Preamble Tasting April 2002
Conor Richardson
Burgundy Direct
1. Mauzac vdp, Domaine de Martinolles, Languedoc, France, 2000
Hawthorn
on the nose. Good acidity, despite the location, because its at 200m
and so a little cooler. Very pleasant, very unusual. Mauzac is
the grape used in Blanquette de Limoux, a sparkling wine a bit cheaper
than Cremant.
€7.75
2. Pouilly-Fume AC, Domaine Figeat, Loire, France, 2000
Quite
aromatic, floral, quite smoky elegant. Tropical fruit and citrus.
13% Very nice.
€13.50
3. Saint-Veran AC, Domaine Corsin,
Burgundy, France, 1999
Hint of
oak on the nose. Good caramel fruit, some oak,warm, full, with lemon
in the long, long finish. From Maconnais. Perhaps a bit expensive.
€14-15
4. Valpolicella DOC, La Ragose, Verona, Italy,
2000
Very
light red. Quite dumb. Easy drinking, hint of something
Gamay-like. Some amaro, mixed with sweetness. Fresh, nice,
light, easy drinking. Benefit from another year in bottle. Bit
dear.
€11.75
5. Ramitello DOC, Di
Majo Norante, Molise, Italy, 1998 
Lovely
rich red. Dumb. Some tannins, hint of farmyard, dense.
Quite a bit of bitter cherry. Very long mouth coating
tannin finish. Yum. Abruzzi to the north and Apulio to the
south. 80% Montepulciano, 20% Aglianico. 13.5%
€11.75
6. Chateau Calon AC, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France.
Fairly light with a hint of brown showing through. Lots of
crunchy tannins. Dry, fairly fresh. Nolt gone on the
finish. 30% Cab Sauvignon, 30% Cab Franc, 40% Merlot.. 12.5%
€16.50
7. Givry 'Pied de Chaume' AC, Domaine Joblot,
Burgundy, France, 2000
Light,
pinky. Hint of farmyard. Quite fruity, way too young, improved
in the glass. Qite elegant but definintely not developed yet.
This is a 5-6 year wine. Challonaise, 15%. Conor recommends
Pinot with chicken.
€16.75
8. Saint-Aubin AC, Domaine Colin, Burgundy,
Vrance, 2000
Light,
less pink. Somewhat smoky nose. Much fuller, slightly
stronger, good tasnnins, slightly green. Bit young, should improve
over a few years.
€16.50 - 17.50
9. Chassagne-Montrachet AC, Domaine
Gagnard Delagrange, Burgundy, France, 1999
Light
with a strawberry nose. Soft, supple tannins. Big burn.and
acid attack. Some thought it jammy, I didn't. Ripe
fruit. Will improve greatly, probably optimum at 5-6 years old.
€21
10. Amarone DOC, LA Ragose, Verona, Italy
Really
deep, with a prune and cherry nose. Very ripe, concentrated, good
amaro but perhaps a bit too sweet. Coating tannins. Way too
young, another ten years or more. Shame about the price.
€40.50