An innkeeper, a trombonist and an imobiliário

Last night’s gathering, bought together an Innkeeper, a Trombonist, an Imobiliário (uy uy uy) and of course your faithful correspondent. It turned out to be a ‘blind-tasting’ full of (good) surprises. Including two of my all time favourate wines (marked in red).

Ruinart NV Rose, Reims, Champagne
The only date on this bottle reads 1729, which of course is the year the house was founded. It’s excellent blend of 45% Chardonnay and 55% Pinot Noir. (18% of the Pinot Noir is actually added into the cuvee as red wine). Strawberries and wild rosehip leap out of the glass at you. An excellent Champagne rose!

2016 Assyrtiko, Lyrarakis, Crete
This had everyone guessing of course. But I knew what it was as it was one of mine. Fresh, stoney, slightly spicy. Brilliantly refreshing peach and apple backdrop. More please with a freshly grilled fish.

2014 Skurfberg, Eben Sadie, Olifantsriver, Swartland
Another one of mine on the table. 100% Chenin Blanc from the genius Eben Sadie and family. Decanted an hour before the tasting and still evolving in the glass. Weighty Chenin nose with an almost plum like depth. Intense pear and pineapple palate, and a sexy-honey texture to finish with. I will never get bored of these Sadie wines. Simply amazing!

2013 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir, Martinborough
We all got the Pinot Noir status, that was no problem. Cool, ripe and of course, almost, Aloxe-Cortonian. Nobody got that it was from the southern point of New Zealand’s North island. What a super wine from the New world, as it where. It screamed old world, but we just could not place it. Bravissimo!

2008 Pegaso, ‘Barranco de Pizarra’, Castilla y Leon
A musty nose with a rather exotic cigar box hew to it. The palate was short, maybe due to its age, storage? Hints of balsamic fruit and a gentle smokiness. Again, we went through our joint encyclopedic grape knowledge, to not come up with Garnacha. Off came the cover and yes another super wine from Telmo Rodriguez. My money was on something from northern Italy. Silly me.

2005 Ch.Tertre Roteboeuf, Saint-Emilion
Now, I am not going to fall into the trap of saying that the wines from this excellent property in Saint-Emilion are Burgundian in style. But there we go, I just did, and I apologize, it is so unimaginative of me. Won’t happen again, promise. Nose, nose, nose. Pure, full gorgeous raspberry, licoricey violetness on the nose. Intense mouth fruit. Soft, bold tannins. Opulently silky texture that just goes on and on, sorry and on. Merlot sweetness backed up with a good dollop of Cabernet Franc. One of the great red wines of my little olde life down here.

100 points WPH