Preamble Tasting August 2001
Kelly and Company
Niall Tubridy
1. Garvey's San Patricio Fino Sherry 
A lovely, dry, nutty fino
with a bit of burn, and at a great price. Named after our patron
saint (Mr. Garvey was from Waterford). Try it.
£8.50
2. Fabulae Favorita, Langhe DOC, Italy 1999
Almost water-clear, citrus
and almonds on the nose, beautifully refreshing, lemony. Favorita is
the grape. 12% Very nice but a bit pricey.
£9.00
3. Fabulae Chardonnay Barrique, Langhe DOC, Italy,
1999
Slightly yellow. Oak
and fruit on nose. Lots of lemon/lime, toasty oak, hint of
sweetness, great mouth feel, long finish. I would never have guessed
it was Chardonnay. 12.5% There is no sterness, and maybe a
little too much oak. Give it two years to come together.
£12.50
4. Die Krans Tinta Barocca, Calitzdorp, Western Cape,
South Africa, 2000
Lightish red, hint of
purple, slightly Pinot or Gamay nose. Very warm in the mouth, light,
buzzy, fruity, hint of sweetness. Goes down way too easily. 13.8%
£7.00
5. Marquis de Vayres, Graves de Vayres, France, 1995
Nice red, going to
orange. Slightly medicinal nose. A wee bit sharp, still lots
of fruit and tannin so might improve. 12% At this price, pretty
nice. Merlot 50:Cab Sauvignon 30:Cab Franc 20.
£7.50
6. Long Gully Pinot Noir, Yarra Glen, Victoria,
Australia, 1998
Lovely colour and
typically strawberry nose. Slightly petillant - most unusual.
Quite sweet, some strawberry, a bit unsophisticated, smooth, nice.
As always, I disagree about its aging potential with our chairman:
It has possibilities. Hard to mark it; a bit of a gamble and not too
cheap. Still, I'll go with it pending another taste. 14%
£15.00
7. Viniterra Syrah, Mendoza, Argentina, 1997
This is part of
the Omnium Reserve range. Really dark, the nose reaches out and hits
you; really rich, slihgtly off-putting. Big, fruity, hint of
Minervois but much bigger. No chocolate, surprisingly. Really
good, but maybe lacking complexity for this money? 13%
£14.00
8. Ochoa Reserva, Navarra, Spain, 1995
Lovely rich red, very
Spanish nose. Lovely soft supple tannins, loads of fruit, oak.
Tempranillo 85:Merlot 10:Cab Sauvignon 5. Lovely.
£11.50
9. Valduero Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain, 1995
Lightish, hint of orange. Rubbery nose, very pleasant.
Quite fiery, loads of fruit, slightly systhetic sweet taste (esters) up
front that will go with age. This could be great, but will need
quite a lot of time. 100% Tempranillo 12.5%
£18.00
10. Die Krans Touriga Nacional, Calitzdorp, South
Africa, 2000
Really deep Ribena colour. Fleeting nose. Big, burny, some
sweetness, but with backbone. Very pleasant. Will take some
age. 12.5%
£10.00
11. Irma's Cabernet, Long Gully, Yarra Glen,
Victoria, Australia, 1997
Deep rich red, lovely soft fruity nose. Quite jammy on
palate. Sme soft tannins, lots of fruit pastilles, generous, well
put together, very nice. Mostly Merlot with Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc
and Malbec.
£15.00
12. Barros Ruby Port
Lightish red, some orange. Fairly unsophisticated, not together,
sugary, quite burny, 19% The finish however says that it might get better
...
£10.00
12. Die Krans Ruby Port
Blacker but equally light red, Less upfront nose, sweet but not
sugary, more together by far. 90 Tinto Barocca: 5 Touriga Nacional:
5 ? 18%
£9.00