An Evening of Chardonnay and Pinot

Tasting Notes 

Champagne Devaux, Cuvee Ultra ‘D’ Devaux NV
Champagne, France
87 points
Delicate aromas of fresh strawberries, green mango and toasted almonds.  The palate is very dry featuring tart, racy acidity, citrusy flavours and a touch of toastiness in the medium to long finish.  Drink now.  Tasted October 2008.

Bollinger Grande Annee 1999
Champagne, France
91 points
Distinctively oxidative notes on the nose dominated by roasted hazelnut and brioche, and backed-up with warm applesauce sauce and strawberry tart.  The broad palate fills the mouth with rich red berry flavours and is well supported by a firm backbone of crisp acid.  Well integrated dosage and very fine, persistent bubbles.  Long finish.  Drink now – 2018.  Tasted October 2008.

Capannelle Chardonnay 2006
Tuscany, Italy
80 points
It’s hard to smell anything but oak on the nose though some deep sniffing reveals some tropical notes - guava and pineapple.  The oak further dominates the palate and gives the wine’s texture a somewhat astringent quality.  Medium+ body, medium to high acidity.  Medium to long, cedary, slightly bitter finish.  Difficult to imagine that the oak will ever marry into the wine and allow the fruit to take over.  Drink now – 2011?.  Tasted October 2008.

Etienne Sauzet Puligny Montrachet Les Referts 2002
Burgundy, France
93 points
Great intensity of aromas on the nose with primary fruit aromas only just starting to give way to evolved complexity.  Dried apricot, baked apple and ginger with suggestions of oatmeal, honey and nuts.  The palate is a wonderful balance of crisp acidity and ripe, bold fruit.  Lots of minerals and a very long finish.
Drink now – 2012.  Tasted October 2008.

Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne 1996
Burgundy, France
93 points
How can something be so big and yet so elegant?  The nose offers and incredible range of tropical fruit, mineral, toast and exotic spice aromas with discernable notes of pineapple pastry, chalk, praline and honey.  The palate is big, rich and buttery with a wonderful silky texture and a fresh burst of balancing acidity.  Very long fruit-and-nut finish.  Still plenty of life left in this ’96.  
Drink now – 2012.  Tasted October 2008.

Felton Road Block 3 Pinot Noir 2006
Central Otago, New Zealand
89 points
Pale to medium ruby colour.  Faintly herbal, minty aromas detract slightly from the intense ripe raspberry and red cherry nose.  The palate is powerful, full bodied, providing a rich, dense mouthful of chocolate covered cherries.  Medium+ level of finely grained tannins and medium to high acidity.  Long, hot finish.
Drink now – 2012.  Tasted October 2008.

John Forrest Collection Pinot Noir 2004
Waitaki Valley, North Otago, New Zealand
91 points
Pale ruby colour going brick at the rim.  Warm strawberry fruit and milk chocolate aromas dominate the nose with earthy nuances of forest floor.  The palate is ripe and full bodied though well balanced with medium to firm, fine tannins and medium to high acidity.  Very long finish.
Drink now - 2010.  Tasted October 2008.

Yering Station Reserve Pinot Noir 2003
Yarra Valley, Australia
87 points
Medium ruby colour with a touch of burnt umber in the rim.  Notes of warm raspberry compote and black pepper on the nose with a whiff of herbaceousness.  Soft, silky tannins and medium+ level of acidity lend a little support to the somewhat overripe fruit.  Medium to long finish.        
Drink now.  Tasted October 2008.

Bass Phillip Pinot Noir Premium 2001
Gippsland, Australia
90 points
Pale ruby / brick colour.  Complex, earthy nose with aromas of red berry / ripe cranberry fruit, moss and truffles.  A medium+ level of chewy tannins provides a nice bit of texture to the mouth-filling juicy fruit while medium+ acidity gives just enough freshness.  Long finish.  Drink now.  Tasted October 2008.

Domaine Dujac Clos Saint Denis 2004
Burgundy, France
87 points
Bright pale ruby colour.  There are some nice wild strawberry, beetroot and fresh cracked black pepper aromas on the nose that are a little thwarted by a stemmy / tomato leaf character.  The palate is thinner than one would expect and a bit hollow in the middle.  A crisp backbone of acidity provides some lift yet the medium+ level of astringent tannins lends a touch of bitterness to the long finish.
Drink now – 2014.  Tasted October 2008.

Domaine Ponsot Chapelle Chambertin 1999
Burgundy, France
97 points
Pale ruby / brick.  Beautifully perfumed nose of dried cranberries, violets, cinnamon and a hint of aniseed.  In the mouth this is a superbly structured Burgundy with crisp acidity sustaining the length of the palate and a medium+ level of very finely grained tannins.  Layers of complex floral, earth and fruit flavours combine with ethereal results in the very long finish.  Wow. 
Drink now – 2015+.  Tasted October 2008.

Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir 1996
Willamette Valley, Oregon
84 points
Pale+ brownish brick colour.  Dried strawberry, fig, leather, mushroom and some loitering bell pepper aromas on the nose.  A crisp level of acid remains on the palate long after the fruit has faded.  The low to medium level of tannins are going powdery.  Medium to long finish.  Still an interesting wine but past its best.  Tasted October 2008.