Notes from an especially enjoyable lunch before the Canadian long
weekend.

1993 Dom. du Closel Savennieres Clos du Papillon – this Chenin blanc
based wine was a single bottle I found in my cellar after I’d thought
I’d drunk it up. Long aged wines, (they need about 7 years after the
vintage to mute the aggressive acidity) this turned out to be a
winner. A nose of pears with slight oxidative notes, medium ellow
colour, dry with good length and balance. Still has time – wish I had
more.

1995 Lopez Heredia Vina Tondonia Riserva – this fully mature Rioja
showed a medium light colour and some almost pinot notes in the nose,
although wood did feature strongly. Some earth and ripe fruit and soft
tannins, and good acidity and balance. Nice wine.

1993 Remoissenet Volnay – a recent release here, and a typical fruit
based elegant nose from a fairly pale wine, clean and balanced. Nice
now, don’t hold.

1985 Ducru Beaucallou – killer wine! Good colour, classic lead pencil
nose, this drinks perfectly now - beautiful claret with ample fruit
and long finish. Will hold awhile too.

2009 Famille Perrin Vinsobres – bargain wine of the day – under $20
and will last for several years. Sweet fruit in the nose, good depth
of flavour and medium length. Now and for at least 5 years.

1996 Falesco Montiano – I was really pleased with this merlot based
wine (and not just because I brought it). A very Bordeaux nose led to
guesses about France, and it was sweet and round in the mouth with
excellent acidity. Pity the people that drank this up in the first
flush of youth – they missed out.

1998 Terrabianca Cepatte – an other excellent IGT, this time cab with
the merlot. Dark, with a ripe nose of vanilla with hints of tar, good
fruit and lots of stuffing and extraction. No rush.

2008 Giacosa Falletto Dolcetto d’Alba – dark ripe wine with basically
no tannins at all, quiet sweet in the mouth and pleasant.

1994 Pichon Baron – dark with hints of mint in the nose, and
blackberries, good structure and length. Hard to spot as a 94 – one of
the best, even better than the last Pichon Lalande I opened.

1995 Beaucastel – a back up wine opened in the holiday spirit and a
pleasure to taste. Nose of dark fruit (cherry and plum?) ripe and with
hints of road tar, and in the mouth amazingly smooth with softening
tannins and excellent length. I haven’t started on my stash of a case
and a half, but based on this I’ll probably try a bottle a year from
now on until it snaps totally into focus.

2010 And Co. The Supernatural (New Zealand) – this sauc blanc was
interesting – varietal nose, and decent, but lacking acidity and
balance.

2001 Hugel Pinot Gris ‘Hugel’ Vendage Tardif - lots of peaches in
this fragrant nose, and good weight and acidity, an elegant wine with
significant residual sugar. Loved this one.