Plans

We've been meaning to catch up with The Real Mr Parker for some time. Business took him to Oxford University for a presentation. We'd been busy with plans for a new endeavour. But we managed to plan a get together finally. It was going to be a quick gossip session with some nibbles.

We thought we'd open the proceedings with a 1999 Tyrrells 'Vat 1' Semillon. We brought it back from the Hunter Valley, and planned to have it with The Chairman, but, he'd be very familiar with it, so we'll find some other treasure for him. It was a shame to open it, as it was deemed to be in an ugly phase. Unforthcoming on the nose, but with more on palate. Tight, brooding oily lanolin and green grass at this stage. If it was younger, it would have been delicate, fresh and nuance. It it was a decade older, then it would have been gloriously toasty. You can't plan for these things sometimes.

A 2004 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot brought back from the States by Mr Parker came next. Pristine cork, and a dark coloured wine that combined lovely ripe liquorice and plums with a thread of elegant herbaceousness on nose. Palate very fine-grained, yet rich and intense. More European than Australasian. It had to be Californian. A wonderful bottle with the three cheeses served.

We brought out a 1998 Grant Burge Barossa 'Meshach' Shiraz that SWMBO acquired years ago. Remarkably elegant and fresh with lively acidity, yet great concentration, sweetness and depth. Multi-layered with savoury, spicy notes emergent with breathing. A bit obvious, but typical Aussie in doing so.

We finished with Mr Parker's treat he bought in the Rheinpfalz, a 1985 Burklin-Wolf Deidesheimer Kalkofen Riesling Spatlese. Golden, gloriously honied and toasty on nose, yet definably Riesling with floral notes. A drier wine than expected on palate - but after all, it's only a Spatlese! Rich, dense, full, concentrated, but even and light enough to float in the mouth. Not quite ethereal. Soft through lower acidity compared to the Mosel. Mr Parker felt it drying out. SWMBO and I thought it still on the plateau.

We made plans to make a bigger affair of it in a few months time. After all, that's what good wines are for - to share with friends and make occasions memorable. Like this one, planned in a way, but taken to a direction mot imagined.