Thank you!
Pol Roger 2004 - 1985 Léoville Barton
My best mate came for the weekend, and we had a Christmas/New Year celebration. Friday we enjoyed these.
The Pol was lovely, fresh yellow colours and a lovely fizz. Some nice yeasty notes with citrus and apple on the nose, then the palate followed through with sweet apple fruit, grapefruit citrus. Lots of body and length, I don’t drink much Champagne, this was a fine example.
The 1985 Léoville Barton was sublime. Lovely garnet core with lots of bricking. The nose was so complex, cedar wood, tobacco, mushrooms, undergrowth, dark red fruit. It’s hard to describe the palate, it was just perfectly balanced wine and so so right. Lovely cigar box tannins and good acidity, medium density. The flavours I suppose were much as the nose, powerful dark red fruits with lots of tertiary flavours going on, lasting in the mouth for ages, and leaving a lovely dark perfume of red fruits and earthy scents. Every sip brought new flavours, yet the overriding feeling was just of balance, it was wine that was incredibly lovely to drink, a great example of fully mature claret.
On the Saturday we had the 2005 Bahans Haut Brion, very lovely, the note I wrote here last year describes this bottle as well.
19 Likes
Thank you Eoin. The taste of Leoville Barton '85 from 25+ years ago has remained vivid in my memory, and I’m delighted that it has evidently developed so wonderfully well. At the time I felt it encapsulated the perfectly balanced claret in the traditional style (this when so many were going for power and concentration) and wondered what it would be like once it reached maturity. I have now tasted it vicariously, so thank you.
3 Likes
A friend who no longer drinks (I know don’t trust them either🤣) is cleaning out her cellar and left me with this. Not sure if Rawsons Cab Sav 2008 is a wine that should be cellared that long. I’ve just poured a glass and will wait, smells ok.
And for the keen observer the blue wall has been repainted.
4 Likes
Just opened this … it’s not as rich as my normal Lustau tipple but it’s refreshing and I’m pleased with this gift.
8 Likes
It’s a lovely Solera, Leonor.
And especially since Gonzalez Byass’ premium Palo Cortado solera, delicious though it is, is actually a bit of an oddity (Apóstoles is an Oloroso that has gone Amontillado-like rather than the other way around and they - unusually - sweeten it).
If you ever visit Jerez, ensure that you visit GB. Their Bodega was designed by Eiffel and it’s an astonishing piece of architecture and engineering.
Sherry is the wine that god drinks.
5 Likes
I visited GB in Jerez many years ago and thought it was the most brilliant tour - really interesting and great tasting at the end. Seem to recall buying some Lepanto at the end
4 Likes
I might just be a convert!
Now I must find a source - so sorry Lustau.
1 Like
4 Likes
Just been hit for import duty on my latest case, arriving via DHL, which has rendered it no longer the bargain I had hoped for.
Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.
3 Likes
That’s a b*gger!
1 Like
I’ll drink to that! 
1 Like
I was given a bill for VAT and duty on (unsolicited) samples sent from the UK.
One of the wines was …. French !
1 Like
Yes that’s rubbish. The uncertainty in some ways makes it worse
Bye bye, Portugal Vineyards, I guess. 
But not Portuguese wines hopefully? Even with VAT and duty, their wines ( plus those of S Africa) still offer great quality for the money
2 Likes
Anyone been on any nice vineyard stays in the UK they could recommend?
Thinking of treating Mrs JW for her birthday and have googled a few, though many seem a bit ‘samey’ (and frankly overpriced, I don’t mind forking out but some prices for a bedroom with a walk through the vines and a glass of fizz seem a bit of a p*ss take!)
Thank you 
Around here in West Kent we have Hush Heath, Biddenden, and Chapel Down all close by. Chapel Down have a very good restaurant (The Swan). Biddenden is pretty unpretentious but I rather like it for that. Sissinghurst Castle farmhouse B&B is within easy range of all of these and you have the Three Chimneys just down the road towards Biddenden, which is typically excellent for both beer, cider and food.
2 Likes
Have a look at this
2 Likes
I stayed at Tillingham in Sussex just before Christmas.
If you like biodynamics and wines that taste like cider, it’s perfect.
Lovely, knowledgeable staff and decent food, though.
1 Like