Simonsig tasting at OUWS

Simonsig Wine Tasting
**Archived from 14/10/03**

Sparkling wine
Darker, nutty character. Fine mouse, really interesting honeyed fruit.
Very full flavour, better warmer. Almost woody character. Excellent,
better than many Champagnes. The best New World sparkling wine I've
tasted. Does it have the acidity to last? 16/20.

Chenin Blanc 2003
Very crisp, dry nose. Fresh grass - rather Sauvignon Blanc in character
on the nose. Full bodied palate, very high glycerol and perhaps a little
too fat here. 14% alcohol carried very well but leads through to a hot
finish. Very good - 14/20.

Sauvignon
No.

Chardonnay 2001
Heavily toasted oak nose. Clearly fermented in oak too. Palate dominated
by oak, but there's a mineral edge behind this. Hot finish. Good, but
too generic oak Chardonnay. 13/20.

Pinotage 2000
Spicy, characteristic Pinotage nose. Very open, creosote hints. Palate
surprisingly tannic, full bodied. Very good example. 14/20, will improve
with bottle age. Right now a perfect BBQ wine.

Cabernet/Shiraz blend 2002
Quite stereotypically New World, mint and fruit, blackberry driven nose.
Smooth palate, fine tannins but not yet integrated. Good potential. 13/20.

Shiraz 2000
Very open, classic New World shiraz nose with American oak influence.
Powerful palate. Good, lingering finish. 15/20.

Merindol 1997(!)
Would never guess '97.