Just Bought

Santa was a little late with one of my presents... But he is forgiven, since it was a bottle from the greatest Barolo vintage ever, :-), and from one of my favourite producers.
And one of the most beautiful labels I have seen in a long time!

 

 

Some More Christmas Bottles

I also managed to open some bottles of Chardonnay´s from all around the world during the christmas holiday.

2010 Ridge Estate Chardonnay
A cool, somewhat withdrawn but fine nose with nice notes of white peaches, cold butter, wet rocks, dry fudge and a fine smoky scent. Very good in a restrained way.
The taste is fuller, bigger and sweeter than the nose leads on, but not in a negative way. There is lots of good stuff going on here - ripe pears, summerflowers, melted butter and crushed rocks. The finish is long and have a nice grip. The 14% alcohol isn´t noticable at all.
90p   (tasted 2012/12)

2011 Baracca Chardonnay, Miani
I haven´t tasted anything from this Italian cult producer before and this Chardonnay was a stunner. The nose is so pure and elegant with the most lovely notes of white currants, cucumber, peach skin, warm grass and lots of sweet minerals. Cool and racy. This is great.
The taste is elegant, tight and young with lots of smoky yellow fruit, fresh herbs, lemon peel, white currants and some fudge aromas. The acidity is almost teeth gripping. This needs time. What a great structure this wine have!
93p   (tasted 2012/12)

2011 Felton Road Block 2 Chardonnay
An open, fruity, fine nose with notes of grilled lemons, grapefruit peel, grey pears, lemon candy and kaffir lime leaves. Very good. Still young though.
The taste is fresh, tight and juicy with lots of ripe lemons and limes with a nice acidity and notes of grey pears, grass, fennel and a nice smoky ending. Good acidity. A fresh finish. This could need a year or two in the cellar.
90p   (tasted 2012/12)

1996 Puligny-Montrachet Les Enseignères, Verget
A deep, mature, excellent wine with breed, harmony and hedonism in one glass. The nose explodes from the glass with stunning notes of lemon cream, para nuts, butter crackers, dry fudge, tarragon butter, dry honey and chalky notes. Very intense and complex. Layer upon layer of mature yellow fruit. Stunning!
The taste is as good as the nose with ripe, mature yellow fruit paired with a caramelly sweetness and fresh acidity. Lots of notes of dried summer flowers, fudge, lemon cream, pan fried nuts and crushed slate. Long, long, long finish that ends very fresh. Another winner from Verget and the 1996 vintage.
95p   (tasted 2012/12)

Some Christmas Bottles

With friends, relatives, too much food and not enough wine, there hasn´t been time to make any updates. But I have managed to open some nice bottles. Here are the red ones...so far...

2004 Barolo Bricco Viole, M. Marengo
This opens more backward than I had thought. It needed several hours in the decanter and some heavy swirling to expose a fine nose with notes of red cherries, rosehip, sweet undergrowth, tobacco and lots of rose petals. Very young and fine.
The taste is young, cool and full of extract, young frisky tannins and a fine, sweet fruit that takes the backseat day one and two, but on day three it is in full bloom. This needs another 7+ years in the cellar. Very good potential and on day three it was a really fine mouthful of young Barolo.
90p   (tasted 2012/12)

1999 Montevetrano
An almost fully mature, round nose with sweet notes of ripe black currants, bluberries, some stable notes and old leather. Round and fine but without real depth.
The taste is big, sweet and mature with lots of ripe black currant fruit intermingled with bluberry jam, leather, wet earth, tobacco ashes and a hint of wood. The finish is long, warm and gulpable. This is for drinking now and together with a bit of seared meat, this is really good.
87p   (tasted 2012/12)

2001 Montevetrano
This is another creature all together - younger, fresher, and with more character and backbone. The nose is gorgeous with notes of sweet black currants with just a tiny amount of vanilla powder over them, meat stock, expensive leather, bluberry pie and hot earth. Very deep and fine.
The taste is young, big and sturdy with notes of ripe red and black currants, leather, tobacco, pencil shavings and balsa wood. Lots of fine grained tannins that cleans the finish effectively. This has a lot to offer now and for the coming 5+ years.
93p   (tasted 2012/12)

2007 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Corbeaux, Domaine Heresztyn
This was a kind gift and I was very curious since I haven´t tasted anything from this producer. And what a wine! I just adore these spicy, light on their feet, but still penetrating kind of Pinot´s. The nose is pure hedonism, with stunning notes of almost ripe rasberries, sloe berries, asian spices and a touch of paint. A very fine warmth. Gorgeous stuff!
The taste is fresh, cool and intense with lovely notes of lingonberries, rasberries, spices, fennel and a fine earthy note. A long, fine, vivid finish that ends with a dry twist. Really, really fine. I have to look for more wines from this producer.
94p   (tasted 2012/12)

Live From Eriks Winebar - Part 2

Guessing from the previous post, one could think it was a big glass, but it is my Ipad acting up...
Next up, with a grilled steak, is a glass of another new producer for me.

2010 Mica, Buccella
This is the second wine from this producer when it comes to their Cabernet. Mostly Cabernet with some Petit Verdot and Malbec. The nose is deep, upfront and beautiful with notes of ripe black currants, black cherries, bluberries, new expensive leather, freshly grounded coffee, clotted blood (!), saw dust and a touch of asphalt.
The taste is big, powerful and seamsless with sweet, beautiful black currant fruit with some added notes of new leather, cherry jam, asphalt and dried figs. A long, fine, seedy finish. Drinking fine but need some more years in the cellar.
90p (tasted 2012/12)

Live From Eriks Winebar - Part 1

I'm here again - drinking lunch...:-) Snow and cold outside, I need something big to get warm again. First out, while waiting for the food, a glass of

2008 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, Chateau Boswell
A new producer for me, the nose is big, warm, sweet and yummy with notes of tropical fruit, melted butter, pan fried nuts and some lovely smoky notes. Big, yes, over the top, no, no. This is very fresh in its opulent way.
The taste is tight, big, opulent and fresh, with gorgeous sweet fruit, fine acidity and a great length, which ends bone dry. Notes of lemon cream, summer flowers, dried apricots and cold butter. Very, very good.
92p (tasted 2012/12)

In Search of Brunello di Montalcino´s Soul - Chapter IX

Time again for another then-and-now Brunello comparison, this time with two vintages from Il Poggione. Funny enough the same vintages as when I tasted two bottles of  CastelGiocondo.

1994 Brunello di Montalcino, Il Poggione
A rather big, mature, deep nose with notes of red currants, tobacco, dried flowers, old leather and some paint box aromas. A lovely autumnal feeling about the nose, round, sweet and fine. Perfectly mature. Very, very good.
The taste is mature, tight and fine with notes of dried red fruits, dry chocolate, rosehips and old leather. Good structure. A fine warmth in the medium long finish. This is fully mature and drinking nicely. And with some food it was a great palate cleaner.
89p   (tasted 2012/12)

2006 Brunello di Montalcino, Il Poggione
A young, vigorous, seedy nose with notes of just picked red cherries, pine nuts, gravel and some fine floral scents. Very fresh, deep and fine. This has a great future.
The taste is young, tight and creamy with all the right parts - fresh, sweet fruit, finely tuned tannins and a refreshing acidity. Lovely notes of red cherries and currants, violets, balsa wood and a warm Tuscan gravel road. A long, pure finish with a fine warmth. Still very young, but I would love to have plenty of this in the cellar for the coming 10+ years.
92p   (tasted 2012/12)

A Bottle of Bubbly - 2004 De Saint Gall

In the midst of all the hectic christmas preparations, you really need to wind down with a glass (or two...) of bubbly.

2004 De Saint Gall Brut
This Blanc de Blancs opens very nicely on the nose, full of fresh red apples, newly baked bread, blood oranges, elder berries and hard lemon candy. Upfront and ready. Very good.
The taste is crisp, lively and rather elegant with nice notes of oranges, red apples, almond crust and dry fudge. A medium long, light, fine finish with a nice orange bitterness. This is drinking nicely now but could surely be kept for 5+ years.
88p   (tasted 2012/12)

Tasting Notes From Last Night

It became a great dinner with the closest family to highlight my 48th birthday. Nothing really to celebrate, but a nice excuse to open some bottles of wine. :-)

NV Antique Palo Cortado, Fernando de Castilla
Every time I taste a great sherry, I ask myself - "why don´t I drink this more often"? And I should! This nectar has a deep, fine, nutty nose with lots of character and notes of pan fried nuts, nougat, old leather, dried apricots, fine sherry vinegar and overripe apples. Very deep and interesting.
The taste is just profound with its silky feeling at first, and then the acidity and alcohol warmth (in a good way) kicks in and cleans the palate. Lovely notes of assorted nuts, leather, dry hay, dried fruits and lots of mushrooms. Long and persistent. This is lovely just to sip while working in the kitchen but I imagine it would create magic with a mushrooms soup. Great stuff.
93p   (tasted 2012/12)

NV Pierre Peters Cuvéee de Réserve Blanc de Blancs
I found an interesting recipe from a fellow Swedish blogger, which I thought would work with this Blanc de Blancs. And it did. The flavours from the fried cheese balls with the crisp Chardonnay fruit really made my taste buds happy. Th nose is young, fresh and crisp with notes of lemon peel, elder berries, summer flowers, gooseberries, white currants and yellow apples. Very fine.
The taste is light, creamy and really fine with notes of lemon cream, hyacinth, lime juice, milk chocolate fudge and yellow apples. A fine cleansing acidity. Still young but drinking beautifully. A bargain for 32 Euro.
90p   (tasted 2012/12)

1964 Château Petit Faurie de Souchard
A mature, round, fine nose with notes of ripe plums, dry chocolate, autumn leaves and some stable notes. A fine, sweet maturity. Not that deep though.
The taste doesn´t however follow up the fine nose. The fruit is there, and the sweetness, but there is a band aid note that lies like a coating over the rest of the taste. Too bad.
68p   (tasted 2012/12)

1964 Château Grand-Corbin-Despagne
This is a tad restrained right out of the bottle but as the night evolves this spread out like a peacock feather. A deep, fine, mature nose with sweet notes of red cherries, red currants, plums and pipe tobacco. Some burning autumn leaves in the background along with a fine chocolaty note. A really fine maturity.
The taste is medium big with fully integrated tannins and sweet, powerful fruit which leads to a long, fine finish that ends with a dry twist. Nice notes of plums, red currants, tobacco, undergrowth and some stable notes. This is drinking really nice, and I don´t have to run to the cellar and opening the remaining bottles (this had a level just below neck).
91p   (tasted 2012/12)

For the chocolate mousee we skipped port this time and went for a 15 year old Bual from Cossart Gordon, and my impressions from last year- my first post! - is still spot on.

Preparing For Dinner

There is a birthday dinner at home later tonight - so far this is on its way...

The cook need something to get things going...

Chocolate mousse with mini marshmallos - and some Port later

For starters we will have...

 

And for the main course...



Coeur the filet Provencele minus the meat and garlic butter...

Then & Now - Château Poujeaux

I had a craving for a mature Bordeaux, and why not at the same time try a new version of the same wine? Ok then, a bottle of 1975 Château Poujeaux is collected from the cellar and the 2009 is bought from the state monopoly.
But unfortunately there was no head to head match, which I had looked forward too.

1975 Château Poujeaux
Dead on arrival, the cork was dry and fell to pieces. That is not automatically a sign that the wine will be bad, but when I poured the wine I could almost feel the TCA from a distance...:-(
50p   (tasted 2012/12)

2009 Château Poujeaux
A medium sized, finely structured, young nose with notes of sweet black currants, blueberries, balsa wood, coffee, leather and a fine cigarr aroma. This has one foot firmly placed in the Bordeuax tradition and one foot is lightly treading into the more modern style. I like this.
The taste is leaner, fimer and even better than the nose with ripe red and black currants, pencil shavings, leather, fresh stables and a fine dusting of vanilla powder. A medium long, fine finish. I would guess that this will be drinking stunningly in 5-8+ years.
88p   (tasted 2012/12)

Better luck tomorrow...:-)

Keller Magic

How does he do it? Every bottle from this producer is liquefied gold, if you are a Riesling junkie like yours truly.
These two bottles were opened and enjoyed over the last two weeks. They keep forever in the fridge, and often gets better and better with time, that is if you can keep your hands of them...
Klaus Peter is, with Helmut Dönnhoff, The Wizard when it comes to Riesling.

2009 Westhofen Kirchspiel Riesling Trocken, Keller
A penetrating, deep, extrovert, lovely nose with notes of lemon curd, buttercup flowers, white pears, hay and some rubber notes. After some time in the glass notes of nutmeg and sweet minerals emerge. Very young, very deep and very, very good.
The taste is purity itself with a brilliant acidity and young, tight, sweet fruit in the shape of lemon, lime and apricots, with additional notes of freshly cut grass, summer flowers, hard lemon candy and lots and lots of minerals. The finish goes on for over a minute. So, so young, but impossible to resist at this stage.
94p (tasted 2012/11)

2008 Westhofen Kirchspiel Riesling Trocken, Keller
Even though very deep and intense on the nose, this is a bit more restrained than the 09 on the nose. But there is lots of good stuff going on here all the same - fine notes of dried apricots, grass, candied lemons and a touch of furniture polish. Deep and fine.
The taste tight, fresh and intense with lovely notes of sweet lemons, grey pears, summer flowers and masses of crushed slate. Very long and fine. A gorgeous sweet/sour/salty note in the finish. The taste is firing on all cylinders. Gorgeous stuff.
93p (tasted 2012/11)

Thank god I have more bottles of this nectar!

Live From Prime Winebar

Since I didn' t get a Nobel price this year either (the award ceremony is here in Stockholm today), I have to console myself...
And what better way is there than tasting two vintage champagnes from one of my favourite houses - Billecart-Salmon?

2004 Billecart-Salmon Brut
A young, pure, racy nose with lots of freshly baked bread, lavender, lemon peel, hyachint and newly washed clothes. Very fine. Not a blockbuster, more the elegant, feminine character. Lovely.
The taste is young, tight and fresh like a daisy with lemons in all sorts of ways - lemon peel, lemon cream and candied lemons, with additional notes of dry grass, gravel and lavender. The finish is medium long and steely dry. This needs a couple of years to unfold, and should turn out really fine.
91p (tasted 2012/12)

1998 Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois
A gorgeous, deep, intense nose with sweet, sweet notes of sugared lime juice, dried summer flowers, dark bread, some smoky notes and a lovely perfumed scent. I could spend hours with my nose in this glass, but, alas, I suppose I have taste it as well...
Aaaaaaah, this is good! Firmness, luscious, sweet fruit and a finish that goes on forever. There are notes of dark bread, dried rasberries, dried flowers, smoke and sweet minerals. The acidity is just perfect. It feels like its fully matured and perfect to drink now (and it is) but I wouldn't be surprised if it has that one extra gear to shift up too, in 5+ years time. Really stunning juice!
96p (tasted 2012/12)

In Search of Brunello di Montalcino´s Soul - Chapter VIII

Time again to do some soul searching - this time in the form of three bottles from the 1995 vintage. As you can see from the notes below I really enjoyed these bottles, and if they are representative for the 1995 vintage, I have to get more! They all have a lovely combination of structure, opulence and maturity.

1995 Brunello di Montalcino Ugolaia, Lisini
An almost ethereal, complex, lovely nose with notes of ripe cherries, violets, tea, forest floor and some sweet saw dust. Very, very deep and fine. This has a lovely mature fruit feeling combined with still a youngish structure. Just gorgeous.
The taste is tight, firm yet silky with delicious sweet cherry fruit, perfectly ripe tannins and notes of dried flowers, leather, tea and that luscious Italian gravel road note. The finish is long, steady and aristocratic. I would say that this has hit its summit, but it will stay like this for another 5+ years. Great stuff.
95p   (tasted 2012/12)

1995 Brunello di Montalcino CastelGiocondo, Marchesi dè Frescobaldi
A deep, warm, round and fine nose with notes of creamy cherry fruit, forest floor, tobacco, hard cherry candy and a touch of band-aid (in a positive way). Very, very good. On its way to full maturity, but not really there yet.
The taste is pure, tight and warm with a lovely sweet and sour cherry fruit intermingled with notes of violets, licorice, tobacco and balsa wood. This has a very nice upright structure. The finish is long, warm and ends with a nice dry twist. Drinking beautifully, and will do for the coming 6-8 years.
92p   (tasted 2012/12)

1995 Brunello di Montalcino, Valdicava
Right out of the bottle this has a big, warm, sturdy nose with deep notes of sugared black cherries, warm earth, tea leaves, dried flowers and leather. With air it becomes cooler with a lovely rosehip notes and later it reminds me of a semi mature Bordeaux. Complex and fine. Just entering its maturrity phase.
The taste is big, pure and just stunning with its splendid combination of sweet fruit and a taut structure. Notes of ripe cherries, red currants, rosehips, dried flowers. leather and a hint of coffee. The acidity cleans the mouth in a great way. The finish is long, pure and ends with some still young tannins. This should hit its prime in 3-5 years. Great wine!
94p   (tasted 2012/12)

Just Bought

One can never have to much mature Sangiovese in the cellar, as the 1997 tasting well and truly proved. This was a fine example of the 1993 vintage, as I hope these also will turn out to be.
These bottles arrived today, notes to follow soon!

 

 

 

 

Tasting 8 Vintages of Terra di Lavoro, Galardi

Aglianico is, for me, a grape that often is a hit or a miss. Those times that the ripe fruit, the warmth and big tannins come together, the wines are a large-scaled mouthful of great character. Especially together with some grilled meat - there is a winning combination!
But when the fruit is too ripe, the warmth is of the alcohol kind and the tannins behaves like a steamroller, then it´s not for me.

So it was with great anticipation that I accepted the invitation from the Swedish importer VinUnic to get to taste 8 vintages of Terre di Lavoro from Galardi.
Terre di Lavoro is made up of 80% Aglianico and 20% Piedirosso.

Upon arrivel we were greated with delicious finger sandwiches and a bottle of bubbly.
2005 Louis Roederer Brut
This was served as champagne should be served - from a magnum! A fine, interesting nose with notes of yellow apples and plums, hyacinth, clementines and a touch of rubber. Very, very good.
The taste is fresh and salivating with notes of yellow apples, lime, dry fudge and summer flowers. The acidity is crisp and fine. The initial taste when it hits the tongue is that of freshly fallen snow! This is delicate.
90p   (tasted 2012/12)

Then we sat down at the tasting table were the first flight of Terra di Lavoro already had been poured.
All wines tasted non blind.

2010 Terra di Lavoro, Galardi
A deep, finely spiced, warm nose with notes of ripe plums, blueberries, almond paste, minerals and earth. Very good. This is very young but has a promising character.
The taste is young, tight and somewhat peppery with additional notes of plums, dark chocolate and christmas spices. There is a fine warmth here. Long and fine. I would guess that this is going to turn into a great bottle 5-8 years down the line.
92p   (tasted 2012/12)

2009 Terra di Lavoro, Galardi
A big, extrovert, fiery nose with notes of cherry jam, plywood, orange peel and a hint of whisky. This is the kind of Aglianico that I have a problem with, too much, too warm, too rigid.
The taste follows the nose with big fiery black fruit, a tight, dry tannin structure and a long, fiery finish, and when the finish ends the fruit is long gone. There is a green streak in there too. This may have its admirers, but I´m not one of them..
76p   (tasted 2012/12)

2008 Terra di Lavoro, Galardi
This is more like it! When I dip my nose in the glass I am reminded of how I thought fine Bordeaux smelt 20 years ago when they (and me!) were young. A fine, deep, creamy nose with lovely notes of blueberries, rosehips, plums, dried spices and a ever so small hint of mint. This is intense, stylish and full of vigour. Great wine!
The taste is young, concentrated and tight with notes of blueberries, almonds, earth, Valrhona chocolate and some new expensive leather. Very pure and vibrant. The finish goes on for over a minute. Still young, but this is going places.
95p   (tasted 2012/12)

2007 Terra di Lavoro, Galardi
From a magnum. The nose is deep, warm and upfront with notes of ripe plums, blackberries, herbs and some chocolaty notes. The first that reveals a hint of maturity. The warmth is very fine.
The taste is more tight than the nose leads you to believe with ripe, bold fruit, big tannins and long, warm finish that ends with a note of a dusty Italian summer road. There is some dried blueberries, spices and leather here too. I think this is for drinking sooner than later, but on this night it is that full bodied, warm mouthful of character that I want in a Aglianico.
90p   (tasted 2012/12)

2006 Terra di Lavoro, Galardi
A fine, round, deep and even elegant nose with lovely notes of sweet blueberries, red currants, warm earth and old expensive leather. This is, I think/guess, on top of its game with a wonderful combination of semi mature scents and a more youthful backbone. Very, very good.
The taste is still tight but also here you can feel that the tannins has softened a bit and the mouthfeel is that of a maturing wine. There are gorgeous notes of blueberries, black cherries, tobacco and a Italian gravel road. A long, long, steadfast finish. Really stunning!
94p   (tasted 2012/12)

2003 Terra di Lavoro, Galardi
I was worried that this would be tainted by this hot year, as the 2009, but not at all. The nose is open, albeit warm, but in restrained way with fine notes of ripe plums, blackberries, christmas spices, violets and a hint of toothpaste. Deep and fine. This has evolved nicely.
The taste is big, warm and tight with lots of plumcake notes and some pipe tobacco, earth and old leather. The finish is long, warm and steady with a nice grip. Maybe the tannins are a tad rustic, but that is nitpicking. A very fine wine.
92p   (tasted 2012/12)

2002 Terra di Lavoro, Galardi
This was like the proverbial Norwegian blue...
50p   (tasted 2012/12)

2001 Terra di Lavoro, Galardi
A mature, round, fine nose with notes of plums, green raisins, dry tobacco, moist earth and old leather. With air more and more dried fruit aromas emerged. Very nice in its mature kind of way. A fine warmth to the (dried) fruit.
The taste is tight, seedy and warm with notes of dried plums and red currants, tobacco, violet pastils and gravel. The finish is long, rather elegant and with lots of character. Very, very good. This has matured in a fine manner.
89p   (tasted 2012/12)

This was a fascinating expose over Terre di Lavoro. The 2008 and 2006 were the stars of the tasting for me, and for what they cost they are bargains. But I don´t know if these kind of wines really talks to my heart, like Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir do (even though Aglianico sometimes is called the "Barolo of the south"...)? I just have too keep on exploring!

But the tasting wasn´t over yet! We got the chance to try a few more wines out of VinUnic´s portfolio.

2010 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Poissenots, Domaine Louis Jadot
Aaaaaah, this is it. Light as a feather, but at the same time full of stuffing. The nose is stunning with its scents of just ripe strawberries, pine nuts, forest floor, asian spices and a lovely perfumed note. So pure, so intoxicating, so beautiful. Very young of course, but simply irresistible.
The taste is elegant, fresh and light on its feet with gorgeous notes of rasberries, wild strawberries, mushrooms and hint of dark chocolate. So, so fine. Great acidity at work here. This will become something stunning in due course, but even now its luscious to drink.
95p   (tasted 2012/12)

2010 Chapelle-Chambertin, Domaine Louis Jadot
This will surely get the upper hand on the Poissenots in 10 years time but today it has a more restrained profile. The nose is deep, tight and complex with notes of ripe rasberries, lingonberries, spices and cocoa powder. Very, very fine. This has more depth than the previous wine but you just get to see glimpses of whats underneath.
The taste is young, tight and purity itself, with notes of lingonberries, christmas spices, forest floor and balsa wood. The finish is long but a tad compressed. This needs time. But in 10+ years time, look out!
93p   (tasted 2012/12

2004 Stonyridge Larose
This New Zeeland Bordeaux blend has a deep, creamy, fine notes of black currants, blueberries, pipe tobacco, hot earth and a hint of vanilla. A bit of smoke emerges with air. Very good.
The taste is tight and intense with lots of sweet black currant  fruit and notes of tobacco, leather, pencil shavings and dark chocolate. A long, medium big finish than ends a tad foursquare. Good but not great.
88p   (tasted 2012/12)

2010 Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières, Domaine Louis Jadot
All these red wines, and the white gets the gold! This is flat out spectacular! The nose is pure, complex and opulent with stunning notes of white peaches, lemon peel, dry fudge, summer flowers and lots and lots of sweet minerals. The empty glass just oozes pan fried nuts. So, so fine.
The taste is just beautiful with layers upon layers of sweet yellow fruit, piercing acidity and a minute long, intense finish. Gorgeous notes of white currants, pressed summer flowers, lemon cream and a hint of oak. This is marvellous! And will surely stay that way for the coming 10 years. This is a must buy!
96p   (tasted 2012/12)

2009 Saint-Joseph Vignes de l`Hospice, Guigal
And as a encore, this bottle was opened. A fruity, open, peppery nose greats you, with fine notes of blackberries, meat stock, fresh stables and a field full of violets. Expressive and fine.
The taste is young, pure and gulpable with notes of blueberries, rowanberries, peppered meat, violet pastils and dark chocolate. The finish is medium big with rather friendly tannins. This is beginning its good-to-go phase. Very, very good.
91p   (tasted 2012/12)

Something Small & Sweet

Not all posts have to include 10+ plus wines, right? :-) This small beauty - from a half bottle - was opened and enjoyed some weeks ago.

2002 Erdener Prälat Riesling Auslese Goldcap, Dr. Loosen
A smooth, pure, elegant and very deep nose with gorgeous notes of white peaches, overripe pears, honey pastils, clam stock and summer flowers. Very elegant and subtle. Feels like this is on top of its game right now.
The taste is tight, finely tuned, elegant and semi sweet with a lovely mature corpulence and notes of candied lemons, peaches, dried honey and lots and lots of crushed rocks. The finish is long and at the very ending it is semi dry. Just lovely to sit and sip this nectar. Would surely keep for ages but I venture a guess that it will never become better than this.
92p   (tasted 2012/11)

Tasting 1997 Tuscany - The Fourth Flight

For the background to this tasting, look here.

It was time for the last flight and expectations were high. It was 11 bottles in this flight and almost all were great expressions of mature, and in some cases, still not yet mature Sangiovese.

All bottles decanted 45 minutes before the first pour. All tasted single blind.
All the cepage percentage below is from Andrea Zanfi´s book SuperTuscans.

1997 La Corte, Castello di Querceto
A deep, tight, salivating nose with pure Sangiovese fruit and notes of red cherries, licorice, herbs, tobacco and forest floor. Very fine. After a while some notes of sweet plums emerge.
The taste is medium big, tight and with a very fine herbal note alongside notes of red currants, hard cherry candy, dark chocolate, hot gravel and autumn leaves. The finish is balanced and ends dry. In a perfect drinking stage. 100 Sangiovese.
90p   (tasted 2012/11)

1997 Lucente, Frescobaldi & Mondavi
A fine, elegant yet powerful nose with notes of red and black cherries, licorice, fresh herbs, expensive leather and tobacco. Very deep and fine. This is somewhat mature but has more to give. A lovely sweet, pure cherry fruit.
The taste is tight, fresh and forceful with sweet notes of red cherries, plums, pipe tobacco, fried herbs and some bonfire notes. A very long, pure finish with a lovely warmth. Great! This is for drinking now and 10+ years. 85% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot.
92p   (tasted 2012/11)

1997 Il Solissimo, Castello di Lucignano
An intense, finely tuned, warm nose with notes of cherry jam, tobacco, autumn leaves, licorice and a fine perfumed note. A touch warmer than the previous ones. But very good.
The taste is warm, tight and almost mature with notes of hard cherry candy, coffe powder, autumn leaves, pipe tobacco and wet undergrowth. A long, warm finish. This is fully mature and can only go downhill from here, but today a nice drinking wine. 70% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.
85p   (tasted 2012/11)

1997 Sassoaloro, Biondi Santi
A sweet, open, mature nose with notes of rec and black cherries, burning autumn leaves, meat stock, tobacco and some frozen rasberries. Fruity, sweet, yummy.
The taste is more tight than the nose leads you to believe with fine cherry fruit and notes of licorice, dry tobacco, gravel, balsa wood and leather. A medium long, fine finish. Fully mature and a fine drinking Sangiovese. 100% Sangiovese.
88p   (tasted 2012/11)

1997 Etrusco, Cennatoio Intervineas
This has a fine warmth and maturity, with notes of delicious sweet cherry fruit and scents of pipe tobacco, leather, forest floor, gravel and ripe plums. Upfront and sweet. Very, very good.
The taste is tight, seedy and fine with notes of sweet lingonberries, red currants, plums, bonfire, tobacco and autumn leaves. A very fine warmth. Just mature, this is in a lovely drinking phase. 100% Sangiovese.
91p   (tasted 2012/11)

Here we took a food break with some gnocchi, bacon and fried sage. And with new energy we poured the remaining bottles.

1997 Cepparello, Isole e Olena
This has added concentration compared to the previous line up, with gorgeous notes of herbal scented cherry fruit, coffe powder, dried flowers and some smoky notes. Really fine. And still young. Lovely on the nose.
And the taste follows it up with beautiful, sweet cherry fruit and notes of licorice, smoke, a warm Tuscan gravel road and some fresh herbs. The finish is long and sumptuous. Not as stunning as the Colleczione de Marchi, but Isole e Olena really did great in this vintage. 100% Sangiovese.
94p   (tasted 2012/11)

1997 Percarlo, San Giusto a Rentennano
Served from magnum, thanks to S and M! And what a wine! This is what dreams, at least mine..., are made of. There is elegance, power and structure in one stunning package. Lovely notes of the sweetest red cherries, rasberries, Cohiba cigars, hot gravel, dried flowers and violets. Very complex and intense. Still on the young side of things.
The taste is dense, impressive and lip smacking good. Even though I try to spit when we taste through the wines, when this enters your mouth it is impossible to spit it out. This is a breathtaking wine and will keep for another 10+ years, that is if you have a magnum of it... 100% Sangiovese.
97p   (tasted 2012/11)

1997 I Sodi di San Niccolo, Castellare di Castellina
There is no rest in this line up, another winner is in the next glass! Stunning notes of cherry pips, blueberry bushes, licorice, expensive leather and the scent of a bonfire in the distance. The depth is impressive. Still very young, it keeps evolving in the glass all night long.
The taste is tight, deep and intense with notes of sweet red cherries, lingonberries, balsa wood, pipe tobacco and a perfect autumn forest walk. The tannins are polished with the finest sandpaper. The finish goes on for over a minute. This could be kept for another 5-8 years, but is impossible to resist today. 85% Sangiovese, 15% Malvasia Nera.
95p   (tasted 2012/11)

1997 Fontalloro, Fèlsina
A deep, mature, round and fine nose with sweet notes of cherries marinated in balsam vinegar, dark chocolate, damp earth, tobacco and dried flowers. Really nice. This has depth and maturity. In a perfect stage.
The taste confirms that, with sweet, opulent fruit, nicely integrated tannins and a long, soft, fine finish. Fine notes of hard cherry candy, pipe tobacco, leather and autumn leaves. Perfect to just sit and sip. Very, very good. 100% Sangiovese.
91p   (tasted 2012/11)

1997 Tignanello, Antinori
This is the best bottle of Tignanello I have ever had, it needed those 15 years to get it together. The nose is cool, elegant and very deep with great notes of red and black cherries, rasberries, licorice, violets, tea, warm gravel and forest floor. Very, very fine. I would say that this is perfectly mature but I wouldn´t be afrais to save this for 5+ years in the cellar.
The taste is so pure, so fine and so nicely put together that you just have to surrender to its beauty. The fruit is sweet and mellow but yet intense, the tannins are perfectly melted and the finish goes on for over a minute. Great wine! 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc.
94p   (tasted 2012/11)

1997 Flaccianello, Fontodi
How about saving the best for last? We tasted single blind so it was just random that the best of the bunch came in last in the line up. And this was easy picking out - having tasted it 7-8 times, always scoring it in the 95-98p range, I instantly knew that this was the Flaccianello. And what a bottle! The nose is decadent sweet, opulent and at the same time with a razor like structure. Beautiful notes of black cherries, Cohiba cigars, licorice, a hot Tuscan gravel road, fresh herbs and dried flowers. Pretty much the same notes as in the others but here its turned to eleven... Just awesome!
The taste is like the proverbial "iron fist in a velvet glove" with stunning sweet fruit backed up with strapping tannins and refreshing acidity. It seems as the finish goes on forever. This must be tasted! I wonder when to open my lonely mag of this nectar...? :-) 100% Sangiovese.
98p   (tasted 2012/11)