Formal Hall

A veritable feast of wines tasted with dinner, Sunday, 19 February 2012, hence the necessarily brief notes.

 2011 Shaw & Smith Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills
Cambridge Wine £15.99 | A-

Ripe gooseberry and grapefruit on the nose; slight leafy touches with lots of lively lemons and lime leaves showing; lifted, expressive nose. Fat acidity, rounded lemons and citrus showing; fresh and clean. Racy and refreshing stuff.

2009 Chateauneuf du Pape, Chateau de Beaucastel
Cambridge Wine £65 | A-(+)

Oozing dark fruits on the nose; cooked dark fruits, jammy / stewed dark prunes and plums; touch of smoky / woody licorice and tar - classic nose. So much fruit on the palate; dark, extracted but fruit is very ripe and sweet; ripe tannins at the end; textured and quite weighty on the palate, but still good balance, feels together even in its youth. Big wine, will age with ease; drink 2015-2030+.

1976 Chambolle Musigny, Louis Latour
B+

Fully resolved; red currants on the nose, floral elements too, and underlying earthy / farmyard nose; still very lively, maybe a touch volatile if anything. Fresh palate, lots of acidity but it isnt lively, more of a gentle, rolling acidity that creeps on you; red currants and perhaps even cranberries on the palate. Still so fresh for something this old, especially considering its rather humble origins.

1998 Chianti Classico 'Rocca Guiciarda' Barone Ricasoli
A-

Dark cherries with a hint of spice on the nose, also slight woody and earthy elements. On the palate the fruit feels rounded; morello cherries and dark plums, with good acidity still; touch of truffle and earthy notes. Only a hitn of drying tannins at the end; has kept well, drink now - 2015+.

1971 Chateau La Tour St Bonnet
A-

Red currants again, with developed earthy notes, followed by lots of tertiary notes of sandalwood and cedar, almost a lacquer / varnish note to it; like polished old leather. Very settled and mature on the palate; fruit is no longer apparent; still fresh, rounded acidity there; smooth presence, dainty mouthfeel. Wonderfully fun to drink.

Blandy's Duke of Clarence Rich Madeira
Cambridge Wine £14.99 | B+

Caramel and fudge on the nose, lots of nutty oxidation, along with dried apricots and marmalade nose - classic sweet madeira. Sweet on the palate but decent balancing acidity; marmalade-like finish, with sweetness, acidity and slight bitterness all showing.

The Society's Exhibition Crusted Port, bottled 2006
The Wine Society £13.95 | B+(+)

Brooding on the nose; dark fruits, dark plums and dried prunes; also blackberry liqueur; sweet spice also there. On the palate its thick and textured, a lot of fruit but not overdone; good concentration of flavours, more intense and filling than your LBVs; tannic grip too at the end. This should develop in bottle for a few years yet, drink now - 2020+

Ramos Pinto 10 year old Tawny Port
Cambridge Wine £17.99 (50cl) | B+

Unusualy for a tawny, has dark chocolate notes on the notes, along with the usual dried figs and raisins. Otherwise very correct on the palate; slightly on the sweeter side of tawnies, fruit expression is focused though; needs a touch more acidity for my liking.