nose with honeysuckle, orange peel and a touch of oak.
Medium to full bodied and lively with good depth and orange peel flavours following through from the nose. Crisp acids and a long finish.
Good now but maybe not a keeper.
2. 1993 Hugel Gewurztraminer Jubilee
2nd Nov 1998 GBP14 Alsace Table White
Bright, pale gold.
Fresh, attractive nose with aromatic, mineral oil notes.
Medium to full bodied with lots of alcohol, sweet, ripe flavours of lychees and minerals, good balance and a long dry finish.
3. 1985 Hugel Gewurztraminer VT Jubilee
2nd Nov 1998 GBP15 Alsace Dessert White
Pale straw.
The nose is still surprisingly fresh with a touch of oak and mineral oil.
Medium to full bodied with sweet, oily, lychee fruit, minerals, some oak and alcohol.
Richly textured with a long, rich, dry finish. Drink now.
4. 1994 Cos d'Estournel Pagodes de Cos
2nd Nov 1998 GBP15 Bordeaux Table Red
Deep red/purple, fading to red at the rim - some maturity.
Deep nose with a bit of development - aromas of mint, plums and black berry fruit.
Medium bodied with firm tannins and flavours of plums, toasted oak and mint. Good acidity with a dry finish.
Good now.
5. 1995 Cordeillan Bages Bordeaux
2nd Nov 1998 GBP20 Bordeaux Table Red
Opaque purple, paling slightly at rim.
Dense nose of stewed black fruits, some oak and a trace of violets - still closed.
Medium bodied and quite dry, with crunchy berry fruit, lightly charred oak and soft tannins.
Good, fresh drinking now - I'm not sure it will last more than a couple of years though.
6. 1995 Pichon Longueville Reserve de la Comtesse
2nd Nov 1998 GBP28 Bordeaux Table Red
Opaque purple with some paling at rim.
Dense nose of leather, black fruits and creamy oak.
Thick and full bodied with juicy, cassis fruit, lots of oak and alcohol, firm tannins and lively acidity.
Firm and dry on the finish. Very good in 5 to 10 years.
7. 1990 Belair Bordeaux
2nd Nov 1998 GBP29 Bordeaux Table Red
Deep purple/brown in colour, browning at rim - certainly showing some maturity.
Developed nose of stewed prunes and raisins steeped in alcohol.
Complex, sweet, almost honeyed flavours of prunes, raisins and baked fruit, charred oak, dry tannins and a touch of acidity.
Drys out slightly on the finish. Attractive now but on its last legs - needs to be finished up.
8. 1996 D'Arenburg Cabernet Sauvignon Coppermine Road
2nd Nov 1998 GBP15 Australia Table Red
[Presented blind, completely out of context!]
Opaque purple from core to rim.
Rich, deep, alcoholic nose of mint, leather and cassis.
Very full bodied and chewy with flavours of sweet cassis and mint, lots of oak, firm tannins, good acidity and a long, concentrated finish.
Chewy, young and lovely now, this should repay 4 to 5 years in the cellar.
9. 1990 Hugel Tokay Pinot Gris VT
2nd Nov 1998 GBP14 Alsace Dessert White
Aromatic and spicy on the nose.
Medium bodied with intense marmalade and honeysuckle flavours. Rich and sweet but well balanced with fresh acidity.
Long finish. Still very young, but luxurious drinking now.
10. 1994 Rame Saint Croix de Mont
2nd Nov 1998 GBP14 Bordeaux Dessert White
Deep gold.
Classic botrytis nose of honey, with a backing of cream and oak.
Rich, honeyed and incredibly thick and sweet.
Lovely drinking now, but needs to be well chilled
