Blind tasting lunch notes:
1997 Ch. Musar white - a blend of Obaideh and Merwah, this wine has always impressed the owner more than it has me (I can say that as he has recently passed away). This bottle was pretty good though – apricot colour, an apricot pit (cyanide!) nose and lighter weight on palate than expected with medium length. A rare one.
2012 Ch. Barville Roussanne – a white from CNduP with much lighter colour, a citrus nose, smooth and medium length.
2013 Terres Gauda – even lighter, with grapefruit and lychee nose – from the Rio Baixas.
1982 Ch. Lafon Rochet – this St. Estephe was typical claret nose, lightening colour at edges, resolved tannins, the flavours tapering a tad at the end. Decent but on the downward slide.
2000 Ch. Belfont-Belcier – a modest St. Emilion that showed a saddle leather and plum nose with sweet under notes, good acid and colour, lots of oak and sweet cherry in the finish.
1973 Marques de Riscal – this Rioja was very pale, had a sweet Pinot sort of nose, and lots of acid. No indication if it was a Riserva or a Crianza, although the fact that it remains interesting might indicate the former.
2001 Villacreces Riserva – this Ribera del Duero is a blend of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot that was still pretty dark. The nose was all dark fruit and cocoa, medium tannins, a big wine with a nice long finish. I doubt it will improve much if at all from this point.
1998 Peter Lehman Mentor – I correctly guessed the origin and vintage of this wine based on the harmony we saw in the wine, very well balanced, not too sweet nor too tannic, at peak now.
2005 Melis Priorat – this Grenache, carignan, syrah, cab blend made in Spain by the same people that make the excellent Sea Smoke Pinots was a wine I’d been wanting to taste to gauge progress. Tons of fruit in this dark wine, along with coffee, cocoa and mint notes, smooth and fresh and no rush. Not your father’s Priorat, but a new and more kindly style.
2007 Jadot Chassagne Montrachet – light colour, excellent nose of pear and oak, balanced and pleasant.
Quinta do Infantado Reserva Especial – a pleasant Port from a blend of vintages, some decent spice in the nose and medium weight and length. Nice way to end.
