Home > Vintages and Regions > Other Wines > Three Tasting Groups

Three Tasting Groups

A collection of notes from a local meeting, tasted over dinner. (12/6/02)

Tasting Notes

Tasted in June 2002. Click to locate stockists:

Gonzalez Byass Fino 'Elegante': A good nose here, with white fruits and nuts. Dry, flavoursome yet elegant palate. Very approachable. 16/20

Chateau de Daveney Montagny 1er Cru 1997: A nose of clean minerals and white fruit. It opens up in the glass to reveal hints of honey and oak. Medium to full bodied on the palate, with plenty of fruit once the wine has warmed, with a honeyed edge to the texture. Fresh acidity. Very pleasing. 16.5/20

Johannes Schneider Merinnger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Trocken (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer) 1993: Limes and petrol on the nose, with hints of tropical fruits. A very dry palate, yet full-bodied, with plenty of lime pastille flavour. There's plenty of acidity, too much for me. I might have preferred this with a more traditional approach to fermentation. 12.5/20

Chateau Lascombes (Margaux) 1997: A moderately coloured, transparent wine. A good nose, youthful in character, redolent of black cherries, coffee and liquorice. The palate reflects the 1997 vintage, quite softly textured and medium bodied, with supple tannins. There's a good amount of fruit in this pleasant, balanced but lightweight wine. Ready for drinking now. 13/20

Alain Voge Cornas "Les Vieilles Fontaine" 1996: A deep and inky colour to this wine, fading to a youthful, purple edge. Lots of fruit on the nose, with a sweet, intense, black cherry jam edge. Violets with smoke, soot and tar like characteristics belie the appellation. Firmly structured on the palate, with supple tannins and typical 1996 acidity. The fruit is there although it has an austere edge, unlike the exuberant nose. 17/20

Rymill Coonawarra Merlot Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon (SA) 1997: A youthful red-black colour. Leathery nose, with a spicy fruitcake edge. Full of sweet fruit on the palate, with that leathery edge coming through. Plenty of alcohol, some tannins. 15.5/20

Cape Mentelle Zinfandel (Margaret River, WA) 1994: A deep, dark red-black colour. Sumptuous berry fruit on the nose, with black cherry character. Rich and velvety fruit on the palate, which has a fat, rounded texture. There's plenty of fresh acidity and spicy, peppery tannins. 16/20

Zenato Amarone della Valpolcella 1993: A paler red than many of the other wines served tonight. Sweet cherries on the nose, with some wood influence. Good texture on the palate, which still has plenty of fruit. Nice bittersweet edge to the cherry, rose petals, cigar, tar and smoke flavours. A delightful texture and wonderfully clean finish. 17.5/20

Villa Borghetti Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 'Pasqua' 1997: A great colour to this wine, which has an enticing aroma of tarry fruit. Richness on the palate, with powerful fruit, and firm yet supple tannins. Cherries, black cherries, tar and violets. Very primary, and packed with tannin on the finish. Needs more time. 17+/20

Graham Beck Rhona Muscadel (South Africa) 1997: A lemon-golden hue. Classic fresh, white fruit and musky, aromatic grape aromas on the nose. Quite captivating, but I have a penchant for this style dessert wine. Delicious palate, packed with fruit and character, and wonderfully fresh acidity. Terribly undervalued wine. 17/20

Quady Elysium Black Muscat (Madera, California) 2000: A bright red hue, with a nose of liquorice and spice. Red berry fruit on the palate, with a nice level of alcohol, good acidity and more liquorice and spice. 15.5/20