Decanter Fine Wine Encounter 2005

Brief notes on my initial thoughts after another superb walk around tasting arranged by Decanter magazine.

• 1998 Boizel Champagne Grand Vintage

  France, Champagne

  Light lemon in colour, with hints of nuts and oates. Well balanced and pleasant drinking. Fine but over shadowed by the Joyau de France '95. (£22.50)

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• 1995 Boizel Champagne Joyau de France

  France, Champagne

  More depth in colour and body, which is more complex than the Grand Vintage '95 on this showing. Strong flavours of ground nuts. Very nice. (£37.50)

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Historically I have been under whelmed by the wines of Burgundy, and this encounter did little to convince me otherwise...

• 1998 Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  Attrictive and complex nose. Well balanced mid-palate with a good finish. A very nice wine.

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• 2000 Louis Jadot Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Ursules Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

  Expressive & complex nose, with a little bottle age evident by the colour. This is a nicely balanced wine, mid-weight, and a long finish. Nice, but for me it's over priced at £33 - £35.

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• 2002 Maison Albert Bichot Chambertin domaine Meursault du Pavillon 87 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  Nice expressive Pinot nose. Mid-palate lacking in weight, and the finish is a little short.

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• 2003 Maison Albert Bichot Gevrey-Chambertin Les Corvées 86 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

  Nice, expressive and complex nose. On the palate, this was basic and lacking complexity.

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• 2003 Maison Albert Bichot Chambertin Domaine du Clos Frantin 85 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  Wild flowers and spice on the nose; quite warm and again the palate is simple, lacks any real depth and, disappointingly, finishes short of the mark.

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• 2003 Cave de Tain Crozes-Hermitage Selection Premiere 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

  Open and expressive nose. Nice mouthfeel, good weight, easy drinking.

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• 2002 Cave de Tain Hermitage 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Attractive, subtle nose. Nice weight, concentrated fruit - maybe not very complex. (90 - 91)

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• 2003 Famille Brunier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine La Roquète 89 Points

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

  Attrictive nose with hints of licorice. Nice balance, light/meduim body lacking concentration. Medium finish.

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• 2003 Domaine les Pallières Gigondas 85 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  Closed nose. Tannic, hollow, lacking concentration and generally poor. Where is the fruit?

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• 2002 Amiral de Beychevelle 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Nose reveals little at first but quickly becomes more pronounced with air; light/medium bodied and nicely balanced but very much a little brother to the Grand Vin. A good wine, nevertheless. (89 - 90)

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• 2003 Château Beychevelle 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Open and expressive nose. Good weight, nicely balanced, soft and round mid-palate with a long and lingering finish. (92 - 93)

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• 2002 Château Beychevelle 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Paler in colour than the 2003; attractive nose showing spice and hints of earth. Medium bodied, concentrated cassis, tannic finish.

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• 2001 Château Beychevelle 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Closed nose. Nice weight and mouthfeel, good concentration and balance. Finishes long. Good potential.

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• 1994 Château Beychevelle 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Attractive but weak nose; medium bodied and slightly lean palate lacking the support of tannins. Slightly one dimensional but a pleasant drinker.

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• 2001 Château Giscours 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Nice, subtle nose. Medium bodied, concentrated current flavours, tannic and shutdown right now. (88 - 89)

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• 1998 Château Lagrange (St. Julien) 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Nose a little closed. Concentrated, tannic, youthful. Needs more time in the cellar to show its best. (89-90)

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• 1996 Château Lagrange (St. Julien) 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Barnyard nose. Concentrated, balanced, complex. Drinking well now.

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• 1999 Château Phélan Ségur

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Not rated as too small a sample was given, however this did seem to lack everything... (NR)

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• 2002 Château Phélan Ségur 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Tight nose reveals very little; Medium weight, funky, young and tannic. Not sure it has the stuffin to improve much? (88 - 90)

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• 2001 Château Rauzan-Ségla 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Nice, pronounced nose. Good weight, round and supple, concentrated and well crafted. Nice long finish.

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• 2000 Château Canon (Canon-Fronsac) 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Canon-Fronsac

  Closed nose. Palate lacks a little intensity but is otherwise balanced. (87 - 88) on this showing.

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• 1999 Château Suduiraut 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Lovely destinctive nose rich with fresh white fruits and ground nuts. On the palate this wine is sweet, medium to full bodied and viscose, structured, balanced and concentrated. The finish is long.

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• 2004 Château Suduiraut "S" de Suduiraut 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux

  Destinctive nose of nuts, lemons and peaches. Medium sweet, fat, dry on the finish.

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• 1998 Château Cantemerle 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Expressive nose but on the palate this is tight and unyielding, showing only primary fruit.

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• 2000 Château Cantemerle 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Closed nose. Still in its primary stages, but showing good balance, extract and structure with soft tannins. I would enjoy this when it opens up.

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• 2001 Château Cantemerle 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Nose displaying elements of tobacco and wild spice. While still youthful, it is more approachable than both the 1998 and the 2000 today, displaying cassis, smoke and tobacco. It is round and fat and a pleasure to drink. £22.

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• 1995 Château Talbot 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Attractive, powerful nose. Concentrated mid-palate, round, supple, complex and balanced with a long persistent finish. One of the best Bordeaux's tasted today. 93+

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• 2001 Château Talbot 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Expressive nose. Another well made Talbot - fat and round with a nice mouth feel as well as being balanced and structured. Finishes long. (91 - 92)

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• 1996 Château Peyrabon 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  A nicely proportioned wine which has benefited from some bottle age. Drinking well now.

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• 1999 Château Peyrabon 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  An attractive, flirty nose. Still a little primary but showing signs of opening up with air. Balanced. (89 - 90)

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• 2002 Château Peyrabon 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Like many of the Bordeaux's today, this is a little dumb right now. Although clearly balanced with the structure to age and improve, it's in that primary stage. 90 points for its potential.

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• 1995 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 93 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Brilliant liquorice nose. Consistent flavours on the palate. Great structure and intensity, richly extracted and balanced. £28.

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• 2003 Torres Ribera del Duero Céleste Crianza 91 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  Attractive nose. A nicely balanced wine, structured and concentrated, good value at £10 too.

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• 2000 Torres Conca de Barberà Grans Muralles 92 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Conca de Barberà

  Round and supple, complex body. Very elegant; quite feminine - balanced with a long finish. £45.

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• 2000 Torres Cabernet Sauvignon (Black Label) Mas La Plana 92 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Penedès

  Fat, rich palate showing spices, oak and concentrated red fruits. Balanced and complex. Finishes long. £19.99.

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• 1999 Abadia Retuerta Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León Cuvée El Palomar 90 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León

  Nice powerful nose. Drinking well now, good concentration of berry fruit flavours, nice balance and finish.

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• 1999 Bava Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza Pianoalto 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza

  Forward, structured, round, concentrated. Will benefit from more bottle age.

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• 2002 Bava Barbera d'Asti Libera 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti

  Nose a little closed. Good structure, mouth feel; fat and round. Nice finish.

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• 2002 Bava Barolo Contrabbasso di Castiglione Falletto Scarrone 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Hints of liquorice on the nose. Concentrated, very tannic, layered fruit and more liquorice on the palate. A well made wine, but not my style.

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• 2002 Inniskillin Riesling 90 Points

  Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Peninsula VQA

  Wonderfully expressive nose. Nicely balanced and a long finish. 90+

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• 2003 Inniskillin Riesling Sparkling Icewine 92 Points

  Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Peninsula VQA

  A strange one which works... and works well! Nice concentration of fruit, well balanced, long finish. I enjoyed this.

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• 2003 J Vineyards & Winery Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Attractive Pinot nose. Fuller in body than many of the Burg's tasted today, and balanced and quite extracted. There's a spicy edge to this too. 89.

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• 1999 Seghesio Family Vineyards Omaggio 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

  On the nose this is slightly more open than the 2001 Omaggio (no 2000 was available for comparison). The palate shows concentrated fruit, quite high tannins and the structure to age well in the short term. 90+ points.

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• 2001 Seghesio Family Vineyards Omaggio 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

  The nose of this '01 is more subtle than the '99, but attractive non-the-less. The palate is slightly more forward tho, but no less concentrated, balanced or structured. Very pleasant to drink and should continue to improve for years to come.

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• 2003 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Expressive nose. Concentrated and balanced with a nice mouth feel. Finishes long. £30. (90 - 91)

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• 2002 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  "A nose to smell all day" - perfumed, intense… just beautiful. On the palate this is complex, lush, supremely concentrated, supple and finely balanced. The finish is very long. For me, this is the wine of the day. £130. 94+

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• 2002 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fay 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Deep, powerful and brooding nose. Lovely mouth feel, good concentration and structure, all nicely balanced. Good length. £50.

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• 2002 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 30th Anniversary Edition Volcanic Hill 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

  Deep purple fading to a bright red rim. Complex and concentrated palate, balanced and long. £90. (92 - 93)

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• 2002 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 30th Anniversary Edition Red Rock Terrace 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

  Attractive nose. Still in its primary stages, but displaying intense fruit, good structure and excellent balance. (91 - 92)

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• 2002 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 30th Anniversary Edition Gravelly Meadow 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

  A pronounced and complex nose. Super concentration and complexity on the palate, which is balanced, intense, round and supple. Just an excellent glass of wine.

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• 2001 Marimar Estate Pinot Noir Don Miguel Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Nice, typical Pinot nose. Good mouth feel, lush and flavoursome, spicy with hints of pepper. Balanced, concentrated. £29.99.

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• 1980 Graham Porto Vintage 92 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Bricking orange towards the rim of the glass. Intense nose of sweet black fruits and figs. Still not fully mature, but very enjoyable. (91 - 92)

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• 1983 Graham Porto Vintage 92 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Mellow nose of figs and Demerara sugar. Complex, full bodied and intense. Liquorice flavours on the mid-palate. Still young.

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• 2003 Graham Porto Vintage 92 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Primary medicinal nose. Superb concentration and structure, well balanced, powerful. Sure to be a cracker. 92+

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• 1996 Graham Porto Vintage Malvedos 90 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Quite lean, but well concentrated and intense on the nose. A nice Port.

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All in all a fun day's tasting and an opportunity to sample some excellent wines. As usual, my compliments to Decanter for organising another superb event.