Monday 10 October 2016

Some Birthday Wines

Not mine though. M had his birthday recently and invited a couple of the usual suspects, and we got to drink these bottles.
All wines tasted double blind.

2006 Special Club Rosé, Paul Bara
A young, cool, fresh nose with notes of red currants, gravel, heather and cigarette ashes. A fine depth. After some time in the glass aromas of dried strawberries emerge. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and pure with notes of ripe lingonberries, red currants, bark and gravel. A long finish which show a very high acidity. Ends with a touch of bitterness. Needs more time.
90p   (tasted 2016/09)



2010 Nierstein Pettenthal Riesling Trocken, Keller
A expressiv, deep and just fantastic nose with notes of grey pears, sunflowers, Jerusalem artichokes, a touch of band aid and boat loads of slate. The intensity of the fruit it almost of the charts. Very impressive.
The taste dances over your tongue with a cristal clear purity and stunning notes of lemon peel, grey pears, blood oranges, slate and chalk. The finish goes on for minutes and the acidity accompany the fruit perfectly. Still young, gives this 6-8 years and you are looking at perfection.
96p   (tasted 2016/09)

2015 Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett, Max. Ferd. Richter
A trio of youngsters followed. The Richter has a light, elegant nose with notes of tangerines, candle grease and dry almonds. Nice enough but a tad shy.
The taste is light on its feet, has a medium body and shows notes of lime peel, green tea and minerals. A medium long finish. Should evolve well with 3-5 years in the cellar.
86p   (tasted 2016/09)


2015 Enkircher Ellengrub Riesling Kabinett, Weiser-Kunstler
A new producer for me and this example was impressive. It has a cool, refined nose with notes of elderberries, birch sap and chalk. A very fine dry sweetness to the fruit. Deep and fine.
The taste is racy and clean with notes of birch leaves, yellow plums and chalk. A long, intense finish with a fine acidity. Needs 3-5 years cellaring. Very, very good.
91p   (tasted 2016/09)

2015 Dhroner Häs´chen Riesling Kabinett, A. J. Adam
The Adam wine is as good as the one above, with a stony, crisp nose with notes of grey pears, spices, red lemons and a hint of detergent. Very fine.
The taste is young and focused with notes of grey pears, ginger, grass and chalk. A long, snappy finish. This is good amd will become even better in 2-4 years time.
91p   (tasted 2016/09)

2012 Nierstein -H- Riesling Kabinett, Keller
Tasted a year ago and it shows exactly the same. Stunning wine!
93p   (tasted 2016/09)



1998 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese, Dönnhoff
I kind of liked this, but its not what it is supposed to be. We guessed it to be 10-15 years older...
The nose is deep and mature with notes of dried apricots, dried honey, wet asphalt and some rancid butter - in a interesting way.
The taste is mature, dry and fine with notes of dry mango, orange blossom honey and wet stones. Long and fine. I liked it a lot but it should´t be like this.
88p   (tasted 2016/09)

2007 Hermannshöhle Kahlenberg Riesling Kabinett, Dönnhoff
This (still) youngster displays a light, smoky nose with notes of dry grass, lime peel, minerals and a hint of white chocolate. A fine depth. Very good.
The taste is fresh and energetic with notes of lemon peel, wet rocks and grapefruit. A long, very stony finish. Very good but verging on anemic.
87p   (tasted 2016/09)

1995 Pahlmeyer
This 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot is a beauty. 21 years old it displays a deep, concentrated, still youngish nose with succulent notes of ripe black currants, dark plums, chocolate biscuits, sweet cigarr smoke and graphite. Very deep, very seductive and very, very fine.
The taste is rich, structured and warm with notes of black currants, blueberries. liquorice and cigarr smoke. A very long, detail finish with still some well built tannins doing their work. This will hold well for another 10+ years. Great wine.
94p   (tasted 2016/09)



2001 Clos Erasmus
This has a deep, inky, concentrated nose with notes of smoke, meat, blackberries and moist, dark earth. Lots of structure and body.
The taste is big and seedy with notes of very ripe bluberries, balsam vinegar and damson. A very long, ripe finish with a hint of warmth at the end. Lots of flavour and taste but not that harmonious. Will more time help?
89p   (tasted 2016/09)

1996 Pahlmeyer Merlot
93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, and outrageously good! A big, steady yet complex and multilayered nose with gorgeous notes of dark plums, liquorice, melted asphalt and chocolate biscuits. There is a hint of dog fur that adds to the complexity. Very, very deep and just awesome, as one critic would have said.
The taste is firm, focused and tight with notes of ripe black currants, plums, moist earth and some tarry notes. The finish is long, long, rich and velvety, yet shows of some still ripe tannins at the end. This is a stunning bottle of wine, that will go on for another 8+ years.
96p   (tasted 2016/09)


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