Brooks Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2008 (Oregon)

Tasted 18/11/12, 13.5% abv, cork closure, £25 UK retail (e.g. Stone, Vine and Sun, Winchester). This wine is $21 in the US, so the UK price doesn't seem bad for a top Oregon pinot.....the Pacific Northeast of the US produces more-European style pinot than California or South America where big wines are common - this is a lighter, more elegant style. Less in your face - Burgundy lovers would be happy. Light cherry red in colour, still youthful. The nose is candied fruit, cherries and rosehips. Great red fruits, forward in mouth , with a dry, long finish. A lovely wine, a real sense of terroir and the wine makers skill. From 2013, 17/20.

Beaujolais Nouveau 2012, Georges Duboeuf

Tasted 16/11/12. 12% ABV, cork closure. I last tasted this wine in its 2010 guise, during which time it has gone up by a £1 to £6.99 in Waitrose (or £7.99 on an offer in Majestic), but given the yields this year, it's not surprising. Most of France had a washout harvest but apparently, in Beaujolais, it was a small but concentrated vintage.
This is better than Duboeuf's 2010. Bright cherry red colour with cherry and hint of cassis on the nose. It's light and fruity with a short finish but a very pleasant luncheon wine that doesn't take itself too seriously. Nice red fruits in the mouth, 15/20, from 2012.

St Joseph Blanc Domaine Perret 2009

Tasted 14/11/12. 13.5%, cork closure, about £16 UK retail (e.g. Goedhuis). An unusual white wine from St. Joepsh. Made from Marsanne and Roussanne varietals, this is a fleshy, minerally, almost salty wine, rich and great with fish or roasted chicken or even game. Light golden colour, the nose is clean and a litte closed, with some pears or apricots,  like a young Chablis. But the palate is alive and full, with good weight, dry with a long finish. Notes of capsicum and melon lingers in the mouth. An interesting wine, worth a try. From 2013, 16/20

Chateau La Tour Blanche 2003 Sauternes

Tasted 10/11/12 with Sara, Chris and Fran. 37.5cl, cork closure, 13% abv. Medium golden colour. Excellent, concentrated nose. Apricots, almonds and seville oranges. The palate is sweet but not overwhelmingly so. Medium bodied. Candied peel, orange marmalade, vanilla and lemon. A lovely wine, perhaps needs a little more acidity to balance the sweetness. From 2012. 17 / 20

Prince Florent de Merode Corton Les Bressandes Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2002

Tasted 10/11/12 with Sara, Chris and Fran. 75cl, cork closure, 13%. About £60 UK retail (at release). A privilege to share this wine from  a great vintage - drinking very well now.  This wine had real finesse and elegance, great cherry red colour in the glass, little sign of age, the nose was refreshingly youthful. There was real weight and structure on the palate, complex melange of red fruits and a hint of spice, this is a classic Corton. 18/20, from 2012.

Moet and Chandon Grand Vintage Rose 2002

Tasted 10/11/12 with Sara, Chris and Fran. 12.5% ABV, about £50 UK retail. I generally don't like rose-anything but the much maligned but now improved M&C come up trumps with this one. 51% Pinot Noir and 49% Chardonnay and Petit Meunier, this wine has just been released from the incredible '02 vintage and is ready to drink now. Floral nose of blueberries and cherries, dry on the palate with a long finish. Elegant, well balanced and well made, this was a very enjoyable aperitif. From 2012, 17/20

Upcoming Events at Chelsea and Fulham Wine Society

Last night's fortified wine tasting with Ian was very enjoyable indeed.

That was our last regular tasting of 2012, and the final event will be the Christmas meal on Tuesday 11th December from 7.30pm (note Tuesday not Thursday). The meal will take place in the regular tasting room at Fulham Wine Rooms. We can accommodate a maximum of 20 for the meal and I am taking bookings now. The all-in price will be £40, including service (see menu attached - they can also do gluten free meals). This covers the cost of the food and I will provide the wine 'free' from the Society's coffers. Luckily, we don't need to pay corkage, etc. Hence, I have a good budget for the wine and I should be able to provide some excellent choices, starting with champagne and ending with the port! I'll circulate the wine list once I have worked it out.

I think I will take payment in advance from late November and ask you to make your provisional menu choices. The following people have told me that are coming so far: Ian M, Cheryl, Ann W, Vic, Glenda, Ian B. Please let me know if you'd like to come along.

On the 22nd of November, I'll again be presenting some fine, old and rare St. Emilions for my friend David Beguier-Barnett, as before at Broadway House in Fulham:

Broadway House

or see

My Blog

Tickets are available from Broadway House or David. For those that also enjoy younger Right Bank claret (like me!), David has now added some wines from the 2000's to the event.