Elevation 393 Vertical tasting: Remington Norman’s notes - November 2008

Dr Remington Norman is a well respected wine writer from the UK, who has the good sense to spend his summers in the Cape.  A longstanding customer of ours, Remington attended our vertical tasting and kindly agreed to do our tasting notes for us.  Best known for the authorative “Rhône Renaissance” and “The Great Domaines of Burgundy”.  

Summary: A fine line  up – nothing mediocre here; finely-wrought wines which will all develop attractively over the medium term. Above all the oak has been deftly judged and it marks none of these wines. Although many are eminently drinkable now, all will benefit from further bottle age. These are certainly not wines for the impatient.

2006
(Pre-release sample)		 Fine deep colour; attractive elegant aromas clearly from very ripe fruit; palate shows heat but this is balanced by lovely weight of fruit; fine balance, elegant above all. Soft, attractive, plush, very sexy wine. Drink over next 5-10 years.
   
2005 Deep plum hue; nose dominated by Merlot pebbliness; oak shows at present as does alcohol; good weight and balance but lacks concentration in this context; good length, warm finish. Fine quality nonetheless. Drink 2010-2015
   
2004 Deep colour. Fine Cabernet Sauvignon dominated nose which will gain in complexity; tight ripe tannic envelope, good depth of fruit, excellent concentration and mid palate length; showing rather burly at present but has every sign of coming together and developing gracefully given time. Drink 2010-2020.
   
2003 Deep sombre hue; closed nose showing a touch of under-ripeness and a note of brett. Merlot gives palate flesh to offset the alcohol; somewhat loose-knit compared with 2000 & 2001 but none the less a lovely wine which will continue to develop well. Drink now to 2015.
   
2001 Deep limpid colour; tight spicy Cabernet Sauvignon based nose; soft, plush texture, well-integrated oak; firm, tight structure, good length; Shiraz element adds spice; mouth-feel is opulent and rounded, supported by firm, ripe tannins. Fine future – drink now to 2020.
   
2000 Good colour, powerful dried fig nose; mid-weight spicy, firm-structured wine; drying slightly but has good future ahead of it. Drink now – 2015
   
   

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