Notes from a small dinner:
With seafood lasagne:
2008 Fairview Cellars Sauvignon Blanc – this Fairview is in BC, not the Cape. Decent varietal nose, clean, some sweet aromas, not bad.
2004 Springfield Estate Life From Stone Sauvignon Blanc – a different class altogether. Very grassy nose, clean bright wine with long acidic finish. Good food wine.
With duck confit and breast:
1959 Ch. Margaux – I last had this 10 years ago, and out of respect for the age, we decanted immediately before pouring. Mid shoulder fill, slight browning at the edges, but a solid dark red core. Lots of good sweet fruit in the nose, intense flavour in the mouth with excellent fruit levels, and some soft tannin remaining. Exceptional length. Over 45 minutes the wine lost some fruit and the acidity came forward and the tannins seemed to abate, indicating that the bottle is getting on, but given it’s magnificent presentation right out of the decanter at first, I could forgive it’s slow expiry, especially as I didn’t leave much to fade out in the glass!
On its own:
1983 Grange Hermitage – I worried that we might be opening this too soon, but the wine was gorgeous. Dark, with a huge mint/eucalyptus nose, slightly warm, it was huge in the mouth with big woolly tannins that must have made it unapproachable even a few years ago. Now it has become very drinkable, although clearly just at the beginning of its drinking window. Very long finish. Nearing peak and will age very slowly indeed. 94% shiraz, 6% Cab Sauv, from a drought year.
1983 Taylors Port – not as hot as the last bottle I had, fairly sweet, medium length, reasonably complex and well balanced. I had thought from the colour that it might be a 1970 as it was paler than I’d expected. Just a bit disappointing given my high expectations for this house.