I am doing some catching up here. Wine of the week May 4-9 was the Mas Jullien but there were some other solid performers.
1995 Oddero Barolo Vigna Rionda - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (5/4/2015)
I noted rather short length and angular tannins on a bottle 3 years ago but was bothered by neither this evening. The tannins were firm but have become more civilised and the length seemed decent. The bouquet was attractive but a bit subdued showing lovely notes of rose, anise tinged herbs and tar with hints of cherry. The palate was medium/full showing more fruit than often in 20 year Barolo, lively acidity, plentiful minerals and similar aromatics to the nose with a firmly supported finish. Good+.
2001 Domaine La Suffrène Bandol - France, Provence, Bandol (5/5/2015)
Different from most Bandol I drink; more ruby in colour, sweeter, fruitier, more alcoholic (15%), less herbal and mineral; more like S.Rhône, in fact, I guess due to the presence of a lot of Grenache. The bouquet was sweet, plum influenced, fruit with a liqueur touch. The body was full/medium, the quite sweet fruit was dark complexioned with a touch of rose scent together with tar and liquorice notes, the acidity was decent and the finish was firm, dark, liqueur tinged and slightly hot. Good wine but less classy than the likes of Tempier and Pibarnon.
2000 Mas Jullien Coteaux du Languedoc - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc (5/8/2015)
This is a beautiful wine but this time I noticed more the rose tinted quasi-Burgundian fruit with some forest floor and less the Mediterranean aspects, such as herbs, anise, oils and liquorice. This could be a function of the pairing, quail this time. Harmonious and elegant and at its peak, I think. Very good.
2000 Château Lamartine Cahors Expression - France, Southwest France, Cahors (5/9/2015)
This bottle was not so outstanding as the one about which I enthused effusively 4 years ago. There were no obvious signs of age; the colour was still pristine. It was still recognisably the same wine and most of the descriptors still apply. However, the overall impression was more suave and Bordelais but with a loss of brilliance. I preferred it as it was but still very good.