Notes from a blind tasting lunch March 4, 2021.
Theme this time was pretty open – anything 2004 or older. Lunch as an interesting starter salad and a cassoulet.
2004 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia – light amber gold colour, a nose of straw, honey and nuts, perhaps slightly high acidity at the end. A lovely wine in a style that is hard to find.
1978 Carneros Creek Pinot Noir – I have a long history with this now defunct winery. Back in the early 1980s I’d stop there on my way home from racing old cars at Monterey and buy a few bottles. I recall going in and seeing the bottling line going. When the worker (and winemaker) saw me, the line stopped and he sold me some wine. A very small work force but great wines. This one was hard to fathom – no way did we think it could be this old. Very slightly musty nose at first quickly cleaned up with air and the medium red wine still showed sweet red fruit on palate. It was smooth and with good length. In amazingly good shape and a pleasure to drink.
2004 Ch. Lynch Bages – medium colour but still much darker than the Pinot. Nose of clan pure sweet fruit – perhaps raspberry but some black currant in there too. Mellow well balanced wine with good length. Excellent showing.
1983 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon – medium to dark colour, a nose of cassis and hints of black cherry, mellow in the mouth with medium length – in very good shape.
1994 Kanonkop Paul Sauer – I am the iconoclast in the group always looking at something a bit difference and this is what I pulled out. A Bordeaux blend but mostly cab sauv, it was still reasonably dark in colour, and showed some spicy red fruit and cocoa notes in the nose. In common with most Cape wines it was slightly high in terminal acidity which gave it a focused clean impression. Slight sweetness in the finish along with some anise hints. Good wine.
1989 Ch. Meyney – I really like this wine (found that I still have most of a case in the cellar).Dark, with an unmistakably cabernet nose with some forest floor and blackberry notes along with some light cedar. Slightly sweet plummy fruit and a lengthy smooth finish. Excellent wine that still shows enough soft tannin to last but I intend to move mine to the drink anytime list.
1987 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Dedication Series- still inky dark with considerable mint in the nose along with some dill notes. Big sweet dark fruit probably just reaching that sweet spot in the maturity curve where it can sit for some years. Loved it.
2003 Dom. Pegau Chateauneuf de Pape – dark with an excellent nose – garrigue, cherry, smoke and sweet fruit. While lovely to drink now, it really isn’t ready for prime time yet.
I pulled out something a bit different for the cheese course. I had met Cristiano van Zeller several times at international tastings in Vancouver so I had the opportunity to discuss winemaking and life with him (for him I think they are the same thing!).
Quinta Vale D. Maria Porto Reserva Lote No 01 – this is a blended wine with more than one vintage that Cristiano started making around the turn of the millennium. No indication of vintage(s) on the label but when I opened it, the cork was stamped “Bottled in 2003” It is the second release he made (don’t know what came before Lot 01). Fairly dark with a nose showing good depth of fruit and a hint of cough syrup (in a good way) with medium long finish. Excellent value – this still sells (in current releases) for very little money.
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