The Auswine Forum

Spent a long weekend at a friend's Chateau in the Dordogne and indulged in various goodies (somebody has to do it...) over a nice truffle themed lunch.

1990 Figeac:
Very good fruit, excellent balance, wonderfully integrated tannins, mellow black fruits and violet. What can I say, more please. Fully mature.

1996 Angelus:
Very rich fruit forward, excellent tannin structure, very deep and brooding wine with all components in ample proportion. Needs time, possibly another 5-6 years of cellaring. Really very good potential and certainly no problem drinking.

1996 LMHB:
Very similar to the Angelus in maturity profile. Less fruit forward and lesser tannins. Typical LM, but needs more time again. Balance is as good as the Angelus, but this is a toned down version. More subtle but will probably not be as good a wine in the long run. This is, however, somewhat picky. An excellent drop that would benefit from another 5 years cellaring.

1983 d' Quem:
Thick, viscous and wonderful. Full botrytis with flavours of marmalade, lychee, honey, peach and pear. Secondary creme brulee flavours. Wonderful spice notes, cinnamon on the mid-palate. Superb wine with 90+ second finish. Can't get enough of this. Excellent.

1963 Dow's:
This was the last year that wine was imported into the UK in barriques, then bottled. This was a Grant's of St. James bottling. Wonderful aged colour, not really bricking but more even in hue. Super nose of dried dark fruits and rancio. Incredibly smooth with a wonderful mouthfeel. Was the perfect companion for aged Camembert with figs.

More to follow....

Cheers,
John

London Correspondent wrote:1983 d' Quem:
Thick, viscous and wonderful. Full botrytis with flavours of marmalade, lychee, honey, peach and pear. Secondary creme brulee flavours. Wonderful spice notes, cinnamon on the mid-palate. Superb wine with 90+ second finish. Can't get enough of this. Excellent.

More to follow....

Cheers,
John

With tears in my eyes and words cannot be described, the 1983 YQuem was my most ethereal wine experince.

Chow Chow wrote:With tears in my eyes and words cannot be described, the 1983 YQuem was my most ethereal wine experince.

Martin, you certainly have a way with words when describing wine. Honestly... im contemplating spending a gazzilion dollars just to try D'yquem.

christo

Chow,

My I rot in hell if this is a lie, but the first '83 d' Yquem I tasted literally brought tears to my eyes!

I kid you not.

Cheers,
John

Christo wrote: Honestly... im contemplating spending a gazzilion dollars just to try D'yquem.

christo

Chris, U don't have to be wealthy to taste a YQuem. The '83 I had was purveyed fr UK for appx. A$400. During a tasting I bought it out and collected $40 fr each participant(10ppl incl.me) and we had 1/2 with Foie Gras Perigord spread on V.thin walnut toast and kept the other 1/2 for our dessert, a grand cru Varlhona Chocolate Fondant. The Varlhona chocolate fr the Rhone Valley, reputed to be the finest was so rich and finish with the longest aftertaste imaginable. The YQuem complimented it perfectly.

For YQuem, do not compromise. Pay more for the exceptional vintages (such as 83,86,88,89,90,97,01) and savour it with min. 20yrs of btl aged.