Christmas in July

thanks to the Southern Hemisphere we have to have proper Christmas food in the middle of Northern Hemisphere summer which is a bit of a pain. Still, Frank and Emma put up the tree and I brought some crackers and all of the old wine-ark boys chipped in with gems from their respective cellars. All wines were double decanted prior to consumption with the exception of the Wirra Wirra (that just went straight into a decanter after a split cork) and the Marcien and the Clerc Milon (which I had double decanted about 4.5 hours prior to consumption)

• 1998 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Flawed

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Sweet red berry, especially raspberry and strawberry, sweet spice, very slight cork taint that grew with time. On the mouth the wine is juicy with fine tannins, raspberries, strawberries spice, touch of warmth on the back palate but cork taint here as well. hmm. FLAW tonight.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2000 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Leather, garrigue, herbs; thyme, rosemary, lavender, baked rock, red berries. In the mouth there are flavours of sour red berries, slight saddle leather, biscuit, silky tannins. Nice. Initially the nose is better than the palate with but time the palate gains weight and complexity. Very long finish.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2011 Agly Brothers Côtes du Roussillon Rouge

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon

  Very slight reductive on the nose though this dissipates with time. Earth, dirt, dense black fruits sweet tobacco, very slight candy floss (I wonder if there is any carbonic maceration), sweet spice. In the mouth the wine is dense with chewy, chalky tannins, black fruit carry and turn bitter on the medium plus length finish. touch warm. Meh.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Spinifex Grenache Single Vineyard Moculta

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Very sweet ripe red berries, perfumed floral notes, very clean in this line up on the nose. A very slight sourness to the fruit on the palate followed by talc textured tannins, finishes a little short and is, again in this line up, perhaps a little too simple at this stage of it's evolution. Hmm.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2007 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Marcien

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  double decanted for five hours. Aromas of oak; very good quality oak. Cream, vanilla, coconut, sweet red berry and plum, very slight ripe herbs. In the mouth the wine is juicy with ripe fruit talc textured tannins, very persistent and moreish. I rather like it

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2009 Château Clerc Milon

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  double decanted for five hours. On the nose savoury black fruit, muted polished oak, chocolate, coffee and spice. In the mouth more savoury fruit, drying tannins…tastes like a good quality young Bordeaux.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2000 Wirra Wirra Cabernet Sauvignon The Angelus

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Blackcurrant, spice, biscuit, slight cream on the nose…In the mouth juicy blackcurrant strolls into fine textured tannins, very correct. Impressive

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1966 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Figs, walnuts, slight raisin, v.sl cork taint (cork pushed into bottle on opening), light and ethereal though still some discernible tannin. Lovely.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Very kind of Dave to bring along that ancient port. And very nice it was too. Pity about the Cailloux. The Beaucastel was probably my wine of the night followed by the Angelus which I rather enjoyed.