Weekend with friends

Good friends to stay for the weekend and so an opportunity to enjoy some interesting wines. My 40th is looming and so I took the chance to share a 1967 Palmer - for a poor vintage a really enjoyable wine. Also a surprising 1991 Chateauneuf. A really enjoyable weekend.

Started to drink champagne in the garden till rain forced us inside! A slow luch of cold meats and cheeses.

• NV De Sousa et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Réserve Brut 85 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  (7/21/2007)

  Had nearly one year storage in cellar since purchase - disgorged 15 months ago.
  Bright and crisp with strong minerality, some dried fruit and toasty aromas. Apples and lemons on palate. Very long finish. Enjoyable, but ultimately a little disappointing - will try other 2 after longer in cellar- I feel it will improve.

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

• 2002 Geschwister Simon Ayler Kupp Riesling Spätlese

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  (7/21/2007)

  Pale watery yellow. Not overly giving on the nose, some petrolly riesling aromas. Palate was dull and flabby - no real fruit or life - ? off bottle - never had this producer before so no expectations or comparisons

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

• 2003 Felton Road Pinot Noir Central Otago 89 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  (7/21/2007)

  Deep purple optic. Strawberries and some forest floor on the nose. Good structure and good with food helped by the crisp acidity. One of the more interesting NZ Pinots I've had - very enjoyable

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

• 1991 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

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

  (7/21/2007)

  What a lovely surprise. A dreadful vintage in the southern rhone - weak dilute wines for early consumption. Bought this as a bin end at Yapps just to see. Popped and poured, a little bottle stink quickly disappeared. Pale red with orange bricking at rim, but a good core of colour. Mature grenache nose with some herbs and also some leather and pepper on palate which has some acidity balancing the mature fruit, very soft in the mouth and very drinkable. Really lovely finish of that lingers beautifully - can this really be from such an awful year? Producer over vintage once again

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

After a bracing walk with the dog returned with an appetite and more importantly a thirst!

• 2001 Jobard-Morey Meursault Les Tillets 85 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

  (7/21/2007)

  Deep yellow. Buttery nutty aromas, a bit flabby on the palate, but not oxidised - enjoyable, but on the way down - my last bottle fortunately!

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

• 2002 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Corton-Charlemagne 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

  (7/21/2007)

  Lovely!! Double decanted about 1 hour in advance-Pale yellow with a floral nose and some nuts. Crisp fruit and acidity, the wine almost danced in my mouth - wonderfully refreshing. Got better and better as the bottle finished very quickly.

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

• 1967 Château Palmer 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  (7/21/2007)

  Bought to drink on my 40th - not there quite yet, but wanted to share this with friends.
  
  3 unusual things on label: No alcohol %, Negotiant label on front as part of the main label, and stated volume 73cl.
  
  Level Top shoulder, Corked came out in 2 pieces but appeared to be sound. Wine smelt clean immediately so re stoppered with neutral cork for about 1 hour before drinking.
  
  Colour of mature garnet with orange bricking / rust at the edge. Nose of sweet fruits, berries and tobacco leaves - some cedar too. Elegant wine still with ripe fruit and a lovely freshness that I was surprised by. A long finish. So charming and elegant. Rating difficult (just started rating wines) technically just over 90 - but as a birth year wine with good friends - off the scale!
  
  Maybe it is the proportion of Merlot Palmer use, but it reminded me of a Pomerol, with the sweet fruitcake aromas.

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

The weather was kind, and a butterflied leg of lamb went onto the BBQ and an afternnon in the warmish sun started.

• 2005 Laurenz V. Grüner Veltliner Singing Laurenz und Sophie 85 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich

  (7/22/2007)

  Pale yellow, watery. White pepper and peaches on the nose, more pepper on the palate with fresh green fruits (apples and pears). A pretty and enjoyable wine.

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

• 1997 Domaine de Trévallon Blanc

  France, Provence, Vin de Pays des Bouches-du-Rhône

  (7/22/2007)

  Bought from Yapps as a bin end. Never had white Trevallon before. Apparantly chardonnay, marsanne and rousanne blend, no idea of proportions. Deep yellow colour, soft and ill defined, obviously seen oak (either barrel fermented or barrel aged - no idea which). Similar to aged white Rioja - not my thing at all. Sherry like qualities. Is it meant to taste like this? or is this a bad bottle? Would like to try a young version of this, but don't want to try this one again!

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

• 2000 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 95 Points

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

  (7/22/2007)

  Black/purple in color, no signs of aging at all. The nose shows black fruit, licorice,and some herb or spice. The palate is huge and yet stunningly smooth. Spice and pepper with black fruits, and more licorice and an almost brooding nature hinting at what may come along in a few years. Long powerful finish. Lovely - obviously young, but approachable and enjoyable now and promises much for the future.

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

• 2002 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  (7/22/2007)

  Decanted 2 hours
  Deep purple, nose of sweet black fruits, licorice and herbs. The palate is elegant and soft in the mouth and has hints of smoke and spice with the black cherry fruit. A long finish. This is my second bottle and is a tad better than my first 6 months ago

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

• 2000 Domaine Jean Grivot Chambolle-Musigny La Combe d'Orveaux 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny

  (7/22/2007)

  Bright garnet with a watery edge. Some secondary aromas of forest floor just starting to show with the raspberry fruit. Elegant and complex palate just becoming interesting with a good finish of sweet fruit. A refreshing wine after some powerful rhones before.

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