On Feb 24, 9:32?pm, "Bill S." > wrote:
> Notes from Bill's Business Lunch, February episode.
>
> 2004 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc - sure didn't pick this as a CB. nice
> fruit and kiwi nose, lots of acid but not up to normal CB levels, and
> none of the minerality one expects. A CB that drinks well much younger
> than most vintages.
>
> 2004 Quinta dos Carvalhos Encruzado - not often you come to lunch and
> add a varietal to your lifetime varietal rota, but this was the first
> time I'd ever tasted Encruzado, an old Portuguese varietal no longer
> in general cultivation. All the minerality the CB lacked and then
> some, smooth and clean and medium long. Very interesting!
>
> with marinated calamari and shrimp
>
> 2001 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard - instantly recognizable as a
> PN but opinions divided on the old world new world decision. Clean
> cherry nose, refined wine with tannins cutting in at the end. Needs
> time.
>
> 1998 Les Hauts de Montmirail - this Brusset wine was showing a pure
> fruit nose, slightly warm, middle weight, still fair bit of tannin and
> a dry, spicy white pepper finish.
>
> with wabbit
>
> 1989 Ch. d'Armaillhac - elegant wine showing mature colour - I thought
> it was older. Tannins now very soft, smooth on palate and at a nice
> stage for drinking.
>
> 1999 Pontet Canet - firm tannins on this and dark colour, lots of
> extract, needs time, the nose still very primary.
>
> 1992 Hess Collection - this cab based wine has matured nicely. Pure
> plumy fruit nose, with caramel and vanilla, dark colour, with tannin
> still evident, good length and a whiff of anise at the end. Has time
> left.
>
> with fig stuffed Guinea fowl
>
> 1999 Castello di Gabbiano Alleanza - bitter cherry nose with some soy
> sauce, good concentration and fruit and a pleasant bitterness at the
> end. Blend of sangio, cab and merlot.
>
> 2001 Plaisir de Merle Cabernet - this Cape wine was showing a ripe
> nose , good but not prominent acidity, and not too much tannin, very
> drinkable now.
>
> 2000 Meerlust Rubicon - sweet slightly perfumed nose, nice weight,
> some tannin and more acid.
>
> with cheese
>
> 1998 Wolf Blass Shiraz Low Yeilding Vineyards (Barossa) - a rare
> bottle, this had a sweet, ripe, friendly nose with a bit of heat.
> Supple and sweet fruit in the middle and good length.
>
> 2001 Edmunds St John Peay Vd. Syrah - a warm one at 14.9%, but clearly
> syrah. Medium dark, and a big well rounded well balanced wine.
>
> Dom. de Forca Real Hors d'Age Rivesaltes - this Muscat was delightful,
> with orange peel in the nose, lots of stuffing in the mouth and a long
> dry finish. Much better than if it had been too sweet! 15% alcohol and
> a great way to end a lunch.

Thanks for the notes on the Armaillhac. I have a few bottles of the
1989 and haven't tasted them in a while and it sounds like I need to
drink up.