The Family Connection

We finally did it. Got the two sisters to come visit us at the batch. Mags and Jube and partners all enjoy a good talk, laugh and glass of wine. After our first day filled with activity, we settled down to the inevitable vino. Of course, there was lots of talk and laughs, and glasses of wine!
Two wines with bubbles as their connection were opened. Firstly a NV Cloudy Bay 'Pelorus' Methode, this bottle solid and ungainly, not the usual class and finesse that this label delivers. Is the corporate ownership and direction taking its toll on the quality, would be whay SWMBO and I would ask? But it was a warm and sunny evening, with nice nibbles around, and the bottle was drained quickly. This was followed by a very tight 2004 Soljans 'Legacy' Methode. Clean, cutting, delicate autolysis, this could have handled more bottle age. We all made the connection from the name 'Legacy' that the three families all drove Subaru 'Legacy' cars among others!
Then came a progerssion of whites, including a spicy, exotic, but still young 2010 Starborough Marlborough Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay dominant 2009 Heart of Gold Gisborne Chardonnay/Viognier that satisfied the big wine drinkers. We then had a visit from The Brazilette who opened her 2008 Salomon Undhoff Riesling Pfaffenberg, a classical, steely, intense wine with considerable minerality. We wished we had some shellfish at that point!
With The Brazilette in attendance, it was time to open some reds, all from the Cabernet Sauvignon family, but spanning some two decades, from different countries. The 1989 Te Mata 'Awatea' Cabernet/Merlot showing real cool-climate stalkiness and acidity, in a small-framed way. Still alive and kicking, and not the best red wine to go with lamb rack. The 1979 Ch. Giscours Margaux was a surprise. Fullish and rounded, but somewhat understated. A solidly presented wine that filled the mouth, but left you searching. Acidity was the underlying factor holding it together. Good savoury flavours, tending a little gamey, but hardly objectionable. Then a 1998 Jacobs Creek Limited Release Barossa Cabernet Sauvignonm, which marked JC's 25th Anniversary of 1976-2001. This was an extraordinary wine in its day with real herbaceousness that the Aussies craved after as varietal character. It still had it, but the euc'y notes now appearing. It was a true-blue Ocker in the end, but that thread of acidity through the line of the palate.
It was the end of the night. All the family members were tired, and that was that!