Lester Harvey, Manila's premier importer of NZ wines, invited to lunch last Friday at Alliance Francaise. The only condition - bring a French wine of no more than $ 30.00 or P 1,300.00.
Albert Mann Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg 2000 - Our only white and purchased in Engalnd for the equivalent of about $ 20.00. Darkish yellow-green. Ripe, with some age showing. Good acid and spicy finish. Lightish for Alsace but very good in any case.
Chateau St. Jacques Bordeaux Superieur 2003 - If I'm not mistaken, 3rd wine of Chateau Siran. Lightish color. Good fruit. Dry, light, lean, tannic. Could probably age a bit more. An easy drink. Very good for the price at a bit less than P 700.00.
Chateau Cap de Faugeres 2004 - Another Bordeaux from Cotes de Castillon. Very ripe fruit nose. Slightly hot. Very ripe fruit. Coffee. Sweet, tannic, modern. Very good in a Californian kind of way. Not for traditionalists. Good for the price. P 1,050.00.
Chateau Preuillac Medoc 2005 - A sample from Lester who is trying to figure out if this will sett at about P 1,400.00. Very dark. Leafy. Ripe and quite tannic. Dryish finish. Again, very good but at the proposed price, a tough sell.
It was about 3 PM when we ended with the above wines but then another bottle appeared courtesy of Bill Stone:
Jaboulet Domaine de Thalabert Crozes Hermitage 1998 - A refreshing change of pace after all the Bordeaux. Surprisingly tannic but the fruit is definitely fading; becoming a bit pruney. I would drink this up if I had any.
That was done by around 4 PM and we were about ready to leave but reinforcement arrives in the form of Bernie Sim, President of the Manila Chapter of the International Wine and Food Society and keeper of the keys to the Alliance Francaise cellar. After perusing what we had consumed, he declares he has a wine that would make a good comparison to the Capde Faugeres, also being from Cotes de Castillon. He then orders a bottle of:
Seigneur d'Aiguilhe 2001 - Second wine of Chateau d'Aiguilhe and the same price as the Cap de Faugeres. Another ripe, sweet, modern wine. Bernie declares the bottle "not quite right" and orders another one opened so now we have two bottles of this staring us in the face. Bernie declares the second bottle much better. I taste them side by side and while Bernie is right, the difference is hardly noticeable to my palate.
By now it's about 5:30 and leave Bill and Brendan behind to do justice to the Seigneurs. Tough day. I have to get back home to prepare for a wine dinner in 2 hours.
