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

 
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