Blog Post

I had mistaken this Saturday as the Eurovision song contest week-end, one can imagine my disappointment when the schedules were bare, and instead, footie/football dominated the listings.  Oh no; to commiserate I insisted the BBQ was lit and to crack open some lively and hearty wines. We did just that and a splendid evening unfolded.

The stealiness and zestiness of the Puligny-Montrachet, 1er Crus les Champs-Gains 2009, got us fired-up, and the BBQ lit.  Bags of character on the nose, this is lean, mineral and zesty-lemon, with a hint of white flowers. The mineral and lemon returns to the palate, accompanied by a fine blade of acidity; all together a beautiful wine with a long finish.

The Henschke (Mount Edelstone, Eden Valley) and Jean-Luc Colombo La Louvee, both 2001 vintages, a classic vintage in Cornas, fared bally well. Henschke lifted by the dense, ripe blackberry and plum notes, concentrated and rich,  detected liquorice and the quintessential syrah pepperiness so apparent, hints of eucalyptus and a lesser note of tobacco. Fruits linger on the palate and the pepperiness of the syrah returns; structured and balanced in terms of tannins, which are firm and an abundance of acidity. Henschke is intense, complex and drinking beautifully now; competed well and matched the charred-meatiness of the BBQ. Contrast the JLC, which had a refinement and elegance.

Jean-Luc Colombo’s Cornas was packed with blackcherries, sun-scorched earthiness, subtle and integrated oak, syrah’s trademark and ubiquitous pepperiness returns.  A supple, elegant wine, manages to balance the fruits, acidity and tannins, superbly. JLC is a more refreshing and lithe vinous delight, compared to the Henschke, which has power and a firmer, bolder stature.  They are both super representations of syrah and the 2001  vintage.