A lazy Sunday afternoon

[Waiters Friend]

G’day

Thirteen of us got together at our favourite Lulu’s Little Bistro for a quiet afternoon of wining and dining. At least, that was the intention- it got rather raucous indeed. Fortunately, we had Lulu’s to ourselves.

We started in the best possible way – with a magnum of 2008 Billecart-Salmon Nicolas Francois. This wine is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay and spent an amazing 12.5 years on lees. Despite the age, the colour is a medium yellow, the nose is fresh with some delicacy, and there is a fine and persistent bead. There’s vibrant lemon / curd and brioche and the wine finishes cleanly.

A couple of white Burgundies followed:

Pierre Yves Colin Morey ‘Au Bout Du Monde’ Bourgogne Hautes De Beaune 2022: The wine opens with a little struck match, with lemon, nectarine and lemon butter. The palate is quite rich and intense, with great length. Delicacy with power.

Domaine Paul Pillot Bourgogne Chardonnay 2021: The nose shows some sulphides, and is nutty with honeysuckle and grapefruit. There’s grilled cashews on the palate, with white flowers, nectarine and grapefruit. Lemon characters appear on the back palate, and the wine has good length and a strong line of acid.

We followed that with a couple of aged Hunter Semillons:

Tyrrells HVD Semillon 2014: Surely this isn’t 11 years old! Lemon colour, with bright lemon and honeysuckle on the nose. It is in the early stages of development with faint honey and toast. The palate reflects the nose, and shows high acid and moderate length. Youthful.

Peterson’s Semillon 2010: This is (not surprisingly) more developed than the Tyrrells and the nose is dominated by honeyed, toasty notes, with honeysuckle and traces of citrus. The palate reflects the honey and toast, with lanolin and lemon/lime cordial. Medium length and appears fully developed.

The last white was the Chateau Des Tours Cotes Du Rhone Grande Reserve 2014: a 50/50 blend of Grenache Blanc and Clairette and is a deep golden colour. There’s apricot and orange marmalade on the nose, and the palate reflects this – burnt orange and apricot with supporting acid. It’s full bodied and I found the finish to be somewhat astringent. I suspect others disagreed with me.

We then adjusted our palates towards reds with a Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz 2008. Nine years on lees and disgorged in2019. Purple black colour with considerable mousse. There’s ripe plums, Christmas cake, vanillan oak, and a touch of leather. Soft acid and reasonable length. A great wine to bridge between whites and reds.

Jean-Marc Vincent Santenay ”Les Gravieres” 1er Cru 2019. From 70-year-old vines. One third new oak. Pale purple in colour. A stalky nose, with spicy oak, red cherries, plums, nutmeg and cinnamon. The palate is delicate, with light fine-grained tannins, supporting acid and reasonable length.

From here, the reds were tasted from youngest to oldest (for better or worse).

Aiurri Salas Rioja 2021: A blend of tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha and a small amount of white grape varieties. Crimson colour. There’s some Christmas spices on the nose, with black and red fruits and mocha. The palate is also spicy, with juicy blackberries and a touch of red fruits, fine powdery tannins and a medium to long finish. Opened too young and I would like to see this in another 5 years.

Riddoch “The Pastoralist” Cabernet Sauvignon 2021: Crimson colour. Typical Coonawarra mint, with blackcurrant, mocha and tobacco. Also opened too young.

Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (Napa Valley, USA): 20 months French oak (80% new). Crimson colour. A big nose, with lots of tobacco, blackcurrant, cocoa vanilla, and a touch of VA. A powerful palate with ripe and developing black fruits, some savoury notes and more cocoa. A long finish.

Kaesler “Old Bastard” Shiraz 2013: (Barossa Valley S.A.): From vines planted in 1893. A rich nose, with vanilla, black plums, brandy and plum pudding on the nose. The alate is similarly big, with ripe fruits, some alcohol heat, a velvety texture, chunky tannins and a long finish.

Cape Naturaliste “Torpedo Rocks” Cabernet Merlot 2009 (Margaret River, W.A.): Crimson colour. A dusty nose, with blackberry, plums and cocoa powder. The palate is fairly rich, with developed plums, blue and black berries, fine grippy tannins, soft acid and a medium to long finish.

Chateau Marquis Du Tertre 2009 (Bordeaux, France, fourth growth): Purple red in colour. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The nose shows some leather, dried herbs, cassis, violets, blackberry and some graphite. There’s more leather and earth on the palate, with more red and black fruits. Acid I oft, and tannins are fine and tight. Long finish.

Houghton Jack Mann Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (Frankland River W.A.): Crimson colour with red at the rim. Lots of blackberry, mocha and a little redcurrant on the nose, while the palate shows black, blue and red fruits with a touch of eucalypt. Tannins are fine and still grippy, acid is noticeable and there’s a velvety texture. The finish is long and soft.

Penfolds RWT Shiraz 2007 (Barossa Valley, S.A.): Purple colour. Dark and red plums, vanillan oak, blackberries and mocha on the nose. The palate is rich, ripe and juicy, with a velvety texture. A very long finish.

Finally, a dessert wine to accompany dessert and cheeses:

Chateau Coutet 2009 (Barsac, Sauternes, France): Gold colour. A prominent nose with dried apricots, vanilla and glace fruits. The palate shows more apricots, crème brulee and honeyed characters. Very long finish.


Lunch almost extended into evening. An excellent day, with fine food, eloquent (and noisy) company, and an excellent array of wines. This is the second of these events, and it is likely to turn into a series.

Cheers
Allan

[Chuck]

Thanks for your great notes. Always look forward to then.