A Great BYOB Evening!

A couple of days ago, four wine afficionados gathered at Ulfs place, bringing one bottle of Champagne and one bottle of "interesting red" each. With good food and a lot of wine talk, it turned into a great evening! Thanks all!

All wines tasted double blind, except for the ones we brought.

2005 Hattenheimer Mannberg 1es Gewächs, Freiherr Langwerth von Simmern

This was served blind as a starter. The nose is reminiscent of a dry Sauternes with notes of dried apricots, warm hay, bay leaves, dried flowers and a hint of botrytis. A bit oily on the nose. Good.
The taste is long and balanced with fine yellow fruits, grassy notes and a fine acidity. I was leaning to a Chenin Blanc, but alas, it turned out to be a Riesling.
86p   (tasted 2014/08)
 

On to the Champagne's!

1996 Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, AR Lenoble

This was my offering. I bought some of these after attending a tasting with wines from AR Lenoble.
It opens with fine notes of dry caramel, hyacinth, wet asphalt, nougat and spices. With air more roasted coffee notes emerge. Very, very good. Some maturity.
The taste is round, velvety and focused with notes of ripe yellow apples, milk chocolate, minerals and some steely notes. Pure and fine. Has started to mature but still  has a long way to go. Very fine.
91p   (tasted 2014/08)
 

 

NV Hommage Francois Hemart, Henri Giraud

What a beauty. The winner in this line up. It consists of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay and out of the glass notes of just ripening pears, wheat biscuits, ginger, sweet minerals and a luxury soap oozes. Deep and refined. This is good stuff!
The taste is young, taut and impressive with lots of lemons, star fruit, grapefruit, minerals and ginger. The finish is long and balanced. Still very young. I would love to taste this in 5+ years time. Great!
93p   (tasted 2014/08) 

NV Cuvée Louis, Tarlant

A new acquaintance for me, this cuvée displays fine aromas of tangerines, almonds, star anise and lots of crushed rocks. A touch of cap gun smoke. It is made up of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay. The main base is from 1999 with the rest being from 1998, 1997 and 1996. Very, very good.
The taste is cool, fresh and pure with notes of grey pears, lime peel, minerals and flowers. A very good acidity. Long,, tight and focused. There are a hint of maturity in the taste but there is no hurry to drink this one.
90p   (tasted 2014/08)
 

 

NV Cuvée Blanc de Noirs, Etienne Lefèvre

Again, a new producer for me. This Verzy producer has turned out a Blanc de Noir that shows a nose with notes of ripe pears, red currants, earth and some bonfire notes. Very good.
The taste is young, seedy and fresh with notes of sweet lime, ripe pears, minerals and cap gun smoke. It seems that the dosage is a tad bit higher in this wine compared to the previous three. Very good.
88p   (tasted 2014/08)

The Champagne´s were followed by a line up of some interesting reds...

1964 Chäteau Grand Barrail Lamarzelle Figeac

This was my offering, not surprisingly given the vintage... This has matured into a stunning St Emilion. The nose is just beautiful, with notes of Corinthians, tobacco, warm tiles, dark fudge, autumn leaves and leather. The tiles/gravel note lead to some guesses on Graves. This is outstandingly fresh for its age and behave way above its pedigree. Just awesome.
The taste is mature but at the same time fresh as a daisy with sweet red fruit, earth, coffee powder, saddle leather and charcoal. A long, persistent finish with nicely polished tannins. This was caught in a perfect state of maturity. Grand Vin!
94p   (tasted 2014/08)

 

2011 Il Redoma, Nierpoort

A young, strapping nose with masses of concentrated black currants and blueberries alongside notes of black pepper, rubber and dog fur. A very multidimensional and interesting notes. Some oak vanilla scents after a while. Deep and very good.
The taste is young and intense with notes of sweet black fruit, liquorice, new leather and a warm grassy note. Nicely imbedded taut tannins. A long, warm finish. Very, very good today although I suspect it will get even better with 3-5 years in the cellar.
91p   (tasted 2014/08) 



 

2005 Chäteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos des Papes

A big, semi mature, unfocused nose with notes of dried raspberries, hot earth, fried herbs and some woody scents. Big but a bit flabby. Not my cup of tea.
The taste is better with lot of cooked raspberries, earth, herbs, bonfire and pine. A high, cleansing acidity. Long and warm. Very good with the food bur rather one dimensional on its own.
82p   (tasted 2014/08)

2009 Cepas Viejas, Dominio de Tares

As with the Portugese wine above, guesses were far of... I really liked this young, tight, concentrated nose with lots of sweet black fruit and notes of asphalt, scorched earth, liquorice and dark chocolate. A rather massive character yet it shows refinement. Very fine.
The taste is young, seedy and teeth gripping with sweet blueberry fruit, strapping tannins and a long, intense finish. Very taut. This needs time to soften, but I really like in its massiveness today.
91p   (tasted 2014/08)

 

1964 Chäteau la Grace Dieu

I brought a back up bottle if the first 64 wouldn´t be up to scratch. It was, but curiosity got the better of us, so we opened this as well. This hasn´t faired as well over the years as the Lamarzelle Figeac.
The nose is mature and open with notes of old stables, dried red fruit, old leather, meat stock and autumn leaves. A tad over the hill, although it offers some enjoyment.
The taste is mature, round and dry with notes of dried red currants, root vegetables, autumn leaves and coffee powder. The finish is medium long and dry. Went well with the food but too dry on its own.
78p   (tasted 2014/08)

 

1971 Wachenheimer Mandelgarten Ruländer Beerenauslese, Fitz Ritter

The evening finishes with an old sweetie. Out of the glass flows aromas of dried apricots, over ripe red apples, glue, cold coffee and the scent of a rubber carpet that we had in gymnastic as a child... Feels semi sweet on the nose.
The taste is mature and initially medium sweet, but when the taste finishes it is almost dry. Notes of dried apricots, almond macaroons, glue and dried apples. A decent acidity that keeps the sweetness at bay. Very good.
86p   (tasted 2014/08)