France
220. Château La Rame, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, 1997
Having failed to get the 1996 label off in Book #1, definitely had to get this in! Overall, a pleasant, if a little simple, …
218. Domaine de l’Hortus, Clos du Prieur Corbières, 2001
This pair – Château La Baronne and Clos du Prieur from Domaine de l’Hortus – are a page out of sequence. Both were bought …
217. Château La Baronne, Corbières Montagne d’Alaric, 2001
This pair – Château La Baronne and Clos du Prieur from Domaine de l’Hortus – are a page out of sequence. Both were bought …
216. Dominique Laurent & Michel Tardieu, Corbières M’II, 2001
An opportunity to test “high-end” Corbières again, as well as to test the quality of the Tardieu-Laurent négociant set-up. On opening, the nose was …
211. Les Caves du Sieur d’Arques, Toques et Clochers Limoux Océanique, 2000
Mid-yellow-gold colour. Initially butterscotch and hazelnut, then apple, green banana, yellow melon on the nose. Light, crisp palate with appley, green-banana flavours and a …
209. Château Beauregard Mirouze, Cuvée Prestige Corbières, 1999
Another product of my first visit to the Languedoc, and another from the “parcel” picked-up at the Autoroute wine store. But a somewhat disappointing …
207. Domaine Dhommé, Côteaux du Layon Sélection de Grains Nobles, 2001
A regular Côteaux du Layon bought on the same trip as the Dom des Petits Quarts wines. A Guide Hachette recommendation, and certainly an …
205. E. Guigal, Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde de Guigal, 1998
Built this one up a bit in my own mind, which is always risky! And on pouring I got worried that this might be …
204. Champagne Taittinger, Champagne Brut Réserve NV (2005)
Since first tasting Taittinger at the end of their cellar tour, I’ve liked the light and elegant style of the NV. However, this bottle …
202. Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande (Louis Eschenauer), Pauillac, 1952
Great decanting practice (much fine sediment), and a good lesson in how wines age (to medium tawny-brown, with yellowing rim), but that was about …