The Home of Renowned Tasting

Last Monday we had a nice dinner at Marque restaurant in Surry Hills and I scribbled down a few of my thoughts for posterity…well at least for as long as this website keeps running anyway.

1996 Egly Ouriet - The unusually developed colour had me a bit worried. On the nose oxidative sherry-like tones, citrus, red fruits, biscuit and spice. On the palate citrus and red fruits, hint of peach and lots of spice. Fine bubbles. Long citrus finish. I wonder if the development is typical? 92 points.
1996 Dom Perignon - Light colour. Nice fine bead. Fresh citrus, green apple, minerals. Light yeasty characters. Some sulphides. Fine tight palate with fresh dry mineral and citrus flavours. Lovely dry finish. I have had bottles that really sing and some that are just excellent. This is just excellent. 94 points.
2002 Giaconda Chardonnay - Caramel and ginger spice oak, banana, oatmeal and stonefruit. Warm alcohol, oak and buttery texture with peachy slightly stony chardonnay fruit. Lots of oak and not enough intensity. It needs time but on the night I was not in the mood for this sort of wine. None of us bothered with it much. A generous 89 points.
1971 Penfolds St Henri - Strong colour. Aromas of raspberry, licorice, leather, spice and earth. Utterly captivating smell. On the palate smooth red fruits, earth, leather. Still holding great fruit. Perfect harmony. Beautifully long. A magnificent bottle. St Henri is the king of Australian shiraz. 98 points
1976 Penfolds St Henri - Really strong colour. Aromas of seaweed, whiffy bottom, licorice, leather, pepper and sweet fruit. Strong rich earth and berry flavours on the palate with plenty of tannin and impact. This is a brooding solid wine with plenty of time to go. It looked heavy after the beautiful ‘71 but on any other night it would be a champion. 95 points.
1974 Heitz Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - A legendary wine. Aromas of blackcurrant, peppermint/eucalypt, aniseed, leather and cigar box. It smells much like a classic old Coonawarra. Smooth and gentle on the palate with sweet fruit and complex old cabernet flavours. Still some fine tannin floating around here too. Long finish. A beautiful medium bodied wine of great grace and sophistication. I think about 97 points if you insist.
1998 Zilliken Saarbueger Rausche Eiswein - I got chatting to the table next to us and arranged a little sweety swap meet. Only had a small glass and don’t have much of a note but can tell you this had lovely slightly sweaty cumquat aromas and a very fine palate where the balance of biting acidity and sweet fruit was nearly spot on. Quite delicate and very delicious. 95 points.
1967 Chateau d’Yquem - A very dark burnt orange colour. Toffee, creme brulee nose, honey, apricot. Toffee and apricot flavours on the palate. A bit dried out. I can’t help but think this wine was too developed.
1955 Sigalas Rabaud Sauternes - A little lighter in colour than d’Yquem but fresher on the palate. Not as intense but still kicking along pretty well. Very nice old wine.