On May 9, 12:02*pm, "Bill S." > wrote:
> May lunch notes
>
> 2007 Dobbes Willamette Pinot Gris – went rattling about the houses
> trying to place this one. *A slightly green soft creamy nose, nice and
> crisp on palate.
>
> 2007 Puffeney Arbois Cuvee les Berangeres – a Jura wine made from
> Trousseau grape, this was definitely a Jenise ‘gotcha’. *Medium
> colour, cranberries showing up on palate, a tad of heat, very pleasant
> and kept on changing in the glass. *Jenise – no more Puff-daddy wines
> – unfair! *This grape is also called, (no doubt after people that
> spring it on unsuspecting blind tasting) *******o. *It makes its way
> into Port as well.
>
> 1999 Castello della Paneretta Quattrocentenario – this 100% sangiovese
> based Tuscan IGT wine was big and dark, with only average acidity and
> full in the mouth, so it took awhile to get around to sangio. *Super-
> sangio? *Big slightly earthy blackberry nose and a nice full mouth
> feel all the way through the lengthy finish.
>
> 1983 Chasse Spleen – showing so well it was about the last of the 80s
> vintages we tried. *Fairly dark, classic claret nose, not much tannin
> left, sweet entry and supple wine. *Many much bigger names could do so
> well in this vintage.
>
> 1978 Clos du Val Cabernet – these cabs from the 70s and 80s were
> killer value, and I’m not sure what happened to them in more recent
> years. I was always a follower of Portet and never failed to stop here
> when down racing in California, to add a few bottles for the cellar on
> the way home. Still fairly dark, sweet in the nose, cocoa coming in on
> palate and a decent length. *Much better shape that I’d have thought
> at this age.
>
> 2000 Alter Ego *- this is Palmer’s second label, but unlike many
> seconds, this is quite good. Still pretty tight, with excellent colour
> and nose, bright with some spice, warm smooth finish with softening
> tannins.
>
> 2006 Fordori Granato – OK, pulling out a *******o was one thing, but a
> Teroldego Rotaliano in the same tasting? *A ton of stuff happening in
> this wine, the nose sweet and a little candied red fruit, tannin
> evident, and while it had decent fruit, I found it just a little
> hollow in the middle, finishing with a fair bit of acidity.
>
> 1991 Ch. Montelena Estate – first bottle of this I’ve opened and I’m
> glad I waited. The nose was a bit restrained until it aired quite a
> bit, but it then showed some wood and some plum. *Dark wine with edges
> not lightening a bit yet, sweet entry, smooth and long in the mouth,
> with impressive power but also an elegance lacking in many Napa Cabs.
> Excellent and the next bottle will wait a couple of years. *This is
> the reason I used to buy and cellar California cabs!
>
> 1998 St. Hallets The Reward – as soon as I dipped my nose into this
> wine, I went for Australia, and as soon as I tasted it, I went for
> 1998 cab, but I didn’t get the producer. *Sweet warm dark wine with
> mint and eucalyptus in the nose, along with dark cherries and cocoa.
> Good length, and a good place to have put this wine.
>
> Casal dos Jordoes 10 Year Tawny Port – browning colour, Port nose –
> little doubt it was a Tawny, though I thought it could have been a 20
> year. * *Long persistent finish

Clos du Val made outstanding wines in their beginning but the quality
dropped over time.