Monthly lunch notes (blind tasting)

2006 Sauvignon Republic Russian River Valley – these are the SB
fanatics that make SB in several parts of the world using the same
winemaker and techniques. A huge difference between these two wines.
This one, I didn’t much like at all. Tropical sweet fruit but with a
marked cheesy (some said dog food) component, soft and with some RS in
the mouth, not the sort of crisp, balanced SB I prefer.

2005 Sauvignon Republic Stellenbosch – tangy clean SB style nose, lots
of acidity and a bit to far on the austere side for me (I know, I’m
hard to please).

1999 Piper Heidsieck Brut – this was really quite nice! Clean young
nose, smooth in the mouth.

1999 Tyrells Vat 47 Pinot Chardonnay – showing a bit of colour, nice
citrus nose that also followed through on palate, some toast, good
length. Very nice.

1994 Tignanello – I was interested to see them heading right for
France with this one. Medium colour, with a nice somewhat spicy nose,
mellow, smooth and elegant with only hints of soft tannin. Should
drink well over the next 5 years but perfect now.

1980 Backsberg Estate Cabernet – this Cape wine came across as a light
coloured wine with a hint of mint in the nose, and a bit of sweet
berry, simple on palate and on the downslide. Remarkable it had held
up so well.

1998 Guigal Cote Rotie Brun et Blonde – dark wine, raw bacon nose with
white pepper, tight and still a bit tannic, but drinking well now.

1998 Ch. Jean de Gué (Lalande de Pomerol) – this modest Bordeaux was
showing good depth of fruit, and a slightly funky earthy nose.
Drinking well now with good fruit in th mouth.

2002 Dom. Trintignant CNduP – not a common Chateauneuf around these
parts. Pepper, fruit and cheese in the nose, then a surprisingly
smooth medium bodied wine as it slid down. Just the thing for an
afternoon tipple.

1997 Concha Y Toro Don Melchior Cabernet – slightly elastoplast nose
that later became minty, good concentration and length, fairly
extracted. Nice.

2002 Concha Y Toro Don Melchior Cabernet – big cocoa nose on this one,
smooth, with decent length, finishing quite dry. Very different from
the other vintage.

1970 Taylors Port – smooth excellent nose, not too hot, the wine
somewhat sweet, just enough for my thoughts to be heading for
Grahams. Excellent colour, quite dark, very smooth and drinking
perfectly right now, a truly excellent Port at the peak of it’s life,
but it will last a long time yet.