2018 La Mouline, La Turque & La Landonne

I don´t even have to write Côte-Rôtie or Guigal in the headline, everyone knows the great trio of La-La wines. 

I have had the opportunity to taste the 2018, and they are truly great. Pricey, yes, but in comparison with other world class wines, they are in fact fairly priced.

Thanks Wine Affair and Claes!

2018 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline

A spectaculare elegance, low keyed force and structure for 20+ years aging. One of the best young La Mouline ever tasted. On the nose there is a welth of ripe blueberries, wet asphalt, dark chocolate biscuits and fir wood. A lovely perfumed scent.

The taste is flawless with silky tannins and gorgeous notes of violets, ripe blueberries, black tea and earth. The finish goes on and on and on. Perfection now and probably perfection the rest of its long life.

100p   (tasted 2022/05)

2018 Côte-Rôtie La Turque

A more open, flirty yet stern La Turque oozed up from the next glass.The nose is very, very deep with notes of sweet violets, expensive leather. sage and a ever so slight touch of fish sauce. Just lovely.

The taste is tight and intense with notes of blackberries, dark chocolate, blood and a hint of vanilla pod. Iron clad tannins. 15+ years.

97p   (tasted 2022/05)

2018 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne

Deep, dark and backwards, the La Landonne is a powerhouse with everything except maturity in place. Stunning notes of dark velvet, concrete, iron, dry licorice and perfectly ripe blackberries. Bottomless deep.

The taste is very concentrated and potent with notes of ripe blueberries, damsons, white pepper, scorched earth and strong coffee. The finish goes on for minutes. Brutal tannins. Just awesome. 20+ years.

99p   (tasted 2022/05)

La Landonne & Claes illustrating something about Guigal :-)

2004 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Auslese, Weingut Robert Weil

2004 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Auslese, Weingut Robert Weil

A small sign of seepage, so this bottle had to be opened. Lucky me! A fantastic nose with gorgeous notes of ripe peach, saffron, apricots, detergents, wet asphalt and dried up lavender honey. Very, very deep.

The taste is brilliant with fruit, acidity and structure in alignment. Ripe tangerines and peaches. Lots of chalky notes. A long, long finish which ends semi dry. Great wine.

95p   (tasted 2022/05)

The Very, Very Inofficial World Championship In Wine Tasting

Yes, it was time again. For the very, very inofficial world championship in wine tasting. Held in Stockholm as ususal. 

Due to sickness and other obstacles there were only five brave participants who sat down around the table.

Last years champion Oscar had arranged a very nice tasting with two flights, the first with six white wines and the second with six reds. 

All wines tasted double blind. You get points for grape (major), country, district, vintage, producer, but you don´t have to guess on everything, and there is thankfully no minus points for wrong guesses...

This is how it went. 

The Whites

Glass No 1

A young, fresh, elegant nose with notes of grass, white pepper and white currants. 

The taste is pure and racy with a fine acidity and notes of grass, chrushed rocks and lemon. 

My guess - 2020 Austrian Riesling

Answer - 2019 Albarino, Do Ferreiro

88p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 2

A deep, forward nose with some age and notes of apricots, oil cloth and glue. Very, very good.

The taste is long, broad and dry with notes of lime, apricots and wet stones. 

My guess - 2010 Vouvray Chenin Blanc

Answer - 2006 Hochrain Smaragd Riesling, Franz Hirtzberger

90p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 3

A fine, open nose with notes of ripe lemons, gravel, dry fudge and summer flowers. Fine.

The taste is tight and fine with a great mouthfeel, a fine acidity and a long finish with a hint of warmth. 

My guess - 2017 Saint-Aubin (Chardonnay)

Answer - 2017 Chardonnay, Calera

90p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 4

A smoky, spicy nose with notes of green pears, dried flowers and sand. Very good in a restrained way.

The taste is young and fresh with notes of white pepper, chrushed rocks and dried flowers. A high acidity. 

My guess - 2019 Austrian Grüner Veltliner

Answer - 2019 Chablis 1er Cru Mont-de-Milieu, Domaine Pinson (Chardonnay)

87p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 5

A young, perky nose with notes of grass, white pepper, lemon licorice and white flowers. Very good.

The taste is light and fresh with notes of grass, white flowers and cap gun smoke. A good acidity.

My guess - 2019 Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc)

Answer - 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Cloudy Bay

Glass No 6

A rich, mature nose with notes of dried apricots, wool, saffron, wet asphalt and dried herbs. Very deep.

The taste is expressive and mature with notes of dried apricots, orange peel, smoke and chalk. Very long and intense with a high acidity.

My guess - 2000 Anjou (Chenin Blanc)

Answer - 1998 Cuvée Frederic Emile, Trimbach (Riesling)

92p   (tasted 2022/05)

Ah well, that didn´t went well... Two Rieslings and I thought both were Chenin Blanc. I don´t taste enough Albarino to have a taste memory (but that "memory" didn´t get me far with the others...).

On to the reds!

Glass No 1

A deep, seedy nose with a hint of maturity and notes of black currants, plums, and tobacco. Very, very good.

The taste is cool and refined with notes of graphite, black currants, earth and tobacco. Silky tannins. Fine.

My guess - 2005 Left Bank Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon)

Answer - 2005 Château d´Armailhac

Glass No 2

A warm, spicy, earthy nose with notes of a mix of raspberries and blackberries, cement and a hint of VA.

The taste is high and spicy with notes of dried assorted fruits, dusty earth and a hint of alcohol warmth in the finish. 

My guess - 2017 Mourvedre, Spain

Answer - 2015 Côte-de-Beaune Villages, Joseph Drouhin   (wtf!)

85p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 3

A big, round, warm nose with notes of ripe blueberries, scorched earth, bakelite and shoe polish. A fine intensity.

The taste is almost fiery but keeps it together with notes of dried raspberries, plums, sweet tobacco and tar. Very long.

My guess - 2010 Grenache from Priorat

Answer - 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos de Mont Olivet

89p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 4

Home! I dared to state that if this wasn´t a Nebbiolo, I would quit wine tasting all together. Luckily I can keep on drinking wine...

The nose is lovely with a hint of maturity, with notes of black cherries, tobacco, asphalt, Finnish licorice and dried roses. Very deep and fine.

The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of cherries, rosehips, tar, dried flowers and cold coffee. Very long with some still unresolved tannins. Great.

My guess - 1998 Barolo

Answer - 1999 Barolo Pajana, Domenico Clerico

94p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 5

A deep, elegant nose with notes of raspberries, licorice, anise and forest floor. A fine sweetness to the fruit. Very fine.

The taste is high and pure with notes of ripe raspberries, butter biscuits, earth and assorted herbs. A very fine acidity.

My guess - 2018 California Pinot Noir

Answer - 2018 Finca Pêna Lobera Tempranillo, Hacienda Solamno

92p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 6

A finely tuned, concentrated yet light on its feet nose with notes of ripe red currants, band aid, dried meat, black pepper and earth. Very fine.

The taste is peppery and upfront with notes of violets, blackberries and cured meat. A long, lingerings finish. A cool character. Lovely.

My guess - 2017 California Syrah

Answer - 2018 Syrah, Ojai

92p   (tasted 2022/05)

Well, the reds turned out a better result, but in the end I had to settle with a split third place on this evening. Congrats to Maria who won!

Next year...

2008 Barolo Riserva, Giacomo Borgogno

2008 Barolo Riserva, Giacomo Borgogno

Deep and earthy, this 14 year old Riserva shows of notes of dried raspberries, shoe polish, dry licorice and tiles. Very, very good.

The taste is more restrained with notes of dry asphalt, licorce, bakelite and earth. Needs time. A fine warmth in the finish. 6+ years.

88p   (tasted 2022/05)

2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Saint Jean d´Ardières

2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Saint Jean d´Ardières

For me an unknown producer. Bought in a mixed case with a lot of single bottles, just for fun. Some have been poured down the drain upon opening, but this was a nice surprise.

The nose is soft, mature and warm with notes of dried raspberries, undergrowth, candle grease and thyme. Very good in a one-track sense.

The taste is robust yet silky and warm with notes of dried raspberried, dry licorice, earth and herbs. A fine structure. Perfectly mature. A great Wednesday drink.

87p   (tasted 2022/05)

Two Dolcetto d´Alba - From Bruna Grimaldi & Roberto Voerzio

2019 Dolcetto d´Alba San Martino, Bruna Grimaldi

A fine, sandy nose with notes of ripe blueberries, blue skiwax, iron and bakelite. Very, very good.

The taste is fresh and upfront with notes of blueberries, ink, asphalt and violets. Fine, silky tannins. 3+ years.

88p   (tasted 2022/05)

2019 Dolcetto d´Alba Priavino, Roberto Voerzio

A deep, spicy nose with notes of dried strawberries, asphalt, damsons and forest floor. Very fine.

The taste is tight and fine with notes of rosehips, iron, dry licorice and a dried up blueberry pie. Very long. 6+ years.

91p   (tasted 2022/05)

1986 Château de la Rivière

1986 Château de la Rivière

From a magnum. This bottle had a tiny seepage so I felt the need to open it, poor me...:-) It turned out to be a great drinking, mature Bordeaux, maybe a tad more evolved than would have been expected, given earlier bottles of 86 Rivière, see below.

The nose is large scaled, open and velvety with notes of fresh stables, old leather, shoe polish, tobacco and violets. Very, very good.

The taste is dry and mature with notes of cold coffee, autumn leaves, earth and violets. A long, warm finish. Drinking perfectly today, but I bet that my remaining magnums have more to give.

88p   (tasted 2022/04)

Other vintages of Rivière tasted:

Barolista: Two Vintages Of Château de La Rivière (1989 & 1995)

Barolista: Vacation Wines - No 23 - 1986 Château De La Riviére

Barolista: Me & My Magnum - 1985 Château De La Rivière

Barolista: 1986 Château Tahbilk & 1986 Château De La Rivière

Barolista: 2001 Château De La Rivière

Barolista: Another Lovely Example Of A Mature Bordeaux (1990)

Barolista: Tasting Dinner With Vintages Ending With A "5" (1985)

2010 Château Coufran

2010 Château Coufran

A fine maturity on the nose with notes of red and black currants, autumn leaves, ink and dry tobacco. Very good.

The taste is classic and fine with notes of dry tobacco, leather and cold coffee. A fine dryness in the finish. Fully mature.

87p   (tasted 2022/05)

Spring Tasting Dinner

A couple of weeks ago we had our biannual wine tasting dinner in our tasting group. H and yours truly was in charge of flight one, which always is Champagne with some accompanying food. 

The rest of the bottles were tasted double blind. 

Flight I

2008 Cuvée Paradis, Alfred Gratien

A slight mature nose with notes of red apples, wet earth, almond paste and dried flowers. Deep and fine.

The taste is dry and refined with notes of red apples, chalk, minerals and fried nuts. A brisk acidity. Energetic. 4+ years. 65% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir.

92p   (tasted 2022/04)

2008 William Deutz, Deutz

A very deep, salivating nose with notes of grilled lemons, cigarette smoke, hand cream and chrushed rocks. Lovely.

The taste is tight and focused with notes of lemon cream, ripe flowers, wet stones and a hint of ginger. Aristocratic. A brilliant acidity. 7+ years.

95p   (tasted 2022/04)

NV Platine, Nicolas Maillart

A somewhat restrained nose with notes of chrushed rocks, dried red currants and autumn leaves. Good but rather simple given the company.

The taste feels younger with notes of red apples, gravel and a stern acidity. 57% Pinot Noir, 28% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier.

86p   (tasted 2022/04)

2002 Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger

A large scaled nose with some maturity and lovely notes of dry fudge, wet asphalt, cement, almond cake and tangerines. Gorgeous.

The taste is silky and very long with notes of dried orange peel, chrushed rocks, sand and salted grilled lemons. Very long. Very handsome. 4+ years.

95p   (tasted 2022/04)

Flight II

2015 Puligny-Montrachet Clos de la Mouchere, Domaine Henri Boillot

A deep, creamy nose with notes of sun warm grass, butter fudge, hand cream and lemons. Very fine.

The taste is rich and salty with notes of lemon cream, birch leaves, dry fudge and minerals. A very fine acidity. Very long. 6+ years. 

93p   (tasted 2022/04)

2011 Criots-Batard-Montrachet, Henri Boillot

A chalky, refined nose with notes of lemon peel, touch of ginger, smoke and fennel seeds. Very fine.

The taste is cool and elegant with a brilliant acidity and notes of lemon peel, birch leaves, butter biscuits and lots of chalk. Very long. 6+ years.

95p   (tasted 2022/04)

2018 Estate Reserve Viognier, Lismore

A large scaled, open nose with notes of yellow flowers, yellow plums, wool and a hint of detergents. Very, very good.

The taste is big and spicy with notes of lemon cream, dried apricots, chrushed rocks and grass. A fine dryness in the end.

90p   (tasted 2022/04)

2020 Condrieu La Doriane, Guigal

A low keyed yet intense nose with notes of ripe flowers, grey pears, almonds, white pepper and grass. Very handsome. 

The taste is tight and seedy with nots of chalk, white currants, grass and hints of dried up honey. Very long and refined. Lovely.

93p   (tasted 2022/04)

Flight III

2017 Schist Syrah, Mullineaux

A deep, black nose with notes of black peppered black plums, chrushed rocks, iron and leather. Handsome. Very fine.

The taste is long and structured with notes of bay leaves, licorice, blueberries and black pepper. Silky tannins. Great wine. 7+ years.

93p   (tasted 2022/04)

2016 Keir, Tua Rita

Somewhat restrained on the nose, with notes of dried strawberries, undergrowth and chocolate wafers. Cool and fine.

The taste is tight and racy with notes of ripening blueberries, earth and tobacco ash. Elegant in a subdued way. 5+ years.

91p   (tasted 2022/04)

2006 St Henri Shiraz, Penfolds

A deep, rich, somewhat mature nose with notes of plums, mushroom cream, dry licorice and a hint of mint. Very fine.

The taste is tight and dry with lots of dried blueberries, plums, asphalt and forest floor. A long, sandy finish. Still some tannins to melt away, 5+ years.

94p   (tasted 2022/04)

2004 Hermitage L´Ermite, Chapoutier

Lo and behold, a Chapoutier that caught my fancy. They don´t usually do that. The nose is deep and finely mature with notes of dried blackberries, bonfire smoke, forest floor and dog fur (in a positive way). Multi layered. Very fine.

The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of dried herbs, dried blackberries, undergrowth, hint of chocolate and tobacco. Very, very long. Great wine.

96p   (tasted 2022/04)

Flight IV

1997 Vouvray Moeullex 1er Trie Clos de Bourg, Huet

A round, mature nose with notes of earth, saffron, a rubber carpet and orange peel en masse. Very fine. Complex.

The taste is finely composed and perfectly mature with notes of dried apricots, orange peel, almond paste and detergent. A fine, high acidity. Lovely.

94p   (tasted 2022/04)

1997 Vouvray Moelleux 1et Trie Le Mont, Huet

A deep, refined, somewhat mature nose with notes of red apples, orange peel, wet asphalt and band aid. Very, very fine. Brilliant fruit.

The taste is complex and multi layered with everything in place, the fruit is fantastic, the acidity is high and migthy, the structure is awesome. Almost perfect. Mature but bottles like this could go on for 15+ years.

98p   (tasted 2022/04)

2003 Vouvray Moelleux 1et Trie Le Mont, Huet

A deep, focused nose with notes of dried oranges, candle greases, smoke and fennel. Very fine.

The taste is big and steady with concentration, richness and focus. Lovely fruit and acidity. This will go on for many, many years.

94p   (tasted 2022/04)

2003 Vouvray Moelleux 1et Trie Le Haut-Lieu, Huet

A large scaled, open nose with notes of smoke, sweet minerals, ripe oranges and detergent. Rich and fine.

The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of dried apricots, dried up vanilla ice cream and sweet minerals. A very fine bitter note in the long finish. 6+ years.

92p   (tasted 2022/04)

1996 Château Fonréaud & 1996 Château Lestage

1996 Château Fonréaud

Two bottles from Listrac. I have found memories of bottles from Fonréaud in the 80´s and 90´s but havent tasted anything since then. So this brought memories back. 

The nose is soft and mature with a fine dried up sweetness and notes of pipe tobacco, coffee, bonfire smoke and a hint of dog fur. Very, very good.

The taste is fully mature and a tad dry with notes of dry leather, dried black currants and autumn leaves. Lots of old school Bordeaux charm.

87p   (tasted 2022/05)

1996 Château Lestage

The Lestage is deeper and tighter than the Fonréaud with a fine nose with notes of ripe black currants, plums, iron and violets. Very fine.

The taste is taut and nicely structured with notes of tobacco, plums, graphite and forest floor. Long and fine. Could still develop, 4+ år.

89p   (tasted 2022/05)