1964 Barolo - Two More Bottles Tonight

Soon the year is up and I am continuing to drink my 64´s. I will not be able to honour my statement from earlier this year, that I would be drinking all of my 64´s this year. I have worked at it....but there will be some bottles left. More of that in a post soon.
But, tonight two bottles from the hallowed hills of Piedmonte.

1964 Barolo Riserva, Fontana Saverio
A big, open, mature nose with notes of cherry jam, cold coffee, withered rosehips, some tar in the distance and moist autumn earth. Not that complex but very direct and hedonistic. Very good.
The taste is mature, soft and warm with notes of ripe red cherries, sugared coffee, mild chocolate wafers, autumn leaves and fried mushrooms. A long, warm finish with fruit, acidity and tannins melted together in a fine blend. Easy to take big gulps of. Very, very good.
88p   (tasted 2014/12)

1964 Barolo Riserva, Michele Nicolello
This, the 2.094th bottle of 19.860 made, is a stunner. If this would have been poured to me blind I would have guessed it to be a 1982 or a 1978. Not older than that.
The nose is deep and profound with lovely notes of ripe black cherries, freshly shaved truffles, rose petals, warm gravel and fine bonfire aroma. Just beautiful.
The taste is big, broad and multi layered with a fine, taut structure and sweet, warm fruit. Gorgeous notes of sweet cherries, hard cherry candy, rosehips, ceps and coffee powder. The finish goes on for over a minute. There is some finely tuned tannins in the end. A great wine that is barely mature and that will keep on giving pleasure for 10+ years.
95p   (tasted 2014/12)

Drinking Tonight - 2008 Chianti Classico Riserva, Castello Monterinaldi

After tasting the 2010 Chianti Classico - http://barolista.blogspot.se/2014/08/vacation-wine-diary-day-27-chianti.html - I was curious about the 2008 Riserva. Well, lets open one.

2008 Chianti Classico Riserva, Castello Monterinaldi

This needed some hours in a decanter before revealing nice aromas of sweet/sour cherries, dried rosemary, warm earth, worn leather and some dark cookie dough. Except for the cookie dough, a very traditional, old style nose. Very good.

The taste is still young and tight with notes of hard cherry candy, earth, old leather, dried herbs and lingonberry bushes. A high, fresh acidity. A touch of old balsamic vinegar. The finish is medium long and in the end a touch anemic. Today I prefer the 2010 Normale. But I have a hunch that this will evolve into something even better with time. And for 21 Euro I will buy a bunch. 

87p   (tasted 2014/12)

A Bottle Of Bubbly - Retasting Lenoble´s 2008 Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs

I was very impressed by this 2008 earlier this year. But at this sort of tastings, nice as they are, you don´t have the time to follow the wine for more than 15-20 minutes. At home, I can follow the same wine for days, really to getting to grips with it.
Lets pop and pour!

2008 Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, AR Lenoble
A very pure, young, cheeky nose with lovely notes of lemon cream, white peaches, buttercup flowers and milk chocolate. Refined and with lots of nerve. This is really good. Lots of potential. Hints of fresh ginger after some time in the glass. Stunning.
The taste is young, concentrated and intense with notes of lemon cream, fudge, butter biscuits and sweet minerals. A racy acidity that cleans the palate. Long and pure. This is a very fine bottle of young Champagne.
Opened yesterday and today the nose is the same but it is a tad softer on the palate. Very creamy. Great wine. Glad I have a bunch.
95p   (tasted 2014/12)

The Christmas Port - 1964 Port Vinho Generoso, Casa do Douro

I needed some Port to go with the creamy Stilton and stingy Cheddar. I have never seen this producer and I was anxious to see how this should behave. And I am curious to what this is. It is not a Vintage Port, nor a Single Quinta, nor a Tawny, and the label doesn´t say - if anyone knows what it is, please let me know. The colour is in any instance that of a tawny.
Since I am the only one who drinks fortified wines in the family (too bad...:-)), this bottle will last for me all Christmas long.

1964 Port Vinho Generoso, Casa do Douro
The nose is deep and sweet with masses of milk chocolate, figs, white raisins, moist earth and a wet bonfire. Very deep and intoxicating. Vanilla cookies with melted chocolate and some dark liquorice. This is hedonism in a glass!
The taste is velvety and creamy, yet intense and with lots of power. Gorgeous notes of milk chocolate cream, pistachio nuts, figs, old leather and a touch of cap gun smoke. A lovely warmth in the long finish. Fully mature and drinking extremely well.
93p   (tasted 2014/12)

The Night Before Christmas & A Revelation!

It is the day before Christmas. Almost everything is prepared and we finish the evening with a light dish with zucchini pasta with chicken filets and a mushroom sauce. I rummaged through the rest of the 64´s and found this bottle.
A Aloxe-Corton (or that what the list said when I bought it) with no producer indicated on the label, at least on the part of the label that still is attached to the bottle.
I had no expectations what so ever (and had a back up bottle ready), the cork broke in several pieces, and what do I get in the glass...

1964 Aloxe-Corton, ?
What!! The nose just oozes up from the glass with wonderful aromas of deep, concentrated, ripe raspberries, sweet red beets, forest floor, sweet rosehips and a lingering tobacco note. A lovely maturity, just in a perfect stage. This is truly great. A fine depth. And it just gets better and better in the glass, more harmonious and with a mature sweetness.
The taste is beautifully ripe and velvety with just the right amount of grip and texture. There is ripe raspberries, forest floor, liquorice, cedar and parsnips, flowing over the tongue. The finish is long, tight and fresh with a gorgeous acidity. This is drinking just perfectly now. Great wine.
If this really is "only" a Aloxe-Corton, this behaves well above its pedigree, considering its age. Just gorgeous! If anyone know what producer this is, please let me know. Now, can I get hold of some more bottles?
94p   (tasted 2014/12)

Chianti Classico - Three More Bottles From 1964

Time to end the Chianti chapter in my 1964 collection. The three previous bottles was not much to write home about. Lets see how these three perform.

1964 Chianti Classico Brolio Riserva, Barone Ricasole
A mature, somewhat restrained nose with notes of dried red cherries, saw dust, liquorice, ripe red apples and fried herbs. Opens up a bit but then a sweaty sock scent comes and goes. A bit fragile, but to and fro it has a fine mature nose.
The taste is mature, slim and dry with notes of lingonberries, dried red cherries, bakelite and dusty rosemary. A tad foursquare finish. Ok with food but to dry and linear on its own.
78p   (tasted 2014/12)

1964 Chianti Classico, Castello di Uzzano
A big, mature, funky nose with notes of cooked cherries, old leather, undergrowth, warm rosemary and some mature Pecorino cheese. A good depth. Very good even though the funk.
The taste is mature, tight and warm with a good structure and notes of red cherries, worn leather, tobacco and rosemary ham. A medium long, warm finish. Has a good grip still. Very good.
86p   (tasted 2014/12)

1964 Chianti Classico, Fattoria di Montagliari
The last but not the least! A warm, finely tuned and mature nose with notes of ripe red and black cherries, pipe tobacco, thyme, sweet flowers and expensive soap. Deep and fine. A very fine maturity. Very, very good.
The taste is warm, spicy and mature with notes of ripe cherries, dark fudge, worn leather, fried thyme and moist undergrowth. Long and structured. Fully mature but not in the least over the hill. Drinking very fine.
90p   (tasted 2014/12)

 

 

 

Lamb & Bordeaux

I bought some nice lamb sausages, grilled them and paired them with mixed vegetables and a garlic sauce. I wanted a Bordeaux to go along and found a 24 year old Margaux in a odd bin rack in the cellar.

This 5th Cru normally consists of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot and the land has a long history, according to David Peppercorn, records show that vine has been cultivated here in the thirteenth century. Thats's a legacy! More info http://www.chateaudauzac.com/en/

1990 Château Dauzac

This needed a bit of a time in the glass, and then revealed a fine, mature, medium sized nose with notes of cool, ripe black currants, plums, bay leaves, old leather and some clean, maintained stables. Very good. Elegant and low keyed, in a good way.

The taste is mature, dry and good with notes of red and black currants, gravel, worn leather and autumn leaves. A medium long finish with some dry tannins. This gives lots of pleasure on this night. Laid back, mature and very, very good. I like this a lot tonight.

The man from Monkton tasted it in January of 1993 and brushed it of as "hard, austere, malnourished and disappointing", and giving it a whopping 74 points. It is not the first time he is way of base. Much better than that, I give this bottle

88p   (tasted 2014/12)

Drinking Tonight - 2012 Les Fontanilles

Tonight it was time for the new vintage of a southern France favourite, from the talented producers Anne Gros and Jean-Paul Tollot. Tasting note of the 2009 here.

2012 Les Fontanilles, Domaine Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot
The nose is cool, finely tuned with notes of ligtly peppered meat, ripe blueberries, asphalt, rosehips and some bonfire scents. Very fine in its withdrawn way, compared to the 2010 and 2009, that had more oomph and body, see the link above.
The taste is young, tight and pure with sweet lingonberry- and blueberry fruit intermingled with notes of dry black peppercorn, bakelite, violets and hot gravel. A medium long, balanced finish. Very good but a little more anemic than the 2010 and 2009.
88p   (tasted 2014/12)

Fonseca Vintage Port 1970 - 2011

Mikke put together this year last tasting in our tasting group. And as usual - 2011 and 2013 - the theme was Port.
Tasted double blind.

1970 Fonseca Vintage Port
A big, sweet, mature nose with notes of figs, dates, pan fried nuts sprinkled with muscovado sugar, detergent and hand cream. Yummy! Fully mature. Soft, sweet and very fine.
The taste is bigger than the nose leads you to believe, with notes of figs, dried up raspberry jam, chocolate covered nuts and a hint of detergent. A long, warm finish. Drinking perfectly now.
I remember bying these by the half bottle for 10 Euro some 20+ years ago...
92p   (tasted 2014/12)

1977 Fonseca Vintage Port
Upon revealing the botlles, there was a sigh of disappointment around the table. Normally one of the best 77´s, this bottle didn´t reach the heights it normally perform on.
The nose is big, mature and a tad foursquare with notes of maple suryp, blueberry- and raspberry jam, dry wood, tepentine and rotting autumn leaves. Sweet and interesting, but not that complex.
The taste is big, broad and fiery with notes of raspberry truffles, spicy pepper, saw dust and nut cream. Some detergent in the long, warm finish. A good bottle of mature Port, but not in its usual class, that usually is in the high 90´s.
87p   (tasted 2014/12)

1980 Fonseca Vintage Port
A fine, persistent, deep nose with notes of dates, paint, pickled ginger, ski wax and sweet dried flowers. Very, very fine. Not as sweet on the nose at the two previous wines, but more refined.
The taste is beautifully ripe, mature and viscous with notes of chocolate covered raspberries, iron, ski wax, pan fried nuts and a hint of dark soap. A very long, focused, concentrated nose. Almost fully mature, this beaty will go on for years and years. Really fine.
93p   (tasted 2014/12)

1985 Fonseca Vintage Port
The 85´s do need time. And the Fonseca behaved no different. The nose is deep and seedy with notes of sweet blueberries, dark chocolate, violets and asphalt. Tight and concentrated.
The taste is big and youngish with notes of blueberry chocolate, sweet thyme, sweet nuts, band aid and asphalt. A long, tight and a bit foursquared finish. Needs time.
90p   (tasted 2014/12)

2003 Fonseca Vintage Port
A deep, powerful, tight nose with notes of blueberry bushes, bakelite, assorted nuts, violets, asphalt and hyachint. This has potential. Very ripe fruit. A fine depth.
The taste is young, tight and intense with notes of crushed blueberries, tar, sweet flowers, candied orange peel and high octane chocolate. The finish goes on for minutes. A stunning Port that will need 20+ years to reach maturity.
94p   (tasted 2014/12)

2011 Fonseca Vintage Port
Yet again, I lament the fact that I´m not 40 years younger. If I was I should buy 2011 Ports by the case for my pocket money... Lucky those who will enjoy these wines in their mature shape.
The nose of this gorgeous creature oozes up from the glass with notes of a cool nut- and blueberry pie, asphalt, 64% Valrhona chocolate, warm dust, dark cookie dough and green raisins. The depth is profound. It evolves and changes in the glass all evening long. Just stunning!
The taste is a wave of concentrated blueberry fruit intermingled with notes of violets, sweet flowers, green raisins and dark chocolate fudge. The tannins are turned up to eleven but it is hardly noticable behind the wall of sweet fruit. The finish goes on and on and on. This will surely mature into a perfect wine - just wait 30 years or so...
97p   (tasted 2014/12)

Just Bought

Just received another bottle from, possibly, the next best vintage ever...:-)

Looking forward to that tasting, later in 2015!

Impressions From New York - Part Four

Found some mature California Cabernets in a wine store and tried them at the apartment, on this last night of our stay.

1991 Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
A finely tuned, mature nose with notes of black currant leaves, ripe green peppers, fresh stables, old leather and cigarette smoke. A cool nose. Very good.
The taste is mature, taut and structured with notes of red and black currants, barely ripe blueberries, green peppers, dusty earth and old leather. Smells and taste like a there is a good percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend.
90p   (tasted 2014/12)

2001 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon
A deep, profound, tight and still young nose with notes of ripe black currants, pencil shavings, dried blueberries, warm gravel, Zegna leather and well managed stables. Very intense. Just lovely. A wonderful sweetness to the fruit.
The taste is concentrated and focused with beautiful sweet black currant and blueberry fruit with additional notes of graphite, warm tiles, espresso coffee and new leather. The finish goes on for minutes with a glorious warmth and concentration, and still packing a punch in the tannin department. A lovely wine today, but should be close to perfection in another 5+ years.
96p   (tasted 2014/12)

Impressions From New York - Part Three

Turning the big (?!) 50 calls for a bottle of bubbly. I found this gem at Acker Merrall and it worked great with some foie gras de canard, before heading out.

1986 Cuvée N. F. Billecart, Billecart-Salmon
A lovely, mature, velvety nose with notes of ripe red autumn apples, milk chocolate fudge, hay, warm gravel, melted vanilla ice cream and dried fruits. With air a fine note of Lilly's of the valley emerge. Mature but still very energetic. Very, very good.
The taste is perfectly mature with a creamy character and notes of soft yellow apples, caramel, a cold Tarte Tatin and some warm grassy notes. A long, persistent finish with a fine acidity and fine bubbles that tickles the taste buds. A great wine caught at a great moment in time.
95p   (tasted 2014/12)

Impressions From New York - Part Two

There are hectic times in the Big Apple. Yesterday we were (with 20.000 more...) socializing with Jay Z, Beoynce and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the NBA game between Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers. King James made sure that the Cavaliers took an easy win.
Today shopping and now I am in need of some American Pinot before heading out!

2012 Flowers Pinot Noir
This Sonoma Pinot sports a young, creamy nose with notes of wild raspberries, cedar, bonfire smoke, forest floor and some expensive leather. A fine depth and a lovely sweetness to the fruit. I like!
The taste is young and stylish with notes of ripe red currants, raspberries, incense, licorice and bakelite. The finish is long and warm and shows a fine acidity. Young of course, and in need of some cellar time, but a great drink on this rainy New York evening.
92p   (tasted 2014/12)

2011 Domaine Serene Yamhill Cuvée Pinot Noir
In the other glass I pour a Oregon Pinot from Domaine Serene. The nose on this one is darker and broader then the Flowers. There are notes sweet flowers, strawberries with some blueberries tossed in, autumn leaves, mushrooms and cigar smoke. Needs time in the glass but opens up nicely.
The taste is tight and focused with notes of red currants, dark raspberries, undergrowth, cigar ashes and a touch of dark chocolate. There are some finely polished tannins in the finish. More linear. This will need even more time than the Flowers. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2014/12)

Impressions From New York - Part One

We are spending a week in the city that never sleeps. After walking in Central Park and downtown, for 15+ kilometers, I need some wine before heading out to some restaurant. I found these two in a wine shop close to the apartment.

2010 Hess Napa Valley 19 Block Mountain Cuvée 
A big, round, sweet nose with lovely ripe black currants, graphite, fine tobacco and some coffee notes. A fine depth. A beautiful ripeness to the fruit. Some oak, but underlying and supporting. Very, very good.
The taste is full bodied with ripe black currants, some plummy notes, graphite, tobacco and chocolate wafers. Finely tuned tannins that dries up the finish nicely. This could evolve nicely with 3+ years in the cellar. Opened yesterday and it was even better on this night.
92p   (tasted 2014/12)

2010 Grgich Hills Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a different creature, with a more narrow and "European" character with a restrained nose with notes of barely ripe black currants, cranberries, forest floor,
The taste is young, tight and focused with a nice warmth and notes of red and black currants, unripe blueberries, warm tiles, resin and cigarette ashes. The tannins are a bit more four squared but supports the fruit and structure well. Needs time though.
91p   (tasted 2014/12)

Eight Bottles From 1964 & A Backup

It was time for our monthly tasting in our tasting group, but due to sickness and bad priority, we were only three to take on the bottles that I had prepared. But somehow we managed...:-)

1964 Private Cuvée, Roger Perreau
This bottle was tired, not a bubble in sight and the flavours were full of old apples, dried fruits and canned mushrooms. Rather dry and short.
60p   (tasted 2014/11)

2006 Blanc de Noir, AR Lenoble
But I thought that we wanted some real bubbles, so I opened this one. The nose is creamy and dark with notes of wild strawberries, red apples, a touch of chocolate and some balsamic scents. A fine depth. Very, very good.
The taste is young, tight and fresh with notes of red apples, warm gravel, flowers and a light peppery note. A very fine acidity. Long and fine. This will be even greater in 4-6 years time.
91p   (tasted 2014/11)

1964 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grande Rosace, Patriarche
What is in this bottle? Almost black in colour and notes of black cherry jam, resin asphalt, sugared coffee and molasses. Very strange. Smells like a dried up Pedro Ximenez! What was put into this bottle? A Burgundy negociant who makes Châteauneuf-du-Pape? Well...
The taste is big and brawny with notes of cooked black cherries, chewing tobacco, cold coffee and moist undergrowth. Almost inky. Long and warm. A very strange creature. It has some virtues but what in the world would I have guessed if this was poured blind - I have no idea...
86p   (tasted 2014/11)

1964 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, H. Ogier
This is a whole another piece of Châteauneuf! The nose is mature and round with notes of red cherries, dried raspberries, lots of garrigue, pine trees and tobacco leaves. A high, finely tuned nose.
The taste is big and mature with notes of sweet lingonberries, dried raspberries, old leather, Christmas spices and tobacco. The finish is long and warm with soft tannins. A touch volatile that adds complexity. This is in a perfect stage of maturity.
92p   (tasted 2014/11)

The Châteauneuf´s were a nice warm up for the next four bottles that had a special theme. This line up really showed the high quality that was a Fontanafredda trademark in the 60´s, which they maintained well into the 70´s.

1964 Barolo Riserva Speciale, Fontanafredda
The Riserva Speciale has a mature, fresh nose with notes of dried strawberries, rosehips, warm tiles, spices and lots of rose petals. A fine, earthy warm note. Very good.
The taste is lovingly tight, mature and warm with notes of dried red fruits, red tea, old leather and rosehips. Fully integrated tannins. A very fine maturity.
90p   (tasted 2014/11)

1964 Barolo La Villa , Fontanafredda
The both vineyards wines are really a step up in quality. The La Villa has a deep, mature, gorgeous nose with notes of ripe red cherries, pipe tobacco,mushrooms,  a hint of rhubarb and lots of fresh rose petals. A wonderful nose.
The taste is mature, round and expansive with notes of dried cherries, rose petals, hard cherry candy and ceps. A very fine warmth. Long and focused. This is lovely, with a harmonious blend of mature fruit, sandy tannins and a long, fine warmth. Great wine.
94p   (tasted 2014/11)

1964 Barolo La Delizia, Fontanafredda
The La Delizia rivals the La Villa in quality but it behaves differently. The nose is darker with ripe black cherries, tea leaves, fried mushrooms, asphalt and cigarr ashes. The scent of old books. Deep and complex. Very, very fine.
The taste is denser than the La Villa with dark fruit and still perky tannins. Notes of black tea, black cherries, asphalt and forest floor. Very long and intense. So good, but still needs +3 years in a cold cellar.
93p   (tasted 2014/11)

1964 Barolo, Fontanafredda
More in the style of the Riserva Speciale but a bit softer on the nose with fine notes of autumn leaves, mushrooms, chewing tobacco and a touch of a bonfire in a distance. Very nice and mature.
The taste is mature and dry with notes of red cherries, forest floor, dry tobacco and rosehips. A medium long, warm finish that ends a tad dry. Fully mature and very fine with the food.
87p   (tasted 2014/11)

1964 Monbazillac, Château du Rauly
A big, intense, semi sweet nose with notes of dark saffron, dried apricots and pineapple, linoleum and glue. A touch of detergent after a while. Big and bold but a tad hollow in the middle.
The taste is mature and semi dry with notes of dried apricots, glue, green raisins and wet hay. A medium long finish. A bit low in acidity. Good.
84p   (tasted 2014/11)