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.