Started with a glass of 1995 Cristal, for me this had an overpowering nose of Biscuit and yeast, on the palate it was much fresher with green apple and citrus characters...but personally not my cup of tea, reccomended at best, pass me the 96' Pol Roger any day
We then had a bottle of the 1994 Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Heimbourg Vendage Tardives , Heimbourg is the vineyard, VT is the style, basically late picked. This was a sensational wine, 5.5 gm residual sugar. Beautiful light gold colour, rich nose of typical lychees, honey and spice. On the palate this continued and it had a sensationally long finish. Probably the best example of the style I have ever had...Ultimate.
(Above was paired with a pan fried Foie Gras with a port wine reduction sauce on the side, the richness of this dish complemented the wine beautifully, they were made to go together)
Steve offered me the option of the 1991 DRC Exchezeaux or the 1997 Gaja Sperss...a no brainer...we decanted the Sperrs at the start of the dinner and got to it after about an hour...wow, the nose is so complex, flowers (dare I say it maybe roses), coffee, tar and any other things I cant hope to describe. This wine explodes onto the palate but not like a big block buster aussie shiraz more like a firecracker. lots of black cherries, coffee and fine tannin. It is just so well balanced and will last for many many years yet...again ultimate.
Then we had a bottle of the 1998 Jim Barry Armagh, this was also a great wine, and clearly Australian, beautiful bouquet of plums spice and chocolate, a fair bit of mint aswell. On the palate this was very well balanced, the style I really like as not too hot andf over the top. Long finish. Excellent. Will start to really strut its stuff in 5 years.
(The above two were served with a char grilled beef fillet with a red wine reduction sauce, we asked them to make the fillets twice as thick, about normal aussie size, meat was great but they ended up costing $100 aussie each!! opps!!)
That was it, not quite out usual 5 bottle haul but a very good night, and still sober enough to go straight back to the office and write up the notes
Take care all...
Adam
P.S. I am in Sydney end of this month if any forumnites want to catch up for an offline?
