Quaffable´s Three Year Birthday Bash

Quaffable Wines recently turned three year as an importer and I was invited to celebrate the occasion with a tasting of some of their wines.

2008 Grande Cuvée Brut, Collin-Guillaume
As fresh and fine as tasted earlier this year.
~90p   (tasted 2017/11)

2013 Teardrop Riesling, Snake + Herring
An oily, upfront nose with dried fruits and hay.
The taste is creamy and dry with notes of resin, petrol and dried fruits.
~86p   (tasted 2017/11)

2014 Rockbreak Chardonnay, Kesner Wines
A fine, smoky nose with notes of grilled lemons, apricots and butter cookies. Deep and fine.
The taste is luscious and fine with notes of lemon cream, white flowers and cap gun smoke. A fine intensity. Really, really good.
~93p   (tasted 2017/11)

2014 Haynes Chardonnay, Failla Wines
Smoke, tangerines, pear and almond paste makes up the nose of this beauty. Broad and delicious.
The taste is chalky and cool with notes of grey pears, gravel, lime and hay. Long. Very, very good.
~91p   (tasted 2017/11)

2014 864 Chardonnay, Oakridge Wines
Tasted recently, it performed the same on this occasion.
~91p   (tasted 2017/11)

2014 Pinot Noir, Kesner Wines
A spicy, earthy nose with notes of rosehips, dried figs and raspberries. Laid back and highly likeable.
The taste is tight and seedy with notes of ripening raspberries, forest floor and beet roots. A fine acidity. Very fine.
~92p   (tasted 2017/11)

2015 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir, Failla Wines
A deep, herbal nose with notes of wild strawberries, sweet lingonberries, forest floor and dark flowers. Refined.
The taste is handsome and rich with notes of raspberries, damp earth, spices and dried flowers. A long, lingering finish. Lovely.
~94p   (tasted 2017/11)

2014 864 Pinot Noir, Oakridge Wines
A deep, outgoing nose with notes of dried strawberries, raspberry vinegar, bakelite and warm gravel. Rich and fine.
The taste is big and steady with notes of dried raspberries, gravel, root vegetables and dried herbs. Long and warm.
~90p   (tasted 2017/11)

2014 Côte de Nuits-Villages, Domaine de Tilleuls
A fine earthy, low keyed nose with notes of ripening raspberries and balsamic aromas. Very nice.
The taste is tight and cool with notes of lingonberries, forest floor and spices. Very, vey good.
~88p   (tasted 2017/11)

2014 Fixin, Domaine de Tilleuls
This has an old fashioned Pinot sense about it, with notes of herbs, earth, lingonberries, root vegetables and some balsamic scents. Deep and fine.
The taste is young and tight with notes of ripe lingonberries, forest floor, herbs and bakelite. A very fine acidity. Long and fine. This is gooood.
~92p   (tasted 2017/11)

2014 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Village, Domaine de Tilleuls
Tasting this wine I was transported back in time when I worked at the state monopoly and got to taste the new vintages of Dujac, Trapet, Comte de Vogüé, Pousse d´Or, Rousseau etc. I am not saying that this is equally good, or will be, but it has that old fashioned, hauntingly beautiful and even decadent Pinot style that I adore. I´m buying.
~95p   (tasted 2017/11)

2015 Dolcetto d´Alba, Bruno Giacosa
Also tasted recently with the same impression.
~88p   (tasted 2017/11)

2014 Barbaresco, Bruno Giacosa
A cool, elegant, laid back nose with notes of hard cherry candy, forest floor and rose petals. Very fine.
The taste is young, pure and tight with notes of red cherries, almonds, chrushed rocks and dried flowers. Very long with silky tannins.
~91p   (tasted 2017/11)

2013 Barolo Le Rocche, Bruno Giacosa
A deep, restrained, aristocratic nose with notes of spices, hard licorice, ripe red and black cherries, tar and earth. Refined.
The taste is structured and old fashioned with lovely notes of hard cherry candy, rosehips, mushrooms and asphalt. Very, very long. Needs time, lots of it.
~93p   (tasted 2017/11)

2014 Shiraz Viognier, Clonakilla
When I tasted this earlier this year, I was deeply impressed. This bottle performed on the same level. Glad I have some.
~96p   (tasted 2017/11)

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Alpha, Montes Wines
Big and mature on the nose with notes of graphite, motor oil, blackberries and burnt rubber. Large.
The taste is big and concentrated with notes of tar, cooked blueberries, black olives and hot gravel. Big and bold.
~88p   (tasted 2017/11)

2014 Purple Angel, Montes Wines
A very deep, complex, gorgeous nose with notes of ripe blueberries, dark chocolate, violets and cigar smoke. Very, very fine.
The taste is concentrated and broad shouldered but with an elegance and balance. Sweet fruit, polished tannins and a gorgeous mid palate. Great wine.
~95p   (tasted 2017/11)