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The theme this week was back to the original that we started with at the beginning of lockdown. Blind anything.

Kiran’s wine

Smoke, Black pepper the most I have experienced.

(Black pepper is a note I have struggled with. Partly because I’ve been trying too hard to find it in Syrah/Shiraz when it’s never been there. The majority of Syrah probably doesn’t have this note. Also because I’ve been looking for spices, when in fact, after obsessionally smelling pepper grinders for the last few weeks I now realise it’s more of a floral woody note spice yes but much more complex than that.)

This wine had it in abundance- Floral violet blackberry, wood spice.

Soft tannins mainly on the tongue less so upper palate

Medium plus acid medium alcohol

A lovely Elegant balanced wine

Reminiscent of Pinot Noir but the clear black pepper nose countered that.

Stuart and I were pretty sure this a Northern Rhône Syrah, the elegant style. We had all visited Rene Rostaing a few years ago and this reminded us of that style. Delicious

Wine was

Francois Villard 2012 Cote Rôtie Le Gallet Blanc

The wine is produced from mostly Syrah with a hint of Viognier, 1% or 2% of the blend.

The berries are whole cluster fermented and up to 30% of the grapes are destemmed. The wine is then aged in an average of 50% new, French oak barrels for up to 18 months. A lovely wine highly recommended

Stuart’s wine

(Served in Bordeaux bottle)

Red strawberry chews, very clearly red fruit a little later some beeswax hint vegetal sweet spice.

Soft tannins all over mouth with high acid,fresh, puckering salivary glands

We thought Pinot, possible laterals Grenache but didn’t have the alcohol/body and had very fresh cool climate acidity.

Bonnes Marres 2011 Drouhin Larose

Bonnes-Mares is a grand cru in the Cote de nuits, mostly within Chambolle Musigny with a small 1.5 hectare (3.7ac) plot in neighboring Morey-Saint-Denis

The style of Drouhin-Laroze is between modern and traditional style with moderate use of oak. Based in Gevrey-Chambertin, Drouhin-Laroze owns range of Grand Cru across the Cote d’Or.

Adam’s wine

Rhubarb, red fruit, smoke, liquorice, hint leather complex

Soft tannins all over medium palate medium acid, length Delicious

Château de Beaucastel 2001, Château neuf du pape

Remarkably young for 20 years drinking beautifully.

A blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, and the balance split among the other permitted varietals. From the Perrin family’s largely organic and biodynamic vineyards

Dessert wine

Brown, thick, viscous, unctuous,Dates figs raisins molasses syrupyThick very very sweet mouth coating.Thoughts ? Pedro Ximenez you could stand a spoon in this!

Esszencia Tokaji Château Pazjos 1993

We didn’t know Kiran had this up his sleeve.Served in miniature bottles containing 100 ml only.From Sárospatak Alcoholic Content: 4.7 % volAcidity: 12.5 g/l A whopping 435g/l residual sugar

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