Notes on some bottles from last week:

1997 Dom. Remizierres Crozes Hermitage Cuvee Christophe – I’d had the
96 and wanted to compare. This wine was showing the colour, not to
mention a nose of mature Burgundy, was elegant with good length and
only went back to the Rhone at the end, lacking the Burgundian
polish. Fully mature now but should hold a bit. More mature than the
last bottle I tried in November 2007

1997 Dom. Coursodon St. Joseph La Sensonne – one that turned up in my
recent cellar search/reconstruction – a whole case of Rhone I hadn’t
looked at since purchase. A cork was pulled with some trepidation,
but there was no worry. Dark wine with plum and leather notes in the
nose along with a hint of nutmeg, ending with soft tannin, good fruit
and clean acidity. Glad this one turned up as it will be in prime
time for the next few years (if it lasts that long!).

1995 Ch. Deyrem Valentin - this Margaux cru bourgeois got a tough
review on release, cited as offering too much acidity and tannin. Well
the good news is that this has all resolved and fallen into place,
there was decent fruit under it all, and it is now a very presentable
if modest but enjoyable claret that ends with a sort of chalky feel in
the mouth. Uncorked to commemorate the death of Rumpole creator John
Mortimer, in place of the Ch. Fleet Street, Ch. Thames Embankment or
Pommeroy's Very Ordinary that would have been appropriate but for
which I searched but found not among my bottles.