Very short notes from lunch at Sala with Jojo, Johnny and Monty.
Caveau du Mont July Bugey Cerdon Methode Ancestrale NV - Gently sparkling, faded old rose wine. Light sweetness. Light, refreshing. Fun wine.
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1987 - Still dark, vibrant, young color. Sweet cocoa, leafy tobacco. Rich but with soft tannins and a bit of acid on the finish. Slightly unbalanced due to faded fruit and we all thought it was past it's best although still a good drink.
Almaviva 2001 - Sweet ripe fruit. Very rich. Spicy. Quite dry on the finish. Best to age this a few more years but already showing very well. The oakiness shows up after about an hour's airing. Excellent.
Dr. Loosen Beerenauslese 2006 - Rich, oily, Very sweet with fresh flavors of peach and apple. There is good balancing acidity. Excellent.
Short notes from Catalan dinner at Cafe Ysabel
Torres De Casta Rosado 2006 - Sweetish. Nice and easy. Rather more stuffing than most rosado.
Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc 2006 - Martinborough NZ. Very fruity but strangely no guava or passionfruit. No grassines either. Crisp. Dryish finish. Easy. Good.
Torres Gran Vina Sol 2006 - Chardonnay Parellada blend. Strong pineapple scent and flavor. A bit short and watery. A bit of a disappointment.
Palacios Remondo La Vendimia Rioja 2006 - Very dark. Fruity berry. A bit of coffee. Soft, juicy. Sort of like heavy Beaujolais. Definitely not an ager. A bit short on the finish but very good value. Excellent for drinking now.
Montes Alpha Syrah 2003 - Very fragrant. Good fruit but quite dry. A bit jammy. Long finish. Good wine but not particularly exciting.
Celler de Capcanes Cabrida 2004 - A little hot and not much on the nose. Full-bodied. Closed and not giving much even if decanted for an hour. Good with the roast goat but definitely needs more time in the bottle. Give it a few more years.