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)

Seven Bottles Of Kongsgaard From The 2012 Vintage

L & M kindly invited me to a dinner tasting where the highlight being seven bottles from Kongsgaard. There were other bottles opened but these will appear in a post later.

2012 Kings Farm Chardonnay
The Kings Farm sport a big, open nose with lots of tropical fruits and notes of fudge, smoke and vanilla ice cream. It has some depth but it is a tad much del Monte juice for my taste.
The taste is more restrained than the nose, with notes of cold butter, summer flowers, yellow apples and earth. A long, warm, intense finish. Very, very good.
88p   (tasted 2015/12)

2011 Kings Farm Chardonnay
When the food hit the table, this was kindly opened to demonstrate the difference in vintages. The 11 is much more restrained and refined on the nose, with notes of lemon cream, candied lemon peels, assorted nuts and a dusty gravel road. Laid back and very fine.
The taste is tight and focused with notes of ripe lemons, summer flowers, minerals and dry fudge. A long, vigorous finish with a good acidity. Much better than the 12in my opinion.
92p   (tasted 2015/12)

2012 Chardonnay
The Chard is a beauty with stunning notes of ripe peaches, milk chocolate fudge, smoke and dried flowers. Very deep. Warm gravel and rocks after a while. This is really fine.
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of yellow plums, apricots, lemon cream and cap gun smoke. The finish is long and structured. Still young. A very fine acidity. Just lovely.
And these wines are keepers, this is the 97 tasted two years ago.
94p   (tasted 2015/12)

2012 The Judge Chardonnay
And then there is The Judge... The depth and concentration are awesome, yet it is balanced and refined. The nose is full of ripe peaches, sun warm pebble rocks, lemon cream, freshly washed clothes drying in the wind and a lovely smoky scent. Wonderful.
The taste is very pure and intense with gorgeous notes of peaches, white pears, crushed rocks, lemon cream and sweet onions. The finish is counted in minutes. Still very young of course, but this baby is lovely now, but should be even better in 4-6 years time. Great wine.
96p   (tasted 2015/12)

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
The Cabernet shows of a deep, tight nose with notes of ripe black currants, new leather, dark gravel and graphite. A fine depth. There is a green streak deep down in the fruit. Very, very good.
The taste is young and tight with notes of black currant jam, sandal wood, graphite and road dust. A lot of ripe tannins in the long, concentrated finish. Needs time.
91p   (tasted 2015/12)

2012 Merlot
The Merlot is a stunner. This beautiful wine has a voluptuous nose filled with notes of ripe plums, chocolate liquorice, expensive leather and some warm autumn leaves. Rich and luscious, with a fine depth. This is really fine.
The taste is concentrated and firm with notes of black plums, dark chocolate, moist earth, warm gravel and some anise. The finish is long and seductive. Very, very fine. Gotta love this wine.
96p   (tasted 2015/12)

2012 The Firmasauraus
This Bordeaux blend is a gentle giant, with fine notes of black currants, graphite, plum jam, leather and gravel. Dense and powerful, this will need time. Lots of potential.
The taste is very tight, dense and seedy with notes of ripe black currants, black cherries, leather,dark chocolate and hot road dust. Very long with some hefty tannins in the end. The most backward of the four. Really fine.
94p   (tasted 2015/12)

2012 Syrah
A different kind of animal compared to the previous reds. The nose is deep, meaty and peppery with notes of sweet blueberries, damsons, Bakelite, violets and forest fire smoke. Very, very good.
The taste is young, peppery and upfront with notes of lingon- and blueberries, white pepper, veal stock and moist forest floor. The finish is long and refined. Still young of course, but the most accessible of the four. A lovely drinkability.
93p   (tasted 2015/12)

Then & Now - 1976 & 2013 Santenay, Louis Jadot

The 1976 came in a mixed case bought a while back and the 2013 was bought from the state monopoly recently. Both worked well with grilled chicken fillets, pasta and a spinach, bacon and cream sauce.

1976 Santenay, Louis Jadot
The cork was loose and fell into the bottle but the loose cork didn´t seem to have had any impact on the wine. It needs some time to unfold in the glass, but when it does it displays aromas of damp forest floor, dried strawberries, mushrooms, stale Coca-Cola, cigar smoke and some stables in the distance. Fully mature but has kept very well.  Very good.
The taste is ripe, mature and dry with notes of dried strawberries, wood smoke, undergrowth, dry liquorice and dried herbs. Has a Pommard-like sturdiness in the finish. Long and vigorous. On
Jadot´s website, they write - "The wines of Santenay will mature slowly. They are powerful and well constituted". Judging from this bottle, I can only agree.
87p   (tasted 2016/01)

 

2013 Santenay Clos de Malte, Louis Jadot
Clos de Malte is a Jadot Monopole, that is 7 ha big. The nose is young, lively and fresh with notes of lingonberries, thyme, minerals, dry liquorice and violets. A tiny hint of chocolate. Very, very good. Evolves slowly throughout the evening. This is fine.
The taste is young and sprightly with a fine mix of blue- and lingonberries and additional notes of liquorice, warm tiles, earth, thyme and parsnips. The finish is long, finely tuned and very promising. This will surely evolve into something beautiful. Gotta get me more.
91p   (tasted 2016/01)

 

A Pinot Monday

A couple of weeks ago we had the years last tasting in our tasting group. HW poured the following wines for us, double blind as usual. An interesting lesson in Pinot styles from the US.

2012 Pinot Noir Elder Shally Loam, Lutum
This is really the new kid on the block, established 2011. It has a light, herbal, fine nose with notes of lingonberries, rasberry candy, liquorice and thyme. Very good. As far from a blockbuster you could come. A had it firmly placed in France and Burgundy.
The taste is medium bodied and pure with notes of herbs, raspberries, forest floor and rosehips. The fruit is a tad warmer on the palate than on the nose. Very good. A fine laid back sweetness. Should evolve nicely with 2-3 years in the cellar.
89p   (tasted 2015/12)

 

2012 Pinot Noir, Knez Winery
Another new producer to me, and this is a Winner. The nose is cool, fresh and nicely structured with notes of imaginary mix of blueberries and lingonberies alongside a fir forest, dusty earth, cigarr smoke and warm herbs. Very, very good.
The taste is young and racy with notes of dried strawberries, fir needles, cigarette ashes and herbs. The finish is long, lively and dry. This is fine. Will probably get even better with 2-3 years in the cellar.
92p   (tasted 2015/12)

2012 Pinot Noir San Andreas Fault, Hirsch Vineyard
A big, warm nose with notes of bakelite, raspberry jam, scorched earth and warm liquorice. Compared to the two earlier cool wines. this feels like a bruiser. There are nice things here but it a bit clumpsy.
The taste is young, tight and seedy with notes of ripe lingonberries, warm forest floor, bakelite and warm roses. The finish is medium long with a high acidity. A bit of bloodgrape in the end. A bit unfocused, wait and see.
84p   (tasted 2015/12)

2012 Pinot Noir Sebastiano Vineyard, Bonaccorsi
A fresh, juicy, peculiar (in a goodway!) nose with notes of unripe wild strawberries, smoke. rubber, dark fudge and fir. Very, very good in its own way. A nice intensity and refinement. Really fine.
The taste is young, tight and focused with ripe raspberries, lingonberries, salmiak, thyme and wood smoke. A long, caressing finish with a lovely acidity and a sturdy backbone, that guarantee that this will mature nicely.
93p   (2015/12)

2012 Pinot Noir Bucher Vineyard, Williams Selyem
In the past I have had some remarkable bottles from Williams Seylem but the 2012 Bucher will not join these ranks. The nose is all over the place with lots of sweet raspberries and additional notes of resin, rubber tires, ski wax and raspberry liquorice. Big and rowdy.
The taste is big, warm and spicy with notes of raspberry truffles, cherry candy, undergrowth, pan fried herbs and some oak. The finish is long, juicy and steady. Ends very good. A bit of in-your-face Pinot but it grows on you. Very good, but again, I have tasted far better bottles from this producer.
88p   (tasted 2015/12)

2012 Pinot Noir, Merry Edwards
Again, a new producer to me. And this is a fine bottle of Pinot. The nose is warm yet focused with fine notes of raspberries, chocolate biscuits, forest floor and warm gravel. A creamy character. Very, very good. A meaty Pinot.
The taste is big and seedy with notes of raspberry coulis, liquorice, wood smoke, warm herbs and rosehips. The finish is long, firm and with a sturdy backbone. A very fine warmth. Very, very good. This is for drinking now and the upcoming 5+ years.
91p   (tasted 2015/12)

Drinking Tonight - 2012 Château le Puy

There has been some writing about this estate lately, but I haven´t tasted anything from them up to this point. The state monopoly had this vintage so I bought a couple of bottles. Time to test drive one.

2012 Château le Puy Emilien
A upfront, medium bodied nose with a large dose of barnyard, and not the kind where you see horses and oxen in front of you, but chickens instead. Even with a couple of hours in a decanter that aroma still dominate. But there are more, some red currants, cigarette ashes, road dust and a hint of saw dust also flows up from the glass. Interesting yes, good quality yes, but to my liking? No.
The taste is young, linear and tight with light red fruits in the shape of lingonberries and red currants with some additional notes of dusty earth, bakelite and dark, dark chocolate. Both the tannins and the acidity is very high and it ends on a bitter note.
Pure yes, ascetic yes, minimalistic yes, but where is the joie de vivre? Not in this bottle anyway. Given this blind, I´m not sure I have placed this in Bordeaux. A decent bottle of wine, but not my cup of tea. Would love to taste some old vintages, apparently the first vintage of the Emilien was 1917, I´m pretty sure they made wine more to my liking then... I will bury the rest of the bottles in the cellar and forget about them, maybe the not so attractive duckling will transform itself to a swan, given time.
82p   (tasted 2015/12)

R.I.P. Lemmy - I Console Myself With A Bottle Of 1945 Château La Tour Bicheau

One of the greatest has past on. I remember the fírst time I saw Motörhead live. It was in my home town in the beginning of the 80´s. This was before any regulations about sound volyme, and I remember that my rib cage vibrating when Lemmy played his base and sang:

"Only way to feel the noise is when it's good and loud"

Since then I have seen concerts with them about 7-8 times and everyone has been a real treat. Lemmy was a true bringer of good times, great songs and some memorable qoutes:

But, in the end he was Killed By Death.

1945 Château La Tour Bicheau
Lemmy´s birth year and what a vintage to be born in. This Graves needs some time in the glass to come around. When it does it displasy soft notes of dried red and black currants, forest floor, root vegetables, old leather and gravel. Fully mature and maybe then some. A bit thin in the middle. But still delivering some low keyed joy.
The taste is mature and dry with notes of red currants, bakelite, cigarette ashes, gravel and some dog fur. The finish is medium long, dry and holding up well. All in all, a nice tribute to Lemmy.
83p   (tasted 2015/12)

 

Some other Motörhead highlights:
Damage Case
Orgasmatron
Metropolis
The Chase Is Better Than The Catch
In The Name Of Tradegy
Sweet Revenge
and of course
Motörhead

2011 Croft Vintage Port

You need some Port to sip on over the holidays. I opened this two days ago and have drunk about half of it by now.

2011 Croft Vintage Port

The nose is bottomless deep and very tight and concentrated with stunning notes of figs, dark chocolate, mashed nuts, sweet violets, dark ginger, melted asphalt and flowers. A very fine perfumed note. It evolves nicely over the two days I have tasted it and becomes denser yet fabolous sweet. This has a long future ahead ot it. Great wine.

The taste is just brilliant with a lovely concentration and notes of raspberry truffles, dades, warm gravel, pan fried nuts and liquorice. The finish goes on and on and on. There is lots of young, perky tannins but they are hardly noticable behind the wall of sweet fruit. A gorgeous mouth feel. Just wonderful. Will probably drink beautifully for the next 50 years...

95p   (tasted 2015/12)

Another stunning 2011, here are notes on Taylor & Fonseca. The 2011 seems to be all that is has raved up to be. Too bad I will be 100 years old (and probably dead...) when they will become mature...

1997, 1999, 2001 Rosemount Estate Shiraz

These bottles came in a mixed case I bought a while back. I remember the Rosemount Shiraz as a uncomplicated wine back in the days. But I have never tasted any that have had this amount of cellar time. Lets see what time have done with these.

1997 Rosemount Estate Shiraz
The 97 has a mature, round nose with notes dried black berries, sweet liquorice, raw rubber and some burning leafes. A bit loose around the edges but still hanging in there. Actually quite good.
The taste is big and warm with notes of ripe blueberries, dark cookie dough, moist earth and some toothpaste. A medium long finish that ends dry. It is even somewhat perkier on the palate. Very good.
84p   (tasted 2015/12)

1999 Rosemount Estate Shiraz
The nose on the 99 is muffled, with notes of dry asphalt, dried black fruits, balsam vinegar and cooked root vegetables. A bit lean and, frankly, boring.
The taste is big and compact with notes of dry black fruits, diesel oil, liquorice, and hot gravel. There is not enough fruit in the medium long finish. Too dry and angular.
71p   (tasted 2015/12)

2001 Rosemount Estate Shiraz
A big, upfront, juicy nose with notes of ripe blue- and blackberries, tar, mint and warm gravel. Good. Rasberry liquorive. Fully mature but holding well. This is really good in its candid style.
The taste is big and relatively concentrated with notes of ripe blackberries, toothpaste, warm herbs, asphalt and raspberry chocolate. The finish is long and warm. This is drinking fine and I wouldn´t mind some more bottles of this.
87p   (tasted 2015/12)

The BYO Bottles On The Evening We Tasted 1811 Malvasia Cândida

We got together in our monthly tasting group and bought a bottle of 1811 Malvasia Candida.
We thought that we should taste some more wine on the evening in question, so we arranged a BYOB tasting before we got to that oldie.
This is how it went. All wines tasted double blind, except the ones we brought and the 1811.

1999 Cuvée Alain Thienot, Thienot
A fine nose with notes of ginger, toast, chlorophyll, crushed rocks, some smoke and milk chocolate fudge. Floral. Very, very good. A touch of maturity.
The taste is cool and fine with notes of toast, gravel, yellow apples and butter cookies. Very good in a lighter style. A fine mousse.
89p   (tasted 2015/11)

1999 Cuvée de la Vigne aux Camins, Thienot
The finer cuvée from Thienot, made in 3.950 bottles, sports a racy, stony nose with notes of grey pears, lime peel, lemon liquorice and some gun powder smoke. Deep and refined. This is really good.
The taste is young, tight and elegant with notes of lemon peel, dried flowers, crushed rocks and candied orange peel. A long, intense finish with a salivating acidity. Great.
93p   (tasted 2015/11)

2008 Chassagne-Montrachet La Romanée, Fontaine-Gagnard
I love the wines from Fontaine-Gagnard, and this bottle was no exception from the rule. The nose is broad and concentrated with notes of caramel, summer flowers, warm gravel and fudge. Very deep.
The taste is tight and intense with notes of candied lemons, flint, dried flowers and butter bisquits. A long, structured finish. Good body. A handsome wine.
94p   (tasted 2015/11)

 

2009 Chevalier-Montrachet, Philippe Colin
As good as the Gagnard is, it has to stand in the shadow of this almost perfect creature. The nose is ripe and creamy yet with a stunning balance and freshness, with notes of lemon cream, pan fried nuts, matchbox, butter cup flowers and slate. Elegance in a glass. Just stunning.
The taste is mouth filling yet light on its feet, with fine notes of candied lemon peels, summer flowers, sweet minerals, dry fudge and cold butter. The finish is counted in minutes. This is a truly fine bottle of wine.
97p   (tasted 2015/11)

2002 Sancerre Jadis, Henri Bourgeois
This is a Sancerre in a different shape. The nose is big and spicy with notes of dried yellow fruits, almond paste, forest smoke and some oak. A deep, high nose. Rich.
The taste is big and steady with notes of creamy yellow fruit, oil cloth, apricot purée and sunwarm rocks. Some oak in the long, balanced finish. No real signs of maturity. Opulent and very good.
90p   (tasted 2015/11)

2007 Barolo Brunate Le Coste, Giuseppe Rinaldi
Turning over to the red wines, this beauty was on of two fine bottles. The nose is young and seedy with notes of resin, red cherries, dried strawberries, Christmas spices and porcini. Very structured. This is fine. A lovely warmth to the fruit.
The taste is tight and focused with notes of spices, veal stock, red cherries, bay leaves and mushrooms. The finish is long and with a healthy dose of ripe, raw tannins. Needs time. Great wine.
94p   (tasted 2015/11)

2003 Côte-Rôtie d´Ampuis, Guigal
The second bottle displayed a big, herbal, warm nose with notes of lightly peppered meat, blueberries, rose petals, balsam vinegar and the scents of a petrol station in a distance. Very, very good.
The taste is broad shouldered and warm with notes of ripe blueberries, sweet coffe, meat stock and violets. A very fine ripe mouth feel. Long and intense. Very, very good. For drinking now and the coming 6+ years.
92p   (tasted 2015/11)

1936 Château Rayne-Vigneau
A deep, cool, mature nose with notes of dried peaches, band aid, matchbox, wax and dry saffron. A fine laid back maturity. Very good. A fine dried up sweetness.
The taste is round, rich and intense with notes of dried apricots, band aid, orange peel and oil cloth. A long, fine finish with a nice dryness. Very much alive and kicking.
88p   (2915/11)

1959 Rivesaltes, Domaine de Rombeau
Earlier this year I tasted the 1956 from this producer. The nose on the 59 is large scaled and intense with notes of candied orange peels, assorted nuts, petrol, raisins and the fine aroma of a Wunderbaum...
The taste is big and fiery with notes of cooked sweet coffee, dark chocolate, candied orange peels and detergent. Large and very warm. Medium long. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2015/11)

Pâté & Burgundy

A grass widower on this evening, I prepare a plate with three different pâté´s - pheasant, rabbit and mushroom - , some nice bread, a glass - Riedel Sommelier Burgundy mind you - of Burgundy, a good book, my favourite wing chair, and a live concert with Styx playing in the background - life is good! :-)

2008 Givry 1er Cru Clos de Cellier Aux Moines, Domaine Joblot
A deep, young, foresty nose with fine notes of dark strawberries, fir tree, veal stock, fresh mushrooms and some liqourice. Still on the young side of things. A touch of bakelite. Rosehips. Very good. A fine sweetness to the fruit. This has potential.
The taste is firm and focused with notes of red cherries, dried raspberries, gravel, mushrooms and a hint of dark chocolate. Some broad tannins that show themselves in the long, dry finish. This works very well with the fat in the paté´s - the rabbit is the best match. Very, very good. But I will wait at least 3 years before opening the next bottle.
91p   (tasted 2015/12)

A Late Sunday Lunch With A Bottle Of 2001 Clos de l´Oratoire

With a tender fillet of pork, red cabbage coleslaw and a mustard sauce, I opted for a bottle from  Stephan von Neippberg empire.
Clos de l´Oratoire was bought in 1991. The estate is 10,3 ha big and the vines grow on Fronsac molasse covering a layer of sand with a clay subsoil. The wine consists of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc and it gets 18 months in 80% new wood.

2001 Clos de l´Oratoire
This beauty has a dense, taut and focused nose with notes of ripe plums, ashes from a wood fire, black currant jam, forest floor and some dark coffee aromas. A very fine depth. A few signs of maturity but this has a long way to go. Really, really good. Opens up nicely throughout the evening.
The taste is finely tuned, velvety yet with a good backbone, with notes of plums, black currants, woodsmoke, dried figs and coffee powder. The finish is long and balanced. Very, very good. A lovely sweetness to the fruit. This will get even better with 5+ years in the cellar.
92p   (tasted 2015/12)

 

1964 Birthday Bordeaux

For my birthday, after the Champagne, I poured two bottles of 1964 - one must have some birth year wines on the table for ones birthday!

1964 Château Pontet Canet
The Pontet Canet shows of a fine, laid back, mature nose with notes of red and black currants, old leather, autumn leaves, fresh stables and some saw dust. Fully mature and there is some tobacco in the background. Very good. Holds well all evening long.
The taste is tight, mature and dry with notes of dried up black currant jam, cigarette ashes, old leather and dusty earth. A medium long finish with a fine dryness in the end. Went perfectly with the Fillet of beef Provençale served.
88p   (tasted 2015/12)

 

1964 Château Chasse Spleen
I had high hopes for this, after last bottle I had (although from another negociant). But sadly, it didn´t live up to my expectations. The nose is big but rather compressed with notes of scorched earth, plums, old tobacco and some iodine. The nose is a tad dirty, but it is not corked in any way. The scent doesn´t blow of with air.
The taste is big, mature and warm with notes of dried black currants, hot earth, dry leather and some asphalt. Long, warm and a bit four squared. The dirty aroma on the nose doesn´t come through in the taste. Slightly cooked. May have been handled poorly years back.
71p   (tasted 2015/12)

1982 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano & 1982 Chianti Rufina - Two Riserva´s

Well, you have to have something for lunch, right? I opened these two to go with a BLT with a hefty dose of truffle mayo. Yummmy!

1982 Vino Nobile di Montelpulciano Riserva, Agricoltore Chianti Geografico da Vecam
This bottle comes from a cooperative that 17 wine growers started in 1961. Now they are 200 partners, more info here.
The nose is lovely with lot of different autumn aromas with additional notes of dried cherries, cigarette smoke, violets and dried herbs. A very fine maturity. A bit subdued but in a refined way, Very, very good.
The taste is cool, mature and dry with notes of lingonberries, red cherries, gravel, herbs and dry liquorice. A fine, laid back finish with a dried up sweetness and a nice warmth. I think I caught it in the knick of time, from here it will only get more dry and hollow. A great match to the BLT.
89p   (tasted 2015/12)

1982 Chianti Rufina Riserva, Fattoria Selvapiana
The nose is a bit stifled at first and it never really lifts, but there are some nice notes of black cherries, warm gravel, dusty tobacco and old leather. A bit rustic.
The taste is mature, warm and dry with notes of dried cherries, dried herbs, warm gravel and old dusty chocolate. The finish is medium long and very dry. Went ok with the BLT but a bit too dry on its own.
78p   (2015/12)

A Bottle Of Bubbly - 2007 Prestige de la Cave Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Michel Genet

You got to open something nice when you turn 51, right? I loved this one when I tasted it
eight months ago, and bought a couple of bottles. Time for another test drive.

Then we moved on with two bottles of 1964 Bordeaux - notes in another post.

2007 Prestige de la Cave Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Michel Genet

A deep, wonderful, broad nose with notes of lemon cream, Lily of the Valley, sautéed crayfish shells, milk chocolate fudge and lavender. Very fine. I used the term "understated elegance" the last time I tasted it and that is spot on this time around.

The taste is large scaled but with a fine definition and style, with notes of candied orange peel, butter cookies, flint, dried flowers and a touch of coffeee latte. A long, intense finish with a fine acidity. For drinking now and the coming 6+ years. I am glad I have more.

93p   (tasted 2015/12)

 

Drinking Tonight - 2013 Pouilly-Fuissé La Roche, Bret Brothers

To go along a creamy, hearty Jerusalem artichoke soup and a chunk of mature Beaufort, I opted for this Chardonnay. I have had great experiences of the 2010, although I have finished all my bottles of that vintage. Time to try the new vintage on the block.

2013 Pouilly-Fuissé La Roche, Bret Brothers
The three year younger La Roche is a beauty, but it doesn´t reach the heights of the 2010. The nose is young, focused and deep with notes of candied orange peels, expensive soap, butter cookies and sage. Some matchbox aromas after a while. Very, very good.
The taste is broad and tight with fine sweet yellow fruit and additional notes of slate, fudge, butter cup flowers and milk chocolate. Long and fine with a nice mouth feel.. A good acidity. Should evolve well during the upcoming 3+ years.
91p   (tasted 2015/12)