Preamble Tasting October
2001
Terroirs Wine & Food Evening
Sean & Francoise Gilley
1. Chateau de la Ragotiere, Muscadet de Sevre et Main sur lie, 1999
Pale, greenish tinge.
V. little nose, very dry, crisp, cutting. this is Melon de Bourgogne
from 100 year old vines, vinified in barriques and aged on its lees.
Went exceptionally well with tuna - definitely good with oily fish.
A pleasant change from some of the over lean Muscadet of recent years. 12%
£8.95
2. Gran Araucano Chardonnay, Colchagua, Chile, 1999
Lemony appearance, lovely
slightly oaky nose, with melons and tropical fruits. On
the palate; fruit, new oak, quite a burn, lime and pineapple? Lovely
finish Lipsmackin' and not too up front.13%. Made by
Jean and Francois Lurton, Sean says that it's restrained, Fench
style. I disagree, I thought it definitely up-front, big, new
world. Smoked trout showed it off beautifully.
£12.90
3. Kean-Marc Boillot, Rully Premier Cru,
Bourgogne, 1998
Hint of dilvery lime, lovely
smoky nose with fruit and a hint of flowers. Dry, a little
butterscotch, fresh sruit, creamy, elegant, 13%. Lovely wine,
changes from start to long, long, finish. To age 5-8 years. So
much better tha the previous, and well-worth the price difference.
Try with goat's cheese.
£16.95
4. Pierre Gaillard, Syrah, N. Rhone, 2000
Slightly murky reddish
purple. Not very discernable nose (some said spicy). A little
light, but smooth, hint of chocolate, no pepper, smooth finish. 12%
2000 is said to be a magnificent vintage in the Rhone. This is made
from a blend from old vines from Condrieu and St. Joseph, all
hand-picked. Aged in oak, in a mixture of large and small barriques,
for 6-8 months. Supple tannins. Good drinking wine. Went well
with olives.
£8.99
5. Michele et Patrice Rion, Bourgogne Les Bon Batons,
1999
Light, clean with
a rubbery nose. Thought maybe a hint of Irancy, Gamay. Warm,
balanced, long, witha buzz at the end. A little strawberry.
100% Pinot from clay and stone soil. Good price for a very good
Burgundy. Give it a few more years. Exquisite with pheasant
pate.
£12.95
6. Ch. Lestage-Simon, Cru Bourgeois, Haut-Medoc, 1998
Deep rich
red. Warm, soft nose. Condensed milk, lots of fruitcake,
damson, crunchy tannins and burn. Will need maybe five years, Very
well made wine. 68% Merlot, 27% Cab Sauvignon, 5% Cab Franc.
With duck rillette.
£16.95
7. Cave de Castelmaure, Grande Cuvee, Corbieres, 1999
Rich, dark clean
red with a purple rim. Warm, some rubber, cherries on the
nose. Palate of cherries, bramble, good acid, some burn hint of
sweetness. 45% Aged in large vats and small
barriques. Won gold medal at Macon. Very pleasant, will age
nicely.Grenache Noir, 45% Syrah, 10% Carignan. 13%
£11.95
8. Ochoa Reserva, Navarra, Spain, 1998
Almost Cahors-like dark
red. Rich, weighty nose of prunes. Jammy, loads of good
tannins, fruit, violets, some sugar. 13.5% Very nice - even at
£20 - but something (ever so slightly) missing. Aged 18 months in
new oak. Syrah, Grenache, Carignan. Great with Comte cheese.
£19.95
9. Fisher Vineyards, "Coach Insignia", Napa
Valley, 1997
Quite
unctuous looking, deep, sl. murky red. Very cdumb, some oak.
Rich, vanilla, berry fruit, tannins and condensed milk.14%. Very
nice but too expensive. Classic Bordeaux blend - 77% Cab Sauvignon,
15% Merlot, 8% Cab Franc. Comes 77% from Napa and 23% from
Sonoma. Went wonderfully well with Michel Cuizel chocolate.
£29.50
10. Rockford Basket Pressed Shiraz, Barossa Valley,
1996
Rich,
clear mid-red. Nose difficult to pin down: slightly medicinal
and a hint of Italian about it. Incredibly rich, forest fruit, berries,
pepper, spice, port characteristics. 14.5% Made by Robert (Rocky)
O'Callaghan, it is big, elegant (maybe a bit over-baked, according to
Sean). Good wine but I wouldn't rave about it. Don't think it
will last the ten years it claims. Also went wonderfully well with
even darker Michel Cuizel chocolate.
£22.00