Birthday Wines

Corton Charlemagne 2004 (Bonneau de Martray) *****

Pale lemon in colour, youthful green tinge; restrained,  minerally, lemon butter and smoky oak evident, still needing time to integrate, quite taut, this wine never seems to age; lovely, taut minerally flavours, slightly more evolved on the palate than on the nose, fine acidity, quite steely but with a long, ripe finish, needs more time, at least another two years. 19

Chateau Pichon Lalande 1986 ****

Still mid-deep in colour with very little browning on the rim; fine, fragrant, showing some evolution on the nose, cedary, touch of resin, blackcurrant, slight soily undertone but fine and focuse; lovely lithe tannins on the palate, fine and firm, gentle and focused. Drink within the next 5 years. 17

Chateau Cheval Blanc 1988 ****

Mid-deep youthful colour; very fine, plummy, cedary fruit, opening up, delightful floral fragrance; firm, quite tight, (65% Cabernet Franc), some richness evident, still very fresh and quite sweet, quite plump with good depth and length. Very good but stops short of outstanding. 18