My fourth dinner with all bottles ending with the same digit, in this case "0". See previous dinnes below.
2010 Special Club Blanc de Blancs, Launois
A fresh, smoky nose with notes of ripe oranges, candied lemon peels, spices and cookie dough. Very fine.
The taste is tight and pure with notes of chives, lemon cream and pickled ginger. A very fine acidity.
93p (tasted 2024/08)
Flight I
1950 Château Certan Marzelle
Needed a lot of time to open up but when it did it displayed a deep, soft, mature nose with notes of plums, vintage leather and sugared coffee. A fine dried up sweetness to the fruit.
The taste is round and velvety with notes of dried plums, earth, leather and dry tobacco. Maybe a tad thin in the middle but this is a fine drink.
91p (tasted 2024/08)
1960 Barolo, Marchesi Villadoria
A bit burly on the nose, still very much alive but showing notes of moist earth, old stables, shoe polish and tobacco.
The taste is foursquare and dry with notes of dried red fruits, scorched earth, dry herbs and gravel. Drinkable but not so much fun.
83p (tasted 2024/08)
1970 Beaujolais, ?
From a unknown producer, this Beaujolais, in contrast to the Barolo above, was a joy to drink. A high, interesting nose with notes of (over)ripe strawberries, earth, incense and dried flowers.
The taste is cool and pure with notes of wild strawberries, minerals and dried flowers. A tad short on the finish though.
88p (tasted 2024/08)
Flight II
1990 Vinho Branco, Luis Pato
A cool, somewhat mature nose with notes of hay, candied fruits, yellow apples and herbs. A bit subdued.
The taste is dry and seedy with notes of dried herbs, autumn apples and hay. A tad bitter in the finish.
84p (tasted 2024/08)
2000 Château Talbot Caillou Blanc
A broad , rich nose with notes of rubber bands, dried lemons, smoke and ripe flowers. Outgoing and fine.
The taste is smoky and concentrated with notes of dried mango, flowers, detergents and grass, Very, very good.
92p (tasted 2024/08)
2010 Westhof Kirchspiel Riesling GG, Keller
A creamy, stony nose with notes of dried honey, chrushed rocks, nuts and hay. Tight and fine.
The taste is intense and layered with a high acidity and lovely yellow fruit. Very long and racy.
93p (tasted 2024/08)
Flight III
1870 Verdelho Solera,
A high, intense, bottomless deep nose with notes of dried figs, black tea, Christmas spice, incense, ramson and orange peel. Absolutely stunning.
The taste is brilliant with notes of red plums, orange peel, fried nuts, dry butterscotch and hay. A piercing, cleansing acidity and a finish that never ends. A masterpiece.
98p (tasted 2024/08)
Flight IV
1980 Brunello di Montalcino, Castelgiocondo
A dark, forest filled nose with notes of plums, dried cherries, fried herbs and earth. Very, very good.
The taste is mature and dry with a very fine mouthfeel, dried black fruit and a long, warm finish.
90p (tasted 2024/08)
1980 Vigorello, San Felice
A soft, old nose with notes of cold coffee, vintage leather and dried cherries. A tad unfocused.
The taste is warm and gentle with notes of dried black fruit, moist earth and old tobacco. Good but that´s all.
85p (tasted 2024/08)
1980 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Poggio Antico
A still tight, rich nose with notes of black olives, black cherries, asphalt and coffee powder. A bit ungainly.
The taste is taut and concentrated that needs more bottle age. Tight black fruit and a long, narrow finish. 6+ years.
88p (tasted 2024/08)
Flight V
1970 Château Latour a Pomerol
A very handsome, deep and layered nose with notes of plums, black currant leaves, expensive tobacco and fresh stables. Very fine.
The taste is rich and velvety with gorgeous sweet, black fruit, silky remains of tannins and a long, structured finish. In a perfect drinking stage.
94p (tasted 2024/08)
1970 Château Latour
Too bad, this bottle, although it had a good fill and a nice looking cork, have probably been stored too warm. A soft, diluted, cooked nose and a short taste with a hollow constitution.
61p (tasted 2024/08)
1970 Château La Tour de Mons
From a magnum. A round, mature nose with notes of ripe black currants, plums, tobacco and graphite. Very, very good.
The taste is nicely concentrated with lots of life, soft tannins and a beautiful black currant fruit. A long, silky finish. A joy to drink.
90p (tasted 2024/08)
Flight VI
1900 Moscatel de Setubal, José Maria da Fonseca
With a nose deeper than the Mariana trench, this stunner displays notes of fried nuts, candied apples, white raisins, sugared coffee and autumn leaves in the sun. Awesome.
The taste is rich, intense and very concentrated with a stunning structure, boatloads of sweet candied fruit, a very fine acidity and a finish that goes on forever. Starts sweet on the palate but ends on a semi-dry note. A truly great wine.
98p (tasted 2024/08)
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