The Sampler

Visited The Sampler (link) in Islington a couple of days ago. A fantastic concept, especially their Icons selection which lets you taste a range of fine wine which most pockets would not stretch to. The wines below are currently on show.

• Chateau Musar 1970
• Chateau Musar 1977
• Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1985
• Paternina Conde de Los Andes 1955 Rioja Gran Reserva
• Torbreck RunRig 1999
• Borgogno Barolo Riserva 1961
• Chave Hermitage 1998
• Pichon Baron 1964

Here is what I tasted:

Reserve de Gassac 2007 (£9.90 per btl) - citrus, floral notes and a savoury finish from this Viognier/Marsanne blend

Araldica Barbera d'Asti 2007 (£8.20) - high acidity, red cherries, sweet spice, hint of choc, slightly jammy

Chateau Musar 2002 (£21.50) - dried/cured meats and leather on nose, huge red fruit flavours (dried and fresh), raisins, cured meats, leather, vegetal/leafy, goes on and on

Gilles Barge Cote-Rotie Cuvee du Plessy 2003 (£36.00) - red cherry, dark savoury spice on nose but less on palate, some tertiary (leather, vegetal)

Mascarello Barolo Monprivato 1996 (£90.00) - finegrained tannins, highish acidity, lovely long finish, quite 'Burgundian' in style

Chateau Cissac 1978 - savoury, earthy, concentrated coffee nose-, with dried fruit and raisins on palate, but somewhat dominated by developmental characters (meat-leather-coffee) - I have tried a 1995 Cissac which was past it so am amazed that the '78 is still drinking so well

 

Giacomo Borgogno Barolo 1961 (£175.00) - from the "icons" range this one - raspberries on nose, with spice, vanillin, cloves, nutmeg, raisins, prunes, dried black fruit, smoky, coffee ground, leather (opening out with a bit of air); on the palate high acidity, fine dusty tannins, and still with awesome fruit concentration which suggests this could go on and on (unlike the Cissac...)

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