Notes from a Sunday brunch.

Kir - I suppose the only consolation is that the white wine used here
for this sort of drink is not as lean and nasty as some of the stuff
used in France, which really requires the addition of something sweet
to soften the edge. But given that, the question remains - why not
just drink the white wine? Oh well.


2001 Ch. Chantegrive Cuvee Caroline (graves) - 50% semillon, 30%
sauvignon blanc, 20% muscadelle. Showing some colour, and a lemony
nose, good acid but a little lacking in the middle, finishing a tad
short. Ho hum.

Served with truffled quail and sweetbread terrine.


2001 Ch. l'Arrivet-Haut Brion - 60% sauv., 35% Semillon, 5%
muscadelle. Much nicer, with a grassier nose with ripe melon notes,
clean and fresh in the mouth with a hint of anise on the finish.

With seared filet of Thai snapper on fennel pure=E9


1995 Ch. Grand-Mayne (St. Emilion) - there was an interesting
difference of opinion on this wine. It showed a ripe sweet fruit nose
with some interesting spiciness, and good fruit in the middle. In my
opinion the wine is just starting to drink well, but several others
thought it was getting tired. Either different bottles or different
tastes.

With roasted lamb chops with goat cheese panna cotta


1986 Ch. Pichon Lalande (Pauillac) - I was expecting an
uncharacteristically big hard unrelenting wine based on past experience
wit this a few years ago, so was rather surprised to find that this was
presenting much better than I thought it would. Ripe fruit nose with
good depth, now starting to show some complexity, smooth and rich in
the mouth with obvious but not off-putting tannins. It drinks quite
well now, with a pleasant sweetness. This conflicts with other's
recent notes on this wine.

With cheese.


1988 Ch. Guiraud - I was really impressed with this Sauternes. Great
nose of Botrytis, honey and spice, excellent balance, not coming across
as too sweet and with bright acidity, the honey coming in again at the
end. Drinking very well now and with years to go!

With pear frangipane tart.

All in all, not an unpleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Kir
.. But given that, the question remains - why not
just drink the white wine? Oh well.

Kir, how to ruin good wine or disguise undrinkable c**p...IMHO of course

pichon note noted.

John