Preamble Tasting March
2001
McCabe's
Jim McCabe
1. Hugues la Juste, Viognier, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Moillard, 1999
Light floral nose, quite sharp on the palate. Not a lot of
fruit. Pleasant.
£6.93
2. Ch. Pique-Segue, Montravel, France, 1999 
Nose like a Bordeaux white (not surprising, it's from Bergerac).
Beautifully balanced, austere but with good fruit finish. Mix of
equal quantities of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscatel (giving the
gorgeous finish). Superb
£6.93
3. Domaine de Martinolles, Chardonnay, Vin de Pays de l'Aude, 1999
Interesting green gold colour. Fruity nose, some flowers.
Lot's of pineapple and melon. Lean, good acidity.
£7.92
4. Rosemount "Hill oif Gold" Chardonnay, Mudgee,
Australia, 1999
Melon and lime on the nose. Vanilla and citrus. Lovely.
From near Hunter Valley. Uses American oak. 13.5%
£9.89
5. Oxford Landing Yalumba Grenache "Limited Release", 1998
Slightly medicinal nose. Very pleasant, fruity, sl. sweet.
Quite a harsh note on mid-palate. 14.5%
£9.49
6. Domaine des Arcades, Cotes-du-Roussillon Villages, 1998
Nice deep red. Not a big nose. Wood, bit of tannin,
fruit. Very pleasant drinking wine for food. Syrah and
Grenache 50:50. 13.5%
£8.92
7. Penley "Phoenix" Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra,
Australia, 1995
Slightly browny colour. Berry fruits on the nose. Quite jammy,
a slight zing; ever so slightly oxidised. Beginning to turn?
OTT. Bit sweet. Too soft. 12.5% Penley is a mixture of
Penfolds and Tolley, the winemaker.
£14.95
8. Ch. les Billauds, Premier Cotes de Blaye, 1996
Very clear, sl. orange red. Big nose. Fruity, soft tannins,
very easy drinking. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Pity about the
price.
£11.87
9. Montlobre, Vin de Pays d'Oc, 1998
Dark red, clean, young-looking. Nose very peppery with a hint of
rubber. Decidedly peppery taste. Some tannins; not as rounded
as it might be. Quite soft.Grenache 20%, Syrah 10%, Merlot 60%,
Carignan 10%
£9.50
10. Allenmere Shiraz, Hunter Valley/Mudgee, Australia, 1997
Mid red. Big nose; quite spirituous. Big, fruity, spicy,
raisins. OTT again? 13%
£17.89
11. Complazens l'Hermitage, Vin de Pays d'Oc, 1998
Really dark. Rubbery nose. Quite spicy, peppery. Bit
of a hole in the middle. Lots of soft tannins. 30% Cab Sauv,
30% Merlot, 20% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan. 13.5% alc. Leave it
five years.
£9.49
12. Wakefield, Shiraz, St. Andrews, Clare Valley, 1996
Black red, nose a bit closed but spicy soft. Fruit, loads of
soft tannins. Quite a while to go yet. It says 5 years, maybe
add another 5. Shame to drink it now. Very nice, but quite
pricey. It's called Taylors in Oz but they can't use that name
here.
£27.00