2001 Les Garrigues Cuvee Romaine CDRhone - this Grenache based wine was
quite dark, with raspberry and ripe plum in the nose, and perhaps a hint of
anise. Sweet entry, and then a nice change from the Oz ooze monsters I've been
tasting lately, a leaner structure without the baby-fat - much more like a
Chateauneuf du Pape. Good length. Excellent value, and I agree with a friend
who said that it was even a bit better than the Perrin Vacqueyras.

The wine was the intermission offering with food in a single malt whisky
tasting that centred on the malts of the Northeast. A group of 6 single malt
fans meets irregularly to taste examples from our own stashes (I am at the 45
different malt stage, as are 4 others - the other fanatic has 70 or more)

All malts were nosed and tasted straight and then with a small drop of water
and compared. Some benefitted and some did not.

Tomintoul 10 - medium colour, nice toffee and wet slate nose, a bit hot. Water
didn't affect the nose much, but did take away the heat, brought out the fruit
and made it creamier in the mouth. A very nice dram indeed, and excellent value
- wish I'd bought a case!

Glenmorangie 10 - the nose was a bit faint until you let it open in the glass,
when it began to show a bit more. Complex sweet caramel in the mouth. Water
didn't hurt the taste, and did open up the nose a bit. I'd prefer it without
water, but the effects were fairly neutral.


Glenmorangie 12 - Sherry cask - sweet nose, golden colour. Toffee and pepper in
nose, hot in mouth. Water hurst the nose, the best part of this malt, and makes
it more simple in the mouth.

Glenmorangie 12 - Port cask - I am told that this version outsells the other
two handily. I expect the reason is simply that most of the public thinks that
old ladies drink Sherry, haven't a clue what Madeira is, and figure Port is a
man's drink (or know of it from Old Port cigars, also a 'manly' association).
The darkest of the three in colour, there wasn't as much happening in the nose,
although it wasn't as hot (though the same alcoholic content), and it was
pleasurably full in the mouth, if a bit straight forward and lacking
complexity. There was pepper here as well, but on palate, not in the nose as
had been the case with the Sherry version. Water killed what nose there was
without doing much either way to the taste.

Glenmorangie 12 - Madeira cask - bit of pepper in the nose, and a hint of
actual Madeira and general sweetness. It wasn't as smooth in the mouth as the
Port. Water improved it a bit. We all agreed that a malt with the nose of the
Sherry and feel of the Port would be a good thing, then went back to the 10
year old to enjoy the difference.


Glen Ord 12 - a slightly salty nose, sweet and forward in the mouth, with the
heat hitting right at the end. Water hurt the nose, but toned down the heat, so
I preferred it with water. A bit simple all in all.

Dalmore 12 - Excellent nose of caramel, dried grass and candied oranges. Big in
the mouth, hot and quite long. Water turned the nose to one of primarily citrus
fruit and reduced the heat. Nice malt.

Longmorn 15 - banana nose, immediate heat in mouth, but not too hot. Long and
lingering finish, with an uplifting feel along the edges of the tongue and
upper palate. No one wanted top try water with this, but when we did, it didn't
seem to help or hurt.

Scapa 12 - starts peaty, but quickly gained a sour note. Smooth in mouth, but
reprising the sourness on palate. Water imrpoved it considerably, and it became
a pleasant malt without the sourness.

Old Pulteney 12 - not much happening in the nose, sharp and hot in the mouth
wiothout anything interesting going on. Water didn't help or hurt.

Highland Park 12 - a light oil-lanolin nose, hot but tasty, if a bit short.
Water smoothed it and it became quite elegant.

Clynelish 14 - spirity nose, rich, sweet and smoky ion the mouth with an oily
feel. Water tempered the heat in the nose without affecting taste much. Nice
malt.


Caol Ila 18 - Oh my! Tar, and seaweed in the nose - you could close your eyes
and think you were sitting by the sea on creosoted logs smelling the wood fire
and the seaweed in front of you. Full, rich and tarry in the mouth. Bloody
marvellous. I'm sure some people would hate this stuff. Poor sods.....

Caol Ila 18 - Oh my! Tar, and seaweed in the nose - you could close your
eyes
and think you were sitting by the sea on creosoted logs smelling the wood
fire
and the seaweed in front of you. Full, rich and tarry in the mouth.
Bloody
marvellous. I'm sure some people would hate this stuff. Poor sods.....

Here is one poor sod. I have been told Islay malts are a love or hate. I
hate that awful mouthwash flavour, so peaty.
I have tried to like them, but part of my brain rebels,

Speyside, I love.
Now I can just see Bill saying, " Islay is for real men, Speyside for wimps"

JT

Now I can just see Bill saying, " Islay is for real men, Speyside for wimps"


I don't need to - you just did ;-)

Arr - give me a tarry monster to tussle with in front of the fire and I'll be a
happy sailor!

But some are even too much for me. Here's a note of one such killer we had last
time (other bottlings have been more palatable - to Real Men, anyway. Arr
laddy, have you ever been to sea....)

Glen Scotia 1990 (from the MacPhail Collection) 11 Year Old - 1). a nose like a
cross between low tide at the marina and a tire on fire was more than a bit
off-putting. Peat and seaweed in the mouth. 2). water mellowed this monster a
bit, but it was still hard to get past that nose. One person wanted more, the
others wanted to get rid of what they had!

John Taverner wrote:


Caol Ila 18 - Oh my! Tar, and seaweed in the nose - you could close your
eyes
and think you were sitting by the sea on creosoted logs smelling the wood
fire
and the seaweed in front of you. Full, rich and tarry in the mouth.
Bloody
marvellous. I'm sure some people would hate this stuff. Poor sods.....

Here is one poor sod. I have been told Islay malts are a love or hate. I
hate that awful mouthwash flavour, so peaty.
I have tried to like them, but part of my brain rebels,

Perhaps it's a result of what wines you've drunk? After countless Zins and
Syrahs, the funkiness of Islay malts seems comforting to me... ;-) However,
even to this Islayophile, Laphroaig is a bit of a stretch...

Pass the Lagavulin,
Mark Lipton

On 11 Feb 2004 17:20:02 GMT, (Bill Spohn) wrote:

Now I can just see Bill saying, " Islay is for real men, Speyside for wimps"


I don't need to - you just did ;-)

Arr - give me a tarry monster to tussle with in front of the fire and I'll be a
happy sailor!

But some are even too much for me. Here's a note of one such killer we had last
time (other bottlings have been more palatable - to Real Men, anyway. Arr
laddy, have you ever been to sea....)

Glen Scotia 1990 (from the MacPhail Collection) 11 Year Old - 1). a nose like a
cross between low tide at the marina and a tire on fire was more than a bit
off-putting. Peat and seaweed in the mouth. 2). water mellowed this monster a
bit, but it was still hard to get past that nose. One person wanted more, the
others wanted to get rid of what they had!

Thanks for the tip on the Glen Scotia, I think I'll nip into the shop
on Saturday for that one. BTW the Connoisseurs Choice Clynelish from
G&M isn't too great so its best sticking to the standard bottling,
though I (in a minority of one) prefer the old "Flora & Fauna" 14 yo
to the new bottling.

James
James Dempster (remove nospam to reply by email)

You know you've had a good night
when you wake up
and someone's outlining you in chalk.

(Bill Spohn) wrote in
:

2001 Les Garrigues Cuvee Romaine CDRhone - this Grenache based
wine was quite dark, with raspberry and ripe plum in the nose, and
perhaps a hint of anise. Sweet entry, and then a nice change from the
Oz ooze monsters I've been tasting lately, a leaner structure without
the baby-fat - much more like a Chateauneuf du Pape. Good length.
Excellent value, and I agree with a friend who said that it was even a
bit better than the Perrin Vacqueyras.

Good to hear that they are still making great wines; however, it is La
Garrigue in Vacqueyras (the family also grows Gigondas and has a
restaurant/hotel, Les Florets just outside of Gigondas) I can't get them
much in north Fl. This was, as I have said before, the winery where I had
my first real tasting experience, a moment that I shall cherish forever,
well for a long time still at any rate. :-)

Now I can just see Bill saying, " Islay is for real men, Speyside for wimps"
JT

Then, John, I am a wimp with you! And even better are those lovely earthy
Lowland malts - if you can find them!

"Johnners" wrote in message
...

Now I can just see Bill saying, " Islay is for real men, Speyside for
wimps"
JT

Then, John, I am a wimp with you! And even better are those lovely earthy
Lowland malts - if you can find them!

Glenkinchie is nice and should be ubiquitous.
Anders