Preamble Tasting July 2003 
Harkin Blind 2003
Mick Harkin

1. Tenuta S. Anna, Pinot Grigio, Friuli DOC, N E Italy, 2002,
Harsh length.  Hint of Riesling.  Very unpleasant length on front of tongue.   12%,
Solway Wines €8.20

2. Gold Rock, Verdelho,  Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia, 2001
Slightly oaked; thought it was oily Chardonnay.  Not the same Verdelho as in Portugal.  Pineapple and passion fruit.  13%.  Very pleasant. 
Superquinn €9.99

3. Sella Mosca, Terre Bianche, Alghero, Torbato, Sardinia, 2001
Dry but fruity, hint of caramel. Apricot nose. Possibly too floral.  12%.  Unusual but pricey at  
McCabes €13.95

4. Nadaria, Nera d'Avola (100%), Sicily, 2001
Big nose; prunes.  Somewhat tannic, hint of port (Nacional?)  A bit harsh on the finish but a good value wine.  13.5%
Oddbins €8.99

5. Barefoot Reserve, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Valley, Calif, USA, 2001
Very light pink with a pale rim. A teeny bit sugary; notes of cedar and raspberry.  This would be a good food wine 13.5%
Superquinn €13.99

6. Cannonau di Sardegna, Le Bombarde, Sardinia, Italy, 2001
Mid red; ketones and cherries on the nose.  Some nice soft tannins, herbs, soft fruit.  Interesting, unusual, worth a try. 13%

McCabes €13.50

7. Goats do Roam,  W. Cape, South Africa, 2002
Mid- to deep-red; looks young.  Soft nose, quite sweet but with a hint of stern backbone; pepper; nice grip.  A very interesting wine at a good price. 33% Pinotage, 66% Rhone mix.14% alc
Oddbins €9.50

8. Naoussa Boutari, Xynomavro, Naoussa, N. Greece, 2000
Light red, big medicinal nose.  Good grip, fruity, bitter finish, quite green.12%
Oddbins €9.99

9. Tenute Rubino - Jaddico Brindisi Rosso,  Italy, 2001
Old and farmy, tannic, quite tough, bitter finish; blockbuster! Very unusual, big, robust. Negroamaro mainly. 13.5%
Divinis, Bologna, €15.00 (in Italy)

10. Ch Etienne des Lauzes,  Saint-Chinian, Languedoc, France, 1998
Quite a bit of greenwood.  Very herby.  I like i.  A few years to go; very distinctive.  Another blockbuster.
Syrah, some Grenache,12.5%
Searsons €19.99

11. Warwick Three Cape Ladies, 1998,  Stellenbosch, SA
Hint of cedar; a good wine by the nose.  Very smooth, slightly medicianal.  Cassis, mint, pepper.  Nice stern backbone. 
33% Cab Sauv, 33% Merlot, 33% Pinotage. 13%.
Searsons €21.99

12. D'Arenberg Galvo Garage, McLaren Vale, Australia, 2001
Very dark.  Soft fruit, liquorice, huge extract, good grip, soft and sweet, smooth, spirituous, condensed milk, lovely nut way too young - buy for cellaring. 
60% Cab Sauv, 20% Merlot, 14% Cab Franc. 14.5%.
Oddbins €16.99


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