1. Chanson Meursault, Burgundy, 2004
Light
golden yellow. Lovely zing - a hint of acid drops. Good fruit; apple,
butter, almond. The oak will mellow into it. Not as big and rounded
as you'd expect from a Meursault but very nice at €20. I wouldn't
pay €39 for it though. 13.5%
€39, was reduced to €20 on O'Briens sale
2. Springfield Estate, Robertson, Methode Ancienne, 2002
Served blind. Deep
green-yellow. Very buttery and oaky. Riesling on the nose but Chardonnay
in the mouth. Too zingy and over the top for me, although very nice. 14%
alc.
€28 from Searsons, but €20 in the sale
3. Baron de Bachen, Tursan,
France
Very intense nose followed by
a huge burst of fruit and nettles. A long finish. Oak not intruding.
A food wine and very good; a buy at sale price. Owned by Michel Gerard, a
three-star Michelin chef. Cepage Baroque; Petit Manseng, Sauvignon. 13%
Terroirs €26.50
reduced to
€17.50
4. Chateau Haut-Bages Averous,
Pauillac, 1998
Mid-red with a rich fruitcake
nose; a bit woody. Still quite tough, good fruit, lots of wood. Will
it last? This is the second wine of Ch Lynch-Bages. 13%
€39.95 reduced to €29.95
5. Chateau Lynch Bages,
Pauillac, 5eme cru classe, 2002
Lovely brown-edged, crystal
clear dark red. Nice nose of violets. Wonderfully fruity but with a sharp
edge. Frank Searson called it "taut and nervy" - a great
description. 73% Cab Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc, 2% Petit Verdot.
€65 on the shelf, €39.95 on sale
6. M. Chapoutier 'La
Bernardine' Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2004
Light red with a lighter rim.
A bit dumb, somewhat drying in the mouth. Has potential but astringent.
100% Grenache, 14.% alcohol.
Oddbins €30.49; €24.39
on sale
7.
Domaine les Gouberts, Gigondas, 1998 (Magnum)
Mid to dark red. Huge nose;
smoky. Loads of fruit, very spicy, zingy, long finish. Very nice,
certainly demolished the Chateauneuf on quality and is a little cheaper.
13.5%
Terroirs €59.50 reduced to €43.50 per magnum
8.
San Felice, Brunello di Montalcino Campogiovanni, Tuscany, 2001
Garnet. Lovely nose with a
hint of farmyard. Warming, good acidity, silky, classy blackberry flavours
lading to a long, bitter finish. Gorgeous. 100% Sangiovese clone from
about 25 miles south of Siena. 13.5%. Yum!
O'Briens €35 reduced to €25
9.
Majella Shiraz, Coonawarra, S. Australia, 2003
Dark red, lovely clean nose.
Eucalyptus, mint, fruit, spice, soft tannins, vegetal. Lovely but a bit
fiery; the 14% alcohol is showing through.
Oddbins €21.99 reduced to €17.59
10.
Castelnau de Suduiraut, Sauternes, 2002
Leggy, sl. brown yellow. Very
fresh, spicy, tropical fruits. In the mouth a huge burst of citrus
followed by honey. Lovely. Buy! This is the second wine of Ch. Suduiraut
and is 90% Semillon and 10% Sauvignon Blanc.
O'Briens €25 reduced to €19.95