1998 GRANDE MAISON Cuvée du Chateau 375 ml

[Attila]

Tasting Note No.2

This absolutely wonderful sweet white hails from the little known region of MONBAZILLAC. You'll find the property in the South-West of France, about 1 hour drive from Bordeaux via Bergerac. I didn't expect much from this oak aged botrytis semillon but Thierry Després' 'Chateau Blend' is rather excellent. Golden hay colour, very fragrant nose, it has seductive honey, white peach and vanilla essence. Lovely and complex, full aromas at 5 years of age. The palate keeps the promise, medium bodied, beatifully sweet vanilla ice cream flavours mixing with white peaches. Not cloying or heavy, perfectly balanced in harmony with fine acids. Excellent drinking right now, will keep for 3 more years. It cost AU $36 for a 375 ml bottle. 'L'Agriculture Biologique' means on the bottom label that the wine was produced by organic methods. Yields were very small for this excellent vintage. The bottle has a blue wax seal with the vintage year punched into it. A very delicious dessert wine.

Also tasted:

PETER LEHMANN Noble Semillon 2000
A late picked Barossa wine. Lacks depth, length and concentration.
MARGAN Botrytis Semillon 2002
Admirable apricot nose but it's overly sweet with high acid.
CHATEAU ROUMIEU-LACOSTE Sauternes 1999
Unusual olive nose with a green and watery palate, candy flavours. Very light for a Sauternes. The 1998 vintage I've drunk recently is so much better.

Tasted:September,2003.