| | Served as an aperitif and paired with a first course of thinly sliced fluke with a green peppercorn vinaigrette and garnished with a salad of assorted radishes. - 1996 Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Grand Cru Cramant - France, Champagne, Côte des Blancs, Champagne
Medium-gold colour. Aromas of hazelnuts Werther's Originals, cream, biscuit, lemon, sherry. Medium-full bodied, great texture and acidity. Replays from nose on the palate joined by plenty of green apple notes. Long finish, 45-50s, with apple, lemon, and hazelnuts. Similar notes to another bottle opened last weekend. Great stuff, and this has plenty of life left in it. It will be difficult to keep my hands off remaning bottles! (93 pts.)
Paired with a second course of roasted rabbit served with a carrot puree and a grape must mustard jus. - 2003 M. Chapoutier Hermitage Blanc Chante-Alouette - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Medium-gold colour. Aromas of melon, peach, allspice, baked apple pie/short pastry, lanolin. Full-bodied, unctuous wine, oily, spicy, with replays from nose. The pie crust really comes out on the palate. Long, long finish, ~45-50s with lemon peel, lanolin, minerals, and salt. While the palate has a "sweetness" to it due to the texture and fruit, it's very dry and clean on the finish. This is really outstanding stuff. (93 pts.)
Paired with a third course of seared squab served with shiitake mushroom risotto, Tahitian vanilla spiced port jus. - 1990 Château Trotanoy - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Medium-dark ruby colour. Aromas of cedar box, cigar box, leather, spice, dried red fruit, licorice/anise. Medium-bodied, a little restrained initially, but opened to show lovely texture and balance. Very elegant with more cedar, tobacco, dried fruit notes. Lingering finish, ~40s. Very nice. (93 pts.)
- 1989 Château Citran - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
Medium-burgundy colour. Aromas of wet leaves, dried red fruit, leather, and cigar box. Medium-bodied, fully resolved tannins, with replays from nose. Short-moderate finish. While not a blockbuster by any means, this was a very enjoyable drink and it was surprising to see so much life left in it. (89 pts.)
Paired with a fourth course of oven roasted lamb saddle served with a rosemary lamb jus. - 1999 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Ruddy burgundy/maroon colour. Aromas of cinnamon, alcohol, dried currant, and garrigue. Medium-full bodied, nice texture, with baking spices, garrigue, dried currants, and a hint of raspberry. Moderate finish, ~30-35s with red fruit and spice. Quite nice. Decanted for 2 hours. No rush to drink. Drink now-2015+. (92 pts.)
- 1993 Penfolds Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
This also had an "Old Vines" designation on the label. Medium-burgundy/ruby colour. Pure aromas of raspberry coulis and garrigue. Medium-full bodied with replays from nose and a long finish, ~40+s. This was really delicious and would be an interesting ringer in a flight of Southern Rhones! (92 pts.)
Paired with a selection of French cheeses, dried apricots and currants, and fresh grapes. - 1984 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley
Medium-dark ruby colour. Aromas of iodine, leather, dried fruit. Medium-bodied with resolved tannins. Evolved wine showing dried fruit, leather, earth. Moderate finish, ~30s. (90 pts.)
- 1998 Penfolds Grange - Australia, South Australia
Showed nothing on opening, hints at 3 hours in a decanter, better with 5+ hours of air. Opaque purple colour. Aromas of black sambuca, vanilla, bramble. Full-bodied, intense, outstanding texture, with blackcurrant, white pepper, vanilla through to the moderate-long finish. If I had any, I'd bury it in the cellar for at least another 5 years. (92 pts.)
- 1969 Domaine des Baumard Coteaux du Layon Clos de Sainte Catherine - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon
Gold colour. Aromas of lanolin, apple juice, flowers. Full-bodied, unctuous, with apple juice/cider, apricot puree coming out from a wine of great purity and complexity. With time, it even shows hints of a buttered sesame bagel from St. Viateur in Montreal. Long finish, ~45+ seconds. Delicious! (93 pts.)
Finishing wines paired with a lemon tart - pate brisee tart filled with lemon curd and served with creme chantilly and pear coulis. - 1997 Huët Vouvray Cuvée Constance - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Amber colour, almost with a red tinge to it! Aromas of apricot marmalade, lychee, honey. Full-bodied, unctuous, amazing acidity, showing notes of Seville oranges, lychee, white flowers, apricots, and more. Long, long finish that goes for minutes. While I don't see 100 points, it's one heck of a wine. I'm probably underrating this at 94! (94 pts.)
- 2001 Philippe Delesvaux Coteaux du Layon Sélection de Grains Nobles - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon
Similar notes to previous bottles - Medium-dark gold colour. Aromas of peach, apricot, honey, cream, spice. Full-bodied and unctuous, but the acidity seems to be disappearing lately, or hiding behind masses of fruit at least. This bottle seemed flabbier than previous ones opened (this is the 5th time I've had this wine), and I'm hesitant to keep cellaring it. I'd say drink up if this bottle was representative. (92 pts.)
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