Sheffield First Ever Offliner………

Lovely warm welcome from the front of house who led us upstairs to our table.
Very relaxed atomsphere, the food was very good value indeed.

Comments where all good when I asked around the table, My sardine starter was fantastic with a great corriander/tomato/garlic salad.
Amanda said the Lamb tiagine was cooked really well and just fell off the bone,
The squid starter was also a hit, onto the wines now all served blind !!

These are my novice notes.

Fizz to start with,

GH Martel
Nose was a little closed at first but opened up on the second pour.
Lovely fine bubbles, gentle apple fruit with a toasty-nutty finish.

Followed by 4 whites

Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken Auslese 1990 (7.5%) AP 3 551 083-3-91
A full rich ripe tropical friut nose which sang to me.
Great colour big ripe pear drops and honey with a lovely crisp finish.
Some found this to sweet but I thought the balance was fantastic.


Jean De Bosmel Chablis 2007
slightest hint of citrus on the nose, very light in colour.
Dry Crisp light refreshing just missing a third dimension for me.


Chateau Musar White 2001
As always with Musar this split the table in half !!
Gentle sherry nose, deep golden in colour
This wine was jumping around on the taste buds, ripe passion fruit,figs,dates and a smokey layer with a savoury finish.
Best drank with food for sure.


Muller Catior Spatlese 2004 13%
Zingy lemon colour, typical riesling nose
Nice balanced wine, crisp green apple with a ripe pear finish good length.


Now the reds

Chateau De La Roche App Anjou Controlee 1990
Nice brown, orange rim, nose is of sweet blackberry and a touch tobacco/smoke
Friut has faded showing a smokey rasin taste still an enjoyable wine with food


Noel Verset Cornas 1999
Nose Wow Bandaid 100% full on !! Give it a few minutes and a leathery / herbs/smokey notes come through.
Bright Crimson in colour, Still young but wow what a lovely wine, ripe red fruit with a touch of plum in there as well earthy long finish.
Tannins are soft but still holding the wine together and will do probably for another 10 years plus
Lots going on in this wine and probably missed a few notes on the finish which is very good indeed.


Chateau Musar 1990
Brown in colour, Big strong sweet berry nose.
Lovely fresh red berry with a spicy pinch lovely balance and still tastes young not sure if the friut will fade and the acidity will take over though in time


Chateau Bougeaud 2004
Deep red in colour, interesting nose of sharp raspberrys.
Very tight needs another 3-5 years I guess plenty of tannin and a sharp friut finish
Could turn out to be a very nice wine in time.

My wine of the night was the Red Musar

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Noel Verset Cornas 1999.

Interesting wines Richard.

Anjou cab franc which is over 20 years - why leave it that long ?.
Auslese 1990 as well, at 7.5 alc, I'm totally amazed that the wine is still fresh and crisp, was it kept in an underground cellar ?

Richard - Is there a competition for whom can bring the oldest wine along ? I don't understand. Chateau Musar, fair enough if 1990 was a very structured vintage, but some of the others ?

I was a little dissapointed for you with the above cornas, which should be vigorous.
I remember you buying it at auction. '99 cornas could still have loads of backbone and be pretty firm from a top producer such as Verset

But you say the tannins are soft already - how soft do you mean ? I'd be very surprised if the wine would go another ten years if soft now. There is more of a concern that they won't hold the wine together for more than another 4-5 years, and you would be tempted to drink the other two bottles before they become flaccid.

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Duncan

Interesting wines Richard.

Anjou cab franc which is over 20 years - why leave it that long ?.
John bought this more about the history and producer and this is the last bottle in exsistance so his records show as he bought the remaining stock many years ago. It was still pretty good with the food.

Auslese 1990 as well, at 7.5 alc, I'm totally amazed that the wine is still fresh and crisp, was it kept in an underground cellar ?
This was from my underground cellar and it surprised me how fresh and zippy it was, mind you German Auslese can go forever from decent producers like Zilliken.

Richard - Is there a competition for who can bring the oldest wine along ? I don't get it. Chateau Musar, fair enough if a very structured vintage, but some of the others ?
No competition as I could bring a number of much older wines, just bring something interesting that might work with the food.

I was a little dissapointed for you with the above cornas.
I remember you buying it at auction. '99 cornas should still have loads of backbone and be pretty firm from a top producer.
Prehaps my word Soft was wrong, still tannins there to hold together for another 10 years I guess but I am not an expert, smooth with grip might have been better. (I wrote them with a hang over)

But you say the tannins are soft already - how soft do you mean ? I'd be very surprised if the wine would go another ten years if soft now. There is more of a concern that they won't hold the wine together for more than another 4-5 years.

Some great wines some good wines but the whole evening was great fun which makes the experience of trying wines you want to share.
I just cant drink decent wine on my own !!
Still got two left in the cellar of the Cornas fancy popping up for a taste and stay over ??
Always welcome, could get that Cloudy Bay out for fun as well !!

Richard

_________________
He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

I just cant drink decent wine on my own !!
Still got two left in the cellar of the Cornas fancy popping up for a taste and stay over ??
Always welcome, could get that Cloudy Bay out for fun as well !!

You are a generous guy and a sport for sure, and I do understand your dilemna about drinking just cant drink decent wine on my own - fine wine without an event to jigg it all up with your mates.

Cloudy Bay from the early 90s - Surely not - It's a long drive for dying CB, but then again, in an underground cellar, there is some possibility, that the wine is not completely demented

Yes, I know you have the fine vintage clarets, those classed growth Saint Julian's as well, and of course they are keepers. Look ....Have fun, and I sincerely hope that the Verset Cornas '99 is a bit more inspiring when you next find an excuse to celebrate with friends.

Cheers for now

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Duncan