A Bottle Of Bubbly - 2003 La Cuvée Mesnillésime, Guy Charlemagne

As a starter at our latest wine tasting group gettogether, G poured this beauty. On my way home I ordered some bottles!

2003 La Cuvée Mesnillésime, Guy Charlemagne
A deep, smoky, creamy nose with notes of hazelnuts, grapefruit, yellow apples, matchbox and fudge. Very, very good. A lovely depth and harmony. Still very young - none was even close guessing its age or vintage - 03!
A young, perky taste with notes of yellow apples, dried up honey, oatmeal, fudge and smoke. A long, long finish with a fine acidity and a nice grapfruit bitterness. Will evolve well over the coming 6+ years. Very, very fine.
93p   (tasted 2016/01)

2006 & 2007 Volnay, Domaine Bernard & Thierry Glantenay

After drinking the marvellous 2008 Puligny-Montrachet from this Domaine, I came across some Volnay´s. The  Domaine is primary a red wine producer with two 1er Cru Pommard and three 1er Cru Volnay as their highlights. And I got hold of one of the 1er Cru Volnay´s, from 2005 and 2009. But that´s for later, tonight, two village Volnay.

2006 Volnay, Bernard & Thierry Glantenay
This is a bit low keyed at first and needs time to open up, and when it does it shows fine earthy aromas with notes of ripening raspberries, herbs, veal stock and wood smoke. Very good. With air a great forest nose emerges. Really fine. And still rather young.
The taste is still young, seedy and focused with notes of ripe lingonberries, red beets, earth and veal stock. The finish is long and dry. Very, very good, and should evolve nicely for another 5+ years.
90p   (tasted 2016/01)

2007 Volnay, Bernard & Thierry Glantenay
The 07 is more open and fruity on the nose with fine notes of strawberries, rosehips, Asian spices and a hint of tobacco. Very, very good. With air a complex note of old fashioned dirt comes through. This is gooooood!
The taste is cool, tight and focused with notes of wild strawberries, liquorice, forest floor and mild tobacco. The finish is long, dry and focused. A very good acidity. Young still, I would like to drink this for another 5+ years. A lovely wine.
92p   (tasted 2016/01)

1975 Chianti - Two More Bottles

My batting average on the case of 1975 Chianti´s I bought a while back has not been great. Out of  seven bottles tasted - here,  here and here - only two have been enjoyable. Well, I´m no quitter, so lets bring out two more and keep our fingers crossed!

1975 Chianti Classico Palazzo Al Bosco, Olivieri
It starts rather well. This one has a big, mature, meaty nose with notes of ripe cherries, balsamic vinegar, sweet violets, some VA and a wet dog in a distance, making it a interesting nose. Fully mature. Comes and goes, sometimes deep and fine, sometimes murky and a bit flat. Good though.
The taste is mature, warm and broad with notes of dried cherries, black olives, hot gravel and some old wood. A nicely leathary perfumed finish. Very good. Drinking well.
83p   (tasted 2016/01)

1975 Chianti Classico, Fattoria delle Lodoline
But then, with this bottle with the impressive family name of Contessa Pepita Radicati di Brozole, we´re back too a bad one - heavily corked.
50p   (tasted 2016/01)

And I have more...:-)

Young Bordeaux - Grand Cercle Des Vins De Bordeaux

A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to taste through some bottles of young Bordeaux, mostly from the 2011 and 2012 vintage. Grand Cercle Des Vins De Bordeaux arranged the tasting with lots of proprietors and winemakers present.

I tasted wines from 21 estates and have listed them in points intervals below. Those marked with a * I found especially attractive and showing nice Bordeaux typicity.

Generally I prefered 2012 over 2011, the latter a bit lighter and in some cases a tad anemic.

77-80p
2011 Château Magrez Fombrauge
2009 Château Haut-Bacalan

81-85p
2011 Château Fontenil
2012 Château Vray Croix de Gay
2010 Château Siaurac
2003 Château La Croizille
2011 & 2013 Château du Parc
2013 Château Fleur Cardinale
2011 Château Laroze
2007 Château La Marzelle*
2011 Château Faizeau
2011 & 2012 Château Les Grands Chénes
2011 Château Lestage Simom
2011 Château D´Arsac*

86-89p
2010 & 2011 Château Cap de Faugères
2013 Château Dalem*
2011 Château Fontenil
2008 Château Vray Croix de Gay
2011 Château La Croizille
2011 Château Tour Baladoz*
2011 & 2012 Château Fleur Cardinale
2011 & 2013 Château Fombrauge
2012 Château Laroze
2011 Château La Marzelle*
2011 & 2012 Château Le Prieuré*
2012 Château Faizeau
2011 & 2012 Château D´Arcins*
2012 Château Lestage Simon
2011 & 2012 Château Malescasse*
2011 Château Haut Breton Larigaudière*

90-92p
2012 Château Cap de Faugères*
2001 & 2011 Château Dalem*
2009 & 2010 Château La Croizille
2005 & 2010 Château Tour Baladoz*
2010 Château D´Arsac*
2012 Château Haut Breton Larigaudière*

Drinking Tonight - 1996 Château Ferrand

After a fantastic tasting dinner last night with 2009 Echezeaux, DRC, 1995 Deutz Blanc de Blancs, 1995 Château Haut-Bailly and 1995 Heytesbury Chardonnay (notes to follow) as the shining stars, I opted for something more basic on this evening, to go along some pork chops with a cauliflower and broccoli purée.

1996 Château Ferrand
Popped and poured, this Pomerol needed some time in the glass to unfold fine aromas of ripe plums, sugared coffee, tobacco and undergrowth. Some maturity. This is good. Evolves nicely over the evening. A fine sweetness to the fruit.
The taste is modestly mature, warm and soft but with a fine backbone and notes of plums, tobacco, forest floor and smoke. A fine finish with velvety tannins. Drinking perfectly on this evening. Very, very good.
87p   (tasted 2016/01)

Two 96´s From The South Of France

Checking through my inventory I find a lot of single bottles with some age, begging to be drunk. Well, you don´t have to ask me twice!

1996 Cuvee Sextant, Cellier d´Orfee
This 50% Syrah, 50% Carignan blend has a mature, warm, soft nose with notes of smoke, seared meat, earth and some dark bread dough. Nice in a peasant form of way.
The taste is broad and mature with notes of warm herbs, dried black fruits, gravel and wood smoke. A compact warmth and a medium long, rather dense finish. Fully mature, and possibly a tad so.
84p   (tasted 2016/01)

1996 Château Montus Cuvée Prestige
This bottle is almost as good as the one I tasted three years ago, which came directly from the property. I bought some in 1999 and this is the last bottle. The nose is a Bordeaux poster child even though this is 100% Tannat. Lovely notes of red and black currants, fresh stables, tobacco and leather. A tad more mature tha the previous bottle. Very, very good.
The taste is cool, tight and barely mature with notes of black currants, pencil shavings, stables and tobacco. Feels younger on the palate. Really good. When you know what it is you get the sense that the tannins are a bit more expressive and sturdy than your regular Bordeaux, but blind I would put this in Bordeaux ten times out of ten. Great wine.
92p   (tasted 2016/01)

Drinking Like Common People - Part Two - The Reds

Why do I do this to myself? The curiosity doesn´t kill the cat, it kills my stomach...
In part one I tasted the Whites, now it was time for the Reds. Please God, don´t hurt me now...

The lay up of the tasting is that I have taken the 10 most sold white and red wines of 2014, bought the ones that are sold in regular bottles or, sadly, in plastic containers, but omitted the ones that only are sold in bag-in-box (3 liters) - there are some limits to how much wine I will pour down the drain...

Here they are in backward order from number ten.

2014 The Big Zin, ViniMundi
It doesn´t start well... This Italian wine with its American name has 12 gram sugar per liter and it shows. The nose is big and sweet with notes of jam, toast, dry asphalt and vanilla. Even though it is big it is hollow behind the sweetness.
The taste is big, foursquare and sweet with jammy black fruit (?) and a feeling of lots of alcohol even though the label says 13,5%. The finish is like chewing on blotting paper. Number 10 on the list and 2.468.652 bottles sold in 2014 and I ask myself, why?
60p   (tasted 2016/01)

2015 Ecologica Shiraz Malbec Reserve, La Riojana
Thankfully it got better, much better, in fact the best wine in the line up. This Argentinian has a light, peppery nose with notes of red berries, liquorice, bakelite and some road dust. A good sweetness to the fruit. Good.
The taste is young, dry and tight with notes of red currants, white pepper, tobacco and road dust. The finish is rather short but this is drinking fine. Good. 2.538.255 bottles sold of this number 9 and the only one I would buy personally.
82p   (tasted 2016/01)

2014 Mauro Primitivo Albarello, Nordic Sea Winery
Why? Why make this disaster? This, and the Palazzo below, is blended and bottled in Sweden, at Nordic Sea Winery´s "winery". 2.565.992 bottles of this crap was sold during 2014. Why? The nose has nothing to do with wine with its notes of plastic, burnt rubber, syntetic raspberries and saw dust. Gets you interested, right? Wait until you taste it...
The taste is a manipulated concoction of unripe grapes, lots of acidity, plastic and oak chips. The finish is medium long and really nasty. It differs 80 cent (0,8 Euro) between this and the real wine above, are people mad?? Number 8 on the list.
54p   (tasted 2016/01)

2014 Graticcio Appassionato, Tommasi
Number 6 on the list, with 2.640.360 bottles sold, isn´t that bad. The nose is medium deep with some raisins, forest and chocolate notes. A good dryness to it. Some warm rosehips after a while. Good.
The taste is tight, dry and warm with notes of raisins, dried red fruits, gravel and warm herbs. It is a bit too dry in the end of the finish, but with food it works decent enough.
76p   (tasted 2016/01)

2014 Palazzi Mio Rosso, Nordic Sea Winery
This abomination is the cheapest wine on the list. That doesn´t however forgive this sorry excuse for a wine. The nose has some interesting aromas of cheap raspberry ice cream, manufactured vanilla, saw dust and rotten tobacco. It is just absurd in its awfulness.
The taste, and mind you, it took some courage to put this in my mouth, is even worse than the Mauro above, with chemicals, artifical acidity, dry tannins and not a fruit in sight. The finish is medium long, sorry to say. The cretins responsible for this mess should change jobs to garbage management, judging from these wines, that should be more up their alley. Number 4 on the list with 3.171.670 bottles sold - I have lost hope in mankind.
52p   (tasted 2016/01)

2014 Appassimento Edizione Oro, Casa Viniroria
Number 2 on the list with 4.204.690 bottles sold. What is it with the Swedes and sugar? This has 11 gr/liter. But this handles it better than the Big Zin above. The nose is big and broad and sweet with notes of ripe plums, liquorice, warm summer flowers and herbs. It actually smells from time to time like a hot day in Italy, and that can´t be bad!
The taste is big and juicy with notes of plums, pipe tobacco, dark chocolate and warm herbs. The finish is medium long and edging on fiery. For the style, and with a big chargrilled steak, this is drinkable, but on its own it gets tiresome fast. Not bad though.
78p   (tasted 2016/01)

Just Bought

I am sure that this will highligt a future tasting...

Two Lovely 2011 Barbaresco Bottles From La Ca´Növa

When I tasted through the sortiment of Brix Wine earlier this year I fell in love with the Barbaresco´s from La Ca´Növa, even though I only tasted two. :-)
I bought some bottles of the Montefico I tasted and also of the Montestefano - time to test drive them over two days at home, where you have the time and focus on the wines, compared to a trade tasting where you spend a couple of minutes with each wine. But that kind of tasting also has its merits, because otherwise I wouldn´t have discovered these beauties.

2011 Barbaresco Montestefano, La Ca´Növa
Right out of the bottle this displays charm and ease, with lovely notes of rosehips, red cherries, red tea, fir forest and lots of gravel. Cool and fine, and some smoke aromas after a while. Develops nicely over the evening and the red cherries become sweeter. Day two it has deepened and the fruit and structure is even more harmonious and classy. This is really fine.
The taste is young, tight and pure with notes of  red cherries, rowanberries, lots of rose petals and crushed rocks. There are some finely tuned, sweet tannins in the long finish. Very stylish. Day two it has toughened up, with lots of cool red cherries, red liquorice and minerals. The finish is long, dry and structured. Will need 4-6 years in the cellar. Great stuff!
93p   (tasted 2016/01)

2011 Barbaresco Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina, La Ca´Növa
This is as good as when I tasted it earlier this year. The nose is a masterpiece with its stunning aromas of red and black cherries, cigarette ashes, dried ceps, hard cherry candy and violets. It is a bit darker in the fruit than the Montestefano. Just wonderful. When I stick my nose in the glass on day two it is filled of crushed black cherries, spruce and that lovely perfumed fragrance you get when you walk into a Ermenegildo Zegna store. Beautiful!
The taste is tight and intense with notes of cool red and black cherries, liquorice, forest floor, violets and cigarr smoke. The tannins are juicy, perfectly polished and very young. Needs time. Day two the tannins dominate even more, especially in the finish, but the fruit is marvellous in its concentration even though the wine seems airy and refined. In 6-8 years time this will be pushing upwards the three digit score. Gotta get me more!
96p   (tasted 2016/01)

Mirans 50 Year Birthday Bash

Too bad. I was expecting a lot of bottles from the stellar year of 1965, but instead we had to make due with these...:-)
All tasted non blind.

1996 Comtes de Champagne, Taittinger
Second time this year - life is good. The nose is deep, racy and still young with notes of toast, steel, candied lemons, birch sap and smoke. Very refined - lika a ballerina. Gets better and better in the glass. Stunning.
The taste is pure, tight and refined with notes of ripe yellow apples, matchbox, yellow pears, toast and a touch of fudge. The finish goes on and on with a racy acidity. This has a long life ahead of itself. Gorgeous juice.
97p   (tasted 2015/12)

1996 Corton-Charlemagne, Bonneau du Martray
This was not up to par. Not bad per se, but it displays some oxidative notes, both on the nose and on the palate. Very drinkable but not as it should be.
85p   (tasted 2015/12)

2011 G-Max, Keller
The 11 G-Max is a youngster, but a great one! The nose is cool, seedy and layered with notes of white currants, rock dust, ripening peaches, chalk and expensive soap. A very handsome wine.
The taste is young, tight and focused with notes of grey pears, chrushed rocks, chlorophyll and steel. A long, intense finish with a lovely purity. Give this beauty 4-6+ years in the cellar.
95p   (tasted 2015/12)

2014 Nierstein (Pettenthal) Riesling Kabinett -P-, Keller
A young, elegant, fresh nose with notes of ripe pears, ginger, slate, lime and pine nuts. This is good, albeit very primary. Lots of crushed rocks comes through with a bit of air. Great stuff.
The taste is luscious, racy and semi dry with notes of grapefruit, white pears, lime peel and slate. Long and fine, sporting a cleansing acidity. Juicy! Not as great as the 2012 though.
92p   (tasted 2015/12)

2007 Piesporter Goldtröpchen Riesling Spätlese, Reinhold Haart
A cool, refined, somewhat mature nose with notes of ripe peach, melted butter, dried pine apple, crushed rocks and earth. A fine warmth. Very, very good.
The taste is creamy and polished with a lovely acidity and notes of ripe pears, dried flowers, gravel and flint. Long and silky. Drinking beautifully now.
91p   (tasted 2015/12)

1996 Barolo Falletti di Serralunga Riserva, Bruno Giacosa
The red wines starts with a booom! Last time I tasted this was in 2009 and it was then an infant. Six years later nothing much has happened, this is a slow developer. The nose is just amazing with a laser like focus and intensity with stunning aromas of sweet rosehips, dried ceps, hard cherry candy, veal stock, liquorice and forest floor. Breathtakingly beautiful.
The taste is well structured, firm and balanced with everything, except maturity, in place. Notes of ripe cherries, plums, mushrooms, liquorice and moist earth flows over the palate. The finish goes on for minutes and displays some still muscular tannins. This is perfection in the making, just wait another 8+ years for the next bottle.
99p   (tasted 2015/12)

1993 Barolo Rocche dell´Annunziata, Paolo Scavino
As I have written before, 1993 is a underrated vintage in Piemonte, and here is another example of that. The nose is deep and somewhat mature with lovely notes of dried mushrooms, cherry jam, moist forest floor, pipe tobacco and dried flowers. A very fine warmth to the fruit. Almost fully mature. Very, very good.
The taste is tighter than the nose leads you to believe, with fine notes of red and black cherries, rosehips, mushrooms, red liquorice and some dark chocolate. A long, firm finish with cool tannins. Should hit full maturity in 4-6 years. A very fine wine.
93p   (tasted 2015/12)

2005 Château Pontet Canet
Over to Bordeaux! The 05 Pontet Canet sports a deep, creamy, upfront nose with masses of sweet black currants, tobacco, plums, fresh stables, dark chocolate and scorched earth. Although it is a bit of a in-your-face wine, it shows it origin. Great intensity.
The taste is broad, seedy and warm with notes of creamy black currants, wood smoke, sweet minerals, dark chocolate and graphite. A very long, generous finish with firm, sweet tannins. This is really good and I guess that 5-7 more years in the cellar will benefit it further.
94p   (tasted 2015/12)

1995 Côte-Rôtie La Turque, Guigal
I should drink La Turque more often. But then there is La Landonne also. Not forgetting La Mouline, my favourite. Ah well, over to the bottle in question, and what a wine! The nose oozes up from the glass with stunning scents of ripe blueberries, peppered meat, perfume, violets and dusty earth. Very deep and focused. Just wonderful. Some maturity, but this has places to go.
The taste is tight, intense and meaty with notes of blueberries, blackberries, bakelite, violets, seared meat and perfume. A long, seamless finish with brilliant tannins and refinement. Drinking beautifully on this evening but I bet it will be doing that for another 10+ years.
97p   (tasted 2015/12) 

2009 Authenticity, Epoch Estate
This is according to Miran hard to get hold of. Made in 504 cases from grapes from the Paderewski vineyard in Paso Robles, and the blend is 64% Syrah and 36% Mourvèdre. It was aged for 23 months in 45% new barrels. The nose is very big and concentrated with notes of (over)ripe blackberries, iodine, plums, boiled red beets and rubber. Very intense. Needs time.
The taste is big and brawny with notes of blackberry jam, dried raspberries, dark fudge, rubber and violet pastilles. The finish is long, long and warm, verging on hot. More impressive than really enjoyable tonight, but there is quality here, and I would love to taste it in 6+ years time.
92p   (tasted 2015/12)

2010 Saint-Aubin En Remilly, Hubert Lamy
Miran asked if we were interested in something cold, dry and fresh before the dessert - does the Pope wear a funny hat?! The nose is deep and focused with notes of orange peel, summer flowers, expensive soap, Jerusalem artichokes and butter cookies. Very fine, young and creamy.
The taste is tight and pure with a really fine acidity and notes of tangerines, lemon cream, sweet minerals, smoke and summer flowers. A fine structure for the future. Great wine.
92p   (tasted 2015/12)

1990 Vouvray Moelleux 1er Trie Le Mont, Huet
Are the 90´s from Huet starting their (slow) downhill climb? This perennial 100 point wine was no slacker on this night, but it didn´t really have the usual perfect persistent finish and focus. Still, a great wine for ending a great evening - thanks Miran!
95p   (tasted 2015/12)

Exploring The Forgotten Side Of Bordeaux - Chapter XV

It has been a while since the last chapter, and while finishing this bottle I concluded that this will be the last one, except for the Epilogue. It has been fun drinking these 27 bottles of white Bordeaux, but they haven´t striked a chord with me. Still got some bottles though, but I will be saving them for a rainy day.

1986 Château La Louviére
A attractive, mature, soft but persistent nose with notes of warm grass, white and red currants, yellow plums and some dried up honey. Very, very good. A fine oily character. An ever so slight aroma of dry botrytis. Perfectly mature.
The taste is round, mature and very nice with notes of dried peach, plums, dry grass and a touch of band aid. A medium long, dry finish. This has matured in a fine way. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2015/12)

1968 Verdelho, Blandy´s

This was meant to finish New Years of, but sickness got in the way, so instead of two days decanting, it got seven before I tasted it. But since Madeira is virtually indestructible, it was only in its favour to breathe for that extra days.

1968 Verdelho, Blandy´s
The nose is just beautiful, pretty open and at the same time deep as the Mariana Thrench, with stunning notes of dried orange peel, dried apricots, old milk chocolate, Islay whiskey and brazil nuts. Very complex, deep and fine. Some dry fudge and tangerines. Layers upon layers. Very, very fine.
The taste is tight and focused for a 47 year old wine, but in Madeira terms, this is a youngster. It showcases fine notes of dried apricots, tangerines, figs, old chocolate, nuts and some detergent. The finish goes on for minutes and the acidity is high and mighty.  Very expressive. This will fun to sip on a small glass for time to time over the next couple of months.
94p   (tasted 2016/01)

The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2015

It is that time of the year to reminisce over the year that just have passed. This time with a glass of 1968 Verdelho, Blandy´s. It helps me think - which wines have made a lasting impression?

Here is the list for 2015, as usual in vintage order. See the list for previous years below.
A toast to an equally great 2016!

MV Krug Grande Cuvée
There is that saying - "there is Champagne, and then there is Krug". We was fortunate to taste three different bottling of the Grande Cuvée earlier this year. They were all great but this one displayed a perfect maturity and it really felt like I was drinking stars.
97p   (tasted 2015/04)

1928 Château Montrose
Well, there are many bottles from my Château Montrose tasting that could have made this list. The 28 really showed the virtues of cellaring great Bordeaux. It was drinking perfect on that evening with maturity, vigour, charm and displaying all the old fashioned Bordeaux virtues that I love.
97p   (tasted 2015/10)

1961 Château Montrose
One more bottle from the Château Montrose tasting makes the list. I wrote "absurdly good" in my tasting notes and when reminiscing, I still can remember the harmony, balance and power in this wine. A privilege to drink.
99p   (tasted 2015/10)

1989 Château Lafleur
In a distant paste one could actually buy Lafleur without robbing a bank or two. No more. It was time to open my last bottle of 89. This gentle giant was still on the youngish side of things and kept on evolving all evening long. And I was lucky enough to drink another Lafleur this year, the 99, which also was fantastic. Lets see if any Lafleur bottles come my way during 2016...
98p   (tasted 2015/09)

1990 Echezeaux, Jean Grivot
This Echezeaux was the star of a 1990 Echezeaux tasting I had earlier this year. This and the Engel bottle was the only two that had a future ahead of themselves, although they were in a great time and place on the evening in question. Mature Burgundy is hard to beat.
97p   (tasted 2015/03)

1996 Comtes de Champagne, Taittinger
I ventured when I tasted this bottle in January that it was a candidate to make this years most memorable list. And it did! To make matters even better I had the good luck to taste it again just a few weeks ago (notes are on their way...) and it was as stunning as on this occasion. For the exception of Krug, Champagne doesn´t get much better than this. And the 1995 was almost equally great.
98p   (tasted 2015/01)

1996 Barolo Falletto di Serralunga Riserva, Bruno Giacosa
This is the only wine in this line up where I haven´t (yet!) published any notes. It was poured at Mirans late 50 year celebration (being born in 1965, wines from that vintage didn´t make up the bulk of wines tasted...:-)). Notes are on their way, but I can say that this is perfection in the making. Just wait another 10 years. When I tasted it last, in 2009, I thought it to still be very young. Six years later it seems to develop at a snails pace. But wooow, what a wine!
99p   (tasted 2015/12)

1999 Vigna d´Alceo, Castello di Rampolla
This was poured at the same tasting as the Comtes de Champagne above. I used Broadbent´s old credo in my notes - "an iron fist in a velvet glove" - and that is essential a perfect description of the 99 Vigna d´Alceo. It will continue to give the utmost pleasure for 10+ years to come.
99p   (tasted 2015/01)

2009 Gran Claustro, Castello Perelada
Our two weeks in Costa Brava during summer presented me with the opportunity to get a chance to get to know the wines from Empordà, which the DO is called. I tasted 30 wines from 17 different producers, but the only producer I visited was Castello Perelada. The Gran Claustro was a eye opener of the quality possibly to achieve in this region. And a bottle of the 2001, tasted recently (notes are on their way) confirmed that. And the wines from this region is, relatively speaking, a bargain for their quality.
94p   (tasted 2015/07)

Heytesbury Chardonnay, Vasse Felix - 2008, 2009 & 2012
Three for one. The last entry on the list is the Heytesbury Chardonnay from Vasse Felix. I have drunk the 2008, 2009 and 2012 during the year and they all have been outstandingly good, combining a Burgundy nerve with a New World opulence, in a irresistible and charming way. These are great wines!
93p, 92p & 92p   (tasted 2015/10, 2015/02, 2015/02)

The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2014
The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2013
The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2012
The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2011

A Marvellous White Burgundy - 2008 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières, Domaine Bernard & Thierry Glantenay

This is one of the many fun things about wine drinking. I buy one bottle of white Burgundy among other wines for everyday drinking. Never heard of the producer, but gambling on that the stellar vintage of 2008 and the hallowed ground of Puligny-Montrachet should count for something.

And what did I got...

2008 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières, Domaine Bernard & Thierry Glantenay
A marvel of a wine. I have drunk it now over four days and it has just kept on. Day two it performed the best, but it has been a joy to drink on all occasions.
The nose is young, spicy and at first light and almost airy. With some time in the glass it fattens up and stunning notes of sweet minerals, ripening yellow apples, summer flowers and hazel nuts flows up. Very, very fine. Crushed rocks in every shape and form. Day two some fudge and tangerine aromas joins in. Very deep. Utterly gorgeous. Day three and four it goes back to rocks, stones and minerals.
The taste is young, cool and smoky with notes of butter cup flowers, lemon peel, dry fudge and crushed rocks. The finish is long, balanced and with a racy acidity. Day two cap gun smoke and hazel nuts comes through. The finish is two minute long with lots of minerals and smoke. Day three and four the fruit is more of the dried character but the nerve and the long finish is the same. Grand Cru level. Will surely turn out even greater with 4-6 years in the cellar. Must get hold of more!
96p   (tasted 2016/01)

Some Miscellanous Bottles

Have opened a nice range of miscellaneous bottles over the last weeks to go with dinner.

1992 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Château Tahbilk
A big, nicely matured nose with notes of blackberries, asphalt, warm gravel and a petrol station in a distance. Some graphite with air. A fine maturity. Very good.
The taste is broad and mature with notes of inky black fruit, violets, undergrowth and sugared coffee. A medium long finish that ends dry. Very good. Perfectly mature.
87p    (tasted 2015/12)

2002 Kevin Arnold Shiraz
A big, black nose with notes of ripe blueberries, bakelite, sweet violets and grilled meat (that Maillard smell!). A bit burly and brawny. Very big. Good though.
The taste is big and fiery with notes of blackberry jam, tar, band aid, bakelite and diesel oil. A long, hot finish. Some wood tannins in the finish. Good but it seems they tried to squake the grapes too hard.
83p   (tasted 2015/12)

2005 Château L´Eglise Cuvée Beauchamp
A nice, open nose with notes of herbs, red currants, fir, leather and some stables in a distance. Some nice warmth. A touch foursquare though. Good.
The taste is cool and tight with notes of red currants, herbs, graphite and gravel. A medium long, light finish. There is a green streak going through the fruit, but in a nice way. Nice with food. Very good.
85p   (tasted 2015/12)

2001 Pinot Noir La Création, Toni Hartl
A concentrated, sweet, large nose with notes of ripe strawberries, moist forest floor, red beet juice and pipe tobacco. Some dried flowers after a while. Burly but in a nice way. Deep. Very, very good.
The taste is big and warm with a fine backbone beneath the sweet red fruit, with additional notes of asphalt, ripe herbs, tobacco and forest floor. A long, dry finish with a nice mouth feel. Really good.
90p   (tasted 2015/12)

1999 Chianti Classico Rocca di Montegrossi, Marco Ricasoli
A cool, seedy nose with notes of cigarette ashes, dried cherries, red currants and violet pastilles. A fine earthy scent. Cool and very nice. Some maturity.
The taste is tight and medium mature with notes of red cherries, red currants, gravel, violets and some tobacco. A medium long, slender finish. Very good. Should mature nicely with 2-3 years more in the cellar.
88p   (tasted 2015/12)

1983 Pommard Epenots, Domaine Goud de Beaupuis
A lovely, soft, mature nose with notes of dried strawberries, boiled root vegetables, charcoal, meat, red tea and decaying roses - there is lot of good things going on here. A fine depth and maturity.  Very, very good.
The taste is round and velvety with notes of dried strawberries, veal stock, moist forest floor and red beets. A long, warm finish with a fine dried up sweetness. This has matured into something really nice.
91p   (tasted 2015/12)

2007 Côte-Rôtie Bonnevaux, J. Boutin
A deep, big, inky nose with notes of ripe blackberries, rubber, tar, white pepper and dried flowers. A nice juicy feeling to the fruit, yet with a firm backbone. Lots of violets when it gets some air. Very, very good. Still young of course.
The taste is broad shouldered and tight with notes of blackberries, blueberry pie, rubber and grilled meat. Inky. Nothing shy about this wine. The finish is long and meaty. Very, very good with a home made burger. Needs time, should be fun following.
91p   (tasted 2016/01)

 

 

1990 Sangiovete, Badia a Coltibuono
A fine, mature, warm nose with notes of red and black cherries, dry liquorice, old leather, earth and tobacco. Warm and nice. A bit hollow in the middle though.
The taste is mature and soft with notes of red cherries, rowanberries, chocolate, gravel and tobacco. A medium long, nice finish. A touch anonymous. Good.
84p   (tasted 2016/01)