Some blind tasting lunch notes:
2005 Wm. Fevre Chablis Les Preuses – some colour already in this one and a nice sweet fruit and citrus (mostly lime) nose. The acidity was only adequate and the wine gave a fairly soft impression. Decent.
1986 Ch. Montelena Cabernet – fairly dark wine with a ripe mature cabernet nose of slightly stewy plum and leather. Balanced, long and tasty. A good showing. Makes me think of opening a 1987 soon.
1997 Castello Banfi Brunello – Banfi can be a bit variable, but this was a decent one. Deep red with lighter edges, pretty good fruit, lots of acid and some tannin, but not overly complex on palate.
2003 Chave Offerus St. Joseph – dark wine with a nice blackberry and cinnamon nose, lots of soft tannin, medium length. Took a bit of time to open up and become obvious syrah.
2000 Tua Rita Giusto di Notri - this Italian wine was dark with a nice sweet plummy fruit nose. Beautiful elegant wine with great persistence of fruit on palate and excellent length. Wow!
2003 Jean-Claude Boisset Gevrey Chambertin Lavaux St Jacques – this premier cru showed well, with a nice sweet fruit nose with blackberry, spice and herbs, lots of tannin and rather un-pinotlike. The fruit became more cherry with time.
2001 Delheim Grand Reserve – no one could place this Stellenbosch cabernet merlot blend, aged in French oak. Wet stone and cassis nose, medium body, good length and impressive levels of pure fruit with an herbaceous note at the end.
2008 ‘Sheridan’ Shiraz – a Washington state wine made in BC from Sheridan sourced grapes. Very dark with purple edges, fat legs, sweet nose and ripe. Little RS present, no rush and a good choice with cheese.