1999 Noon Solaire Reserve Grenache (500ml)

This is Noon's super charged late picked Grenache. Halliday comments on its "...concentrated berry bouquet which gives little hint of the almost unbelievably rich, concentrated and amazingly sweet palate". Ideal with mature cheeses of many types. Miniscule production.

Notes sourced from Noon Winery: Deep red/purple in colour, with an amazing aroma of super-ripe macerated cherries and dark plums –it certainly gets your attention. The palate is rich and concentrated –high in alcohol, with a trace of sweetness (not as high as in 1998) and masses of flavour, leading to a strong, dry finish. Almost a meal in itself, try it with a really good farmhouse cheddar or equally rich Osso Bucco or game dish. Quite an experience.

Other reviews... Dark red-purple; bramble, prune, plum and earth aromas lead into a palate which is almost impossible to describe, the sweetness coming from alcohol and (it would seem) a touch of unfermented sugar, which makes one wonder just what the baume level of the grapes were when they were finally picked. This is a port by any other name, even though it is not fortified. 84 points
- James Halliday's Wine Companion [Tasted 2000]