Preamble Tasting July
2001
Magic Carpet al fresco
Kevin Crowley
1. Devil's Rock Riesling, Bingen 1999 
Sweet nose, sterner on
palate. Lovely. If you like good Rieling you'll love this,
although it isn't dry and some didn't like it. Light 11.5%
£6.95
2. Pinot Blanc Cuvee des Amours, Hugel, Alsace, 1999
Beautiful, floral, apple
noise. Well balanced, beautiful - it's still as good as I
remember. 12.5%
£8.59
3. Piritas Chardonnay, Maipo, Chile, 1999
Really toasty oak
nose. A big, 14%, clean dry wine with long
aftertaste. Perhaps I might not drink too much of it. It could
take a few years of age too. Comes from the site of an old pyrites
mine, hence the name.
£9.29
4. Tarapaca Cab Sauvignon Rose, Chile, 2000
Nose not noticeably cab;
hard to describe. Smooth, dry, balanced, hint of tannin. 13%
£6.99
5. Pinot Noir Dom. de Martinolles, Aude, 1999
Not much
nose. A bit bitter; maybe some Gamay in there? Some
twigs? Not bad, will definitely improve. 13.5%
£8.15
6. Mont Gras Quatro, Colchagua Valley, Chile, 1999
Deep
colour. Blackcurrant jam and some mint on the nose. Soft
tannins and a little bitterness fight the fruit. A bit
crunchy. Not together yet. A fine wine, but give it
time. Cab Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere and Malbec - 25%
each. 13%
£10.35
7. Campo Viejo Gran reserva, Rioja, 1993
Lovely fruity nose
with a hint of Amarone (yep!). Very light red with a hint of
orange. Strawberries and soft tannins. Big argument over
whether it will last. I'm going to buy a couple of bottles to see.
£13.99
8. Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Serego Alighieri, Masi, 1999 
Deep red. Nose with a
hint of amaro. Loads of tannins and plums, some cherry. Aged
in sherry casks as opposed to oak. Will last a long time and
get better. Single vineyard. This is the Dante Alighieri
family.
£9.69
9. Chateauneuf du Pape, La Gardine, 1998
Lovely deep red. Nose quite light. Wonderfully balanced,
complex, lovely. Heavier than the Guigal (below); a bit of
pepper. 13.5%
£17.95
10. Chateauneuf du Pape, Guigal, 1997
Somewhat lighter in colour than La Gardine (above). A bigger
nose, fresh hay. Huge fruit, more upfront, higher acid, lighter,
completely different. Probably more Grenache. Both of these
are lovely; shame about the price.
£22.50
11. Navarro Correas, Col. Privada CS, Maipu,
Mendoza, 1994
Light orange red. No big nose. A bit sharp after the
Chateauneufs, Tougher, thinner. Might have been ever so slightly
off.
£10.69
12. Rymill, Coonawarra Cab. Sauvignon, 1994
Very deep. Pure blackcurrant pastilles with a hint of
mint. Tannins, fruit, condensed milk. Beautiful now but will
be better over many a long year. Gorgeous.
£9.69