Notes from the June lunch.
2009 Rustenberg Chardonnay Five Soldiers – medium colour, sulfur and lemon nose with hints of vanilla. Developed a pineapple thing with time. Quite good.
2015 Domaine Lafage Cuvée Centenaire – this Roussillon with gray and white Grenache and roussanne showed some nice lemon lime in the nose plus stone fruit and floral notes. It finished softer than the previous wine. Very decent showing.
2010 Foxtrot Pinot Noir Erickson Vd. – light in colour with a fairly intense meaty, fruity nose, some really tasty cassis on palate and a long clean finish. Excellent.
1996 Seghesio Barolo La Villa – medium colour, some good Nebbiolo nose characteristics with both roses and tar as well as black cherry showing up. Lots of acidity and astringency which seemed to overwhelm the moderate fruit and a medium long dry finish.
1996 Barnett Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake Hill – medium coloured wine with some nice blackberry fruit, a bit lifted, full on palate and smooth with hint of mint in the long finish. At peak now and no point waiting.
2000 Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello – medium colour, spicy earthy notes in the nose plus fruit and cedar notes, and quite nice on palate with some juiciness and good fruit depth and length.
1989 Dow Quinta do Bomfim – fairly pale browning wine, hot and spicy nose, viscous feel, excellent dried fruit flavours and good length. This showed beautifully.
2005 Ch. Rieussec – great way to finish with two excellent dessert wines! This was yellow/orange already with a marmalade nose and honeyed lemon and nutty notes on palate, exquisitely balanced and long.
(I'm sure Jenise would concur!)