Blind tasting lunch notes:
2012 Signorello Seta – hadn’t had this California Bordeaux white blend in awhile. Very nice nose of orange peel and vanilla, showing more Semillon that SB (it is a 64/36 blend in this vintage). Nice.
2001 Les Cailloux CNduP – now a medium colour with nice spice and fennel in the nose, good acidity still lots of tannin but not at all hot. Needs time, but promising.
2002 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Turkheim – made from vines less than 40 years old, note that this is not the Herrenberg. I recalled this having a bit if RS but hauled it out when we received a crab cake course. Showing a fair bit of colour at this age, a waxy fruit nose then a bit hollow in the middle before a strong finish with good terminal acidity. Worked very well with the food.
1997 Taltarni Cabernet – made by the Portet clan , it has been a long time since one of these fooled me into thinking it was something other than Australian. Mid colour, black tea nose with hints of capsicum, all cab in the mouth with good balance and mid length clean balanced finish. Very nice. Time for me to haul out my 1988!
2002 Pichon Lalande – slight and enticing clove hint in the nose, along with currant and some pencil lead. Now mellow and in a nice place, with elegance backed by excellent balance. May not improve from here but will certainly last.
2004 Salvatore Molettieri Taurasi Vigna Cinque Querce – still quite dark with a nose of tar and roses that made us wonder about Piemonte, and then an element of anise. Great fruit and long finish. Just hitting stride, I should think.
2013 Dirty Laundry Gewurztraminer Cuvee Madame – a BC Gewurz with some RS that I tossed in at the end in case some of them had never tasted it. Simple and with a fair bit of RS, and almost Muscat nose. Unremarkable.