The Wine Club-Reserve Dinner Party Case

Reserve Dinner Party Case - July 2009

3 bottles of each of the following 4 wines:

2004 Ch. Haut-Bages-Libéral, 5ème Cru Classé. Pauillac, Bordeaux (Red)
Cab.Sauvignon, Merlot, 12.5% alc.
A small 5th Classified Growth in Pauillac, running alongside Pichon Lalande and close to Latour, Haut Bages Liberal is one of the unsung stars of the appellation. Run by the exuberant and talented Claire Villars, the 2004 is a fine effort from this classic, well-priced and under-rated vintage. Finesse and elegance are to the fore with delicious crunchy cassis fruit on the palate. Ready now but certainly has the structure to last until 2015

2007 Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine, Héritiers du Comte Lafon, Burgundy (White)
Chardonnay, 13% alc.
There is a real sense of energy to the nose of this wine. Ripe fruit flavours prevail, which include baked apple and orange blossom, complemented by excellent acidity.

2007 Grignolino d'Asti, Braida, Piedmont, Italy (Red)
Grignolino, 13% alc.
An ancient Piedmontese grape variety, Grignolino thrives only on the sandy calcareous soils that are responsible for the region's sparkling wines: those of Asti and Alessandria. And as with the region's other star, Nebbiolo, the lighter the colour the more refined the wine. This wine is pale, almost pink in colour, the nose pings with a herbal strawberry perfume, with just a hint of raspberry essence.
(David Berry Green, BBR Buyer)

2003 Laurona, Montsant, Spain (Red)
Grenache/Garnacha, 14.5% alc.
A superb discovery from the skillful hands of Rene Barbier. Monsant surrounds Priorat and shares its soil base of schist and clay. This is a blend of Cabernet, Garnacha and Merlot and has been aged for 16 months in French oak. It has the elegance of a top claret and the warmth of a great Rioja; Laurona shows a fresh and expressive nose bursting with berry fruit, licorice and dried Mediterranean herbs. It will accompany classic meat or game dishes.