Blind tasting lunch notes.
2008 Blue Mountain Blanc de Blancs – this bubble made from chard was light straw colour, had excellent mousse, lots of acidity and some nice apple notes that showed up with a bit of airing.
Eyrie Vd. Rose of Pinot Meunier (old vines) – this Oregon bubble showed lovely colour, and interesting slightly funky nose and good balance.
2006 C. Moreau Chablis Valmur Grand Cru – ripe chard nose with apple and butter, some colour, rich and smooth on palate.
2001 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes – mature colour, browning a bit at the edge, and a mature nose with fruit ad mingled tar. Good acidity and soft tannin. Perfect now and no reason to hold.
1983 Leoville Barton – an obviously claret nose, and a well structured wine with a nice cedar nose and soft tannin, pleasant and with medium length.
2008 Phelps Creek Pinot Noir Dragonfly Vd. – nice light clear colour, a nose of fruit and flowers, and a bit of spice, with lots of spicy fruit on palate.
2003 Sheridan Vd. L’Orage – claret blend from Yakima, darker and with ripe plummy red fruit nose with an interesting milky sweet component, still fairly tannic.
2003 Eben Sadie Columella – Cape syrah blend, this wine showed clean pure fruit and was quite dark with a sweet finish, quite full at the end.
2007 Domaine Montvac Vacqueyras ‘Variation’ – brought this back from the Rhone a few years ago and wanted to try it. Fairly dark, but also quite dumb in the nose, although very gradually opening up a bit. Lighter than you’d expect a 2007 to be. Decent berry fruit on palate.
1997 E&E Black Pepper Shiraz – blood/iron in the nose and some black pepper and spice. Almost elegant with good length. If only all Aussie Shiraz showed this sort of balance!
1991 Dow Port – medium dark with some nice jammy cherry fruit in the nose , a rather chalky mouth feel, and a sweet mellow finish with chocolate notes. Good showing. Start drinking!