Catching up on a few tasting notes and I am merging two recent tastings in one day that featured all white wines.
Part 1 (with lunch)
Jean Dalbray Brut Champagne – this little NV bubble showed well with a yeasty nose and good balance.
1995 Ch. Cabannieux – a bit long in the tooth for this modest Graves and it proved to be past prime, showing a decent if subtle fruit nose, but was hollow and tired in the mouth.
2000 Albert Mann Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Furstentum VV – last bottle from my stash as I feel it is nearing the end of life. Showing some colour now, and quite a rich fruit nose with notes of pear and lemon, and a fairly weighty mouth feel with brightness and good length.
2004 J&S Dauvissat Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses – decent nose, medium weight and some good stuffing, medium length.
2007 V. Dauvissat Chablis Gran Cru La Forest – odd nose, and flat on palate, lacking fruit – something amiss here.
2004 Latour Giraud Meursault Genevrieres – some colour now, and a rich citrus and honey nose, good balance and a clean acidic finish. Good showing.
2012 Quintarelli Secco Ca del Merlo – this blend of Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Savignon Bianco, Chardonnay and Saorin showed no hint of being from anywhere near Veneto. Nose of lemon and lavender and flowers, clean and csirp on palate, a very enjoyable white indeed. Impressive.
Part 2 (with dinner)
1997 Cavas Sao Joao Poco de Lobo Arinto – could have been interesting, but instead was oxidized and had flatlined.
1997 Dom. Closel Savennieres Les Coulees – ditto.
2011 Mas du Soleilla Reserve La Clape - this Languedoc wine showed some impressive rich fruit in the nose and an excellent but not hot lush feel, with medium length. Good
2009 V. Girardin Meursault Les Narvaux - lighter colour, clean nose, a tad tight but with a nice clean finish.
2002 Serience Alder Ridge Blanc (Horse Heaven Hills) – this Rhone blend had a big ripe nose, with some oak, and was well balanced and quite tasty.
2010 Rene Rostaing Condrieu La Bonnette – medium colour, quite interesting slightly cheesy nose, smooth in the mouth with good length.
2013 Domaine La Fage Côtes du Roussillon Cuvée Centenaire – very odd juicy fruit gum notes in the nose that put me off despite being otherwise well constructed.
2006 Pierre Labet ((I think – someone splashed some wine on my notes – knew I should fill the fountain pen with non-washable ink!) Bearn – an oddball from the Jurancon this was decent, clean and hard as heck to guess. Perfumed nose and lots of acidity.
2012 Roccolo Grassi Soave La Broia – odd resiny nose and tons of acidity. Nothing to point even the Soave hounds among us to Italy much less Soave.
Dom. Rolet Arbois Vin Jaune – this ripe savagnin wine was bizarre. Odd sweet nose of wet grass and turpentine with underlying sweet muscaty fruit. Oddest Jura I’ve tasted and they are odd to begin with. Couldn’t get past that nose. Also clean forgot to note the vintage.