A Midsummers Feast!

Like last year we had good luck with the weather gods (not to be confused with the Metal gods...) - sunny and warm. Perfect for a lunch out by the sea with some antipasti and bottles of Riesling!

1997 Mussbacher Eselhaut Riesling Spätlese Trocken, Müller-Catoir
A fine, mature, medium deep nose with notes of dried apricots, yellow pears, slate and a petrol station. Very a point. Racy and fine.
The taste is tight, dry and fresh with notes of grapefruit, pear and lots of crushed rocks. A fine acidity. This has matured well. I remember that these bottles was hard as nails when I bought them some 10 years ago. Time has done them well.
89p   (tasted 2013/06)

2006 Westhofen Kirchspiel Riesling Trocken, Keller
The 2008 & 2009 was magic not long ago, and this somewhat older sibling was as magical as those. A cool, deep, pure nose with notes of ripe yellow fruit, smoke, wet asphalt, grapefruit and cap gun smoke. A very creamy nose. Deep and beautiful.
The taste is young, intense and spicy with notes of grapefruit, lime peel, star fruits, ginger and chalk. A stunning acidity shows itself all through the long, long finish. Very, very fine.
93p   (tasted 2013/06)

2002 Furstenstum Grand Cru Riesling, Albert Mann
A big, semi dry, creamy nose with notes of warm hay, sweet summer flowers, peaches and a touch of licorice. Some waxy notes.
The taste is big, tight and intense with lots of sweet yellow fruit and some residual sweetness. The acidity isn´t really up to par with the fruit. Very long. Quality wise a good wine but not my cup of tea.
85p   (tasted 2013/06)

Back home we started to prepare dinner. First out was scallops with a sweet potato aioli. With that dish more white wines were opened!
2007 Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, Cullen
A bit shy nose at first with notes of gooseberries, ripe green apples, dry marzipan and some rubbery aromas. Medium deep and fine, but a bit elusive.
The taste is tight, fresh and warm with notes of almond paste, green apples, oil cloth and sun warm tiles. A good length with a fine acidity. There is some warmth in the finish. Very good.
88p   (tasted 2013/06)

2007 Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Spätlese Auction, Dönnhoff
This auction bottle is a stunner! A hauntingly deep, focused and pure nose with notes of white currants, lemon peel, chalk and William pears. Soooo fine and elegant. Stunning!
The taste is pure, elegant and fresh with notes of lemon cream, lemon peel, lots of slate and an impressive acidity. The finish is counted in minutes. A beauty!
94p   (tasted 2013/06)

2004 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières, Sauzet
Another beauty is poured! This needs some time in the glass until it unfolds into a racy, complex white Burgundy. A deep, elegant nose with notes of white peaches, cold butter, blood oranges, melon and cap gun smoke. Very, very deep and fine.
The taste is taut, racy and lip smacking good with notes of butter fried nuts, peaches, smoke and summer flowers. Very long, cool and refined. This is a great bottle of Chardonnay!
94p   (tasted 2013/06)

For main course we had home made burgers that were grilled to perfection and with them we had a smattering of fixings. Six bottles of red wine were opened to go along. In addition to those below we had four bottles of Brunello, but those will be posted in a separate post.

2007 Spitzerberg, Muhr - van der Niepoort
This 100% Blaufränkisch jumps out of the glass with notes of blueberries, rowanberries, balsa wood and lots of high floral aromas. Very fresh and juicy.
The taste is cool, tight and very fresh with notes of blueberries, lingonberries, forest floor and dried spices. A high, fresh acidity. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2013/06)

2007 Musmeci, Tenuta di Fessina
A young, cool, fresh nose with notes of red currants, not yet ripe raspberries, earth, rosehips and lots of minerals. Very pure and fine. A lovely upfront juicy nose.
The taste is tight, concentrated and fine with notes of red currants, rosehips, iron and dry raspberries. Young, sandy tannins that leaves a distinctive mark in the end of the taste. Could still use some years in the cellar but this is a fine bottle of Nerello Mascalese today.
91p   (tasted 2013/06)

And we finished things of with a strawberry cheesecake and a bottle of
1985 Vouvray Moelleux Le Mont, Huet
A semi mature, fresh and pure nose with notes of dried apricots, dried honey, oil cloth, red apples and some vanilla pod notes. Very fresh for its age. Deep and fine.
The taste is sleek, pure and lovely with creamy yellow fruit paired with a stunning acidity and a long, long finish. Notes of blood oranges, oil cloth, warm hay and lemon peel. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2013/06)