April 29, 2008

Chateau des Charmes 2001 Estate Bottled Pinot Noir


(Re-Tasted April 2008) … I so rarely, if ever, have bad experiences with aged Chateau des Charmes wine, even my 99 Cab-Merlot is still drinking well. So I must say I was really looking forward to this Pinot when I pulled it out of my two-year-hold-box … I remember thinking how good this one is going to taste with a little age. My excitement was short-lived … no matter how hard I tried, this one just wouldn’t come around. Starting with the cork that was soaked all the way up one side and halfway up the other. The nose was rotten egg (text-book reductive) and no matter what I tried: aeration, time, chilling, it just wouldn’t go away. Thankfully the palate wasn’t all bad, there was still some good tannins with sour cherry and a touch of vanilla – but at the beginning and the end those eggs came screaming through – it was like great sandwich fixings served on moldy bread.

April 19, 2008

Southbrook 2001 Cabernet Merlot

(Re-Tasted January 2008) … I worked at the ‘Brook at the time this one was still available, and it was one of my favourites. It had a very identifiable, yet pleasant, green pepper on both the nose and palate. Well, I’m happy to report that even 7 years from vintage date it hasn’t lost that identifiable smell and taste, it’s still full-on green pepper; but now it has developed a lovely smokiness to it. In the mouth it tastes like freshly grilled green pepper and finishes with a pleasing vanilla oakiness. Serve immediately with Shish-Kabob and enjoy. Just a word of caution, this wine degrades within a couple of hours, it loses it jauntiness and becomes lackluster, so consume within the hour.