Thursday 29 April 2021

A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV De L’ Abbatiale, Locret-Lachaud


NV De L’ Abbatiale, Locret-Lachaud
A fine, stony nose with notes of fennel seeds, sage, steel and red currants. A fine depth. Very, very good.
The taste is cool and fresh with notes of grey pears, red currants, iron and dark bread. Very long with a very fine acidity. Again, best on day two.
91p   (tasted 2021/04)


Saturday 24 April 2021

A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Chaléroux-Ghys


NV Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Chaléroux-Ghys
A tad restrained at first but opens up nicely over time with fine notes of toasted bread, lemon cream, yellow flowers, almond paste and hay. A fine depth. 
The taste is cool and tight with notes of lemon peel, minerals, yellow apple and crushed rocks. A fine acidity. Very, very good. Drunk over three days, best on day two (as always).
90p   (tasted 2021/04)


Friday 23 April 2021

2014 & 2017 Château Bouscassé

A digital tasting isn´t - duuh - like a real tasting but still, you get to taste some great wines, listen to the wine maker and be able sit in your leisure clothes at home...
The other day I had the privilege to listen to Antoine Veiry from Brumont. We tasted a bunch of wines, more notes to follow, but I will start with the two I finished of with dinner.


2014 Château Bouscassé
From a half bottle. A medium dep nose with notes of herbs, red and black currants, fresh stables and earth, Very good. 
The taste is rocky and earthy with additional notes of herbs, cigarette ashes and red currants. A nice finish. 50% Tannat and equally parts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
87p   (tasted 2021/04)


2017 Château Bouscassé
An open, fruity and fine nose with notes of black currants, plums, violets, earth and sweet pipe tobacco. Very, very good.
The taste is medium bodiedm warm and nicely structured with notes of herbs, black currants, tobacco and violets. More interesting on the nose, but still very, very good. A very fine value at 17 Euro.
88p   (tasted 2021/04)

Tuesday 20 April 2021

Four Times 2018 Nebbiolo d´Alba Vigna Valmaggiore


An interesting tasting  of four different versions from the amphitheater-like vineyard of Valmaggiore.

2018 Nebbiolo d´Alba Vigna Valmaggiore, Bruno Giacosa
A high, handsome nose with notes of red cherries, rosehips, linseed oil and fresh herbs. Very, very fine.
The taste is pure and complex with notes of red cherries, dried raspberries, tiles and minerals. Very fresh. Some silky tannins in the finish. 3+ years.
92p   (tasted 2021/04)



2018 Nebbiolo d´Alba Vigna Valmaggiore, Luciano Sandrone
A finely tuned nose with notes of sour/sweet cherries, licorice, white pepper and some tobacco. Very deep and fine.
The taste is racy and elegant with notes of ripe red cherries, earth, dried strawberries and sweet minerals. Very fine. Juicy tannins in the finish. 4+ years.
91p   (tasted 2021/04)

2018 Nebbiolo d´Alba Vigna Valmaggiore, Marengo
A open, warm nose with notes of hard cherry candy, asphalt, forest floor and hints of tobacco. Deep and fine.
The taste is tight and structured with notes of hard cherry candy, rosehips, licorice and mushrooms. Long and fine. 4+ years.
91p   (tasted 2021/04)



2018 Nebbiolo d´Alba Vigna Valmaggiore, Giacomo Grimaldi
The nose is somewhat closed, even with air, with notes of dry cherries, gravel, dried flowers and licorice. Very good.
The taste is tight and fine, more open than on the nose, with notes of violet licorice, cold coffee, tobacco and gravel. Long and fine. Better on the palate. 3+ years.
88p   (tasted 2021/04)


Saturday 17 April 2021

Champagne & Barolo


NV Recolte Rosé, Dosnon
My first bottle from this producer but given this quality, not my last. This is a restrained and refined Rosé with a tight, spicy nose with notes of red currants, minerals, rhubarb, rust and a lovely salty touch. Very fine.
The taste is handsome and elegant with a brilliant acidity and notes of red currants, roses, spices and steel. Very long and lingering. Great juice.
93p   (tasted 2021/04)

1996 Barolo, Schiavenza
Always nice to drink a almost mature Barolo. The nose of this 25 year old old school Serralunga oozes up from the glass, after two hours in a decanter, with notes of iron, dried cherries, rosehips, furniture polish, forest floor and dry licorice. Very, very good.
The taste is taut and dry with still some perky tannins and notes of rosehips, red apples, iron and old furniture. Has a fine, rigid backbone. Give this another 6+ years. Here are notes from my visit to estate in August of 2019.
91p   (tasted 2021/04)



Thursday 15 April 2021

2001 Mehringer Zellenberg Riesling Auslese, Römerhof


2001 Mehringer Zellenberg Riesling Auslese, Römerhof
A bulked up half bottle (500 ml) of Riesling, this semi mature Auslese went perfectly with a semi hot Thai chicken wok. 
The nose is deep, with a fine dried up sweetness with notes of ripe peach, wet asphalt, wool (would have me going to Chenin if this would have been poured blind), furniture oil and a hint of saffron. Beginning to mature. Very, very good.
The taste is medium bodied, somewhat mature with notes of dried apricots, minerals, birch sap, matchbox and saffron bread. Ends semi dry. Drinking great after 20 years.
89p   (tasted 2021/04)

Sunday 11 April 2021

A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV Cuvée des Caudalies Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, de Sousa


NV Cuvée des Caudalies Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, de Sousa
This gorgeous Blanc de Blancs comes from vines over 60 years old and 50% of the blend is from a perpetual reserve started in 1995. 
The nose is high and intense with notes of brioche, apple cider, fudge, assorted nuts, chalk and grilled lemons. There is lots going on here, and all is good! Very young.
The taste is creamy and refined with notes of vanilla fudge, ripe yellow apples, minerals, peach and grilled toast. Very long and harmonious. Balanced. A very fine acidity. Drunk over three days and IMHO best on day two. Great wine. 5,3 gr. 7+ years.
94p   (tasted 2021/04)

Friday 9 April 2021

1975 Château Haut-Bailly


1975 Château Haut-Bailly
When I read up on this wine beforehand I got some pretty disparate views, see quotes below, but lets just say that Parker was waaaay of on this one (a recurring trend when it comes to older Bordeaux that aren´t the creme de la creme...).
The nose is deep and lovingly mature with notes of dried plums, black currants, chrushed tiles, sugared coffee and some fresh stable aromas. I can sit with my nose in the glass all evening long. Old school Bordeaux, my first love in wine 30+ years ago.
On the palate it isn´t as generous as on the nose but offers up a mature, round taste with notes of dried black currants, earth, bakelite and coffee grounds. A medium long finish. No -75 dryness in the finish. Very, very good. And with some future in hand, in spite that Parker deemed it without a future 26 years ago...
90p   (tasted 2021/04)

"I have consistently rated this wine from the low 60s to the low 70s, so this was a relatively strong showing for this vegetal, thin , tannic wine. The nose has opened to reveal some attractive weedy, curranty aromas, but there is not much fruit, and the tannins still dominates this lightweight claret. It has no future. Last tasted 12/95. 76p"
(Robert Parker / Bordeaux)

"Full, mature colour. Good, plump nose, not to dense. Fullish, has the density of more traditional wine.making rather than the vintage. Rich and ripe, good fruit, finishes well. Good."
(Clive Coates / Grands Vins / tasting note from June 1987)

Thursday 8 April 2021

2018 Russian River Pinot Noir, De Loach & 2018 Knox Alexander Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir, Au Bon Climat

Two more small, tasty bottles from Vinkällan.

2018 Russian River Pinot Noir, De Loach
A open, fine nose with notes of rhubarbs, ripe raspberries, undergrowth and warm herbs, Very, very good.
The taste is juicy and fine with a fine acidity and notes of raspberry licorice, forest floor and a hint of tobacco. Long and velvety.
90p   (tasted 2021/03)


2018 Knox Alexander Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir, Au Bon Climat
A deep, high nose with notes of dried raspberries, iron, a touch of VA and root vegetables. Complex and very fine.
The taste is tight and dry with notes of sour/sweet raspberries, raspberry vinegar, licorice and compost. Very long and fine. Lovely.
93p   (tasted 2021/03)

Tuesday 6 April 2021

Some Rosé Champagne


 Vingruppen arranged a tasting of this seasons rosé wines. Four Champagnes were poured.

NV Rosé No 3 Brut, Andre Clouet
A cool, velvety nose with notes of toasted bread, red currants, dried raspberries and chalk. Very, very good.
The taste is seedy and fine with notes of raspberry candy, sun warm gravel and fresh herbs. A fine length and a very good acidity. A true bargain for 33 Euro.
92p   (tasted 2021/03)


2014 Rosé Brut, Louis Roereder
Tasted last August and it has developed nicely, putting on more weight and added complexity.
94p   (tasted 2021/03)

NV Rosé Brut Grand Cru, Egly-Ouriet
A deep, focused, finely tuned nose with notes of red and white currants, flint, spices and grilled lime. Very balanced and fine.
The taste is taut and fine with lovely fruit, a great acidity and a long, long, structured finish. Needs time. Great wine.
94p   (tasted 2021/03)


NV Rosé, Fleur de Miraval
330 Euro. Courtsey of Brad Pitt et al. Worth it? Not by a long shot. A very good wine with the same quality as the Clouet above, but I would rather take ten bottles of that than one of this.
The nose is deep and fine with notes of peach, raspberries, minerals and gravel. But it also has a "superficial" note.
The taste is balanced and fine with notes of red currants, gravel, oranges and herbs. A medium long, fine finish. A very good wine, but the price...
91p   (tasted 2021/03)


Monday 5 April 2021

2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, Silver Oak & 2018 Monte Bello, Ridge

I received some tasting samples from Vinkällan due to a launch of Capstone California Wines. Small bottles but lots of taste!

2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, Silver Oak
A deep, handsome nose with notes of ripe black currants, tobacco, leather and a hint of red bell pepper. Complex and fine.
The taste is tight and refined with notes of red and black currants, tobacco, warm tiles and a hint of mint. Long and very fine.
92p   (tasted 2021/04)


2018 Monte Bello, Ridge
A very deep, multi layered nose with notes of ripe black currants, earth, mahogany and fresh herbs. Very fine. Lovely.
The taste is concentrated and focused with notes of black currants, dry chocolate, earth and expensive leather. Very long. 10 years.
94p   (tasted 2021/04)

Sunday 4 April 2021

1996 Barolo, Bel Colle


1996 Barolo, Bel Colle
Not your ordinary Barolo! Chosen by the Masters of the Cavaliere del Tartufo no less. 1200 bottles made.
It needs some time in the glass (after two hours decanting) to really open up with notes of undergrowth, dried raspberries, old oak furniture and violets. Some iron in the end. Rustic and very, very good.
The taste is tight and just mature with notes of rosehips, dried raspberries, gravel and dry licorice. A medium long finish with a fine warmth. Bottles like this will go on for 8+ years.
89p   (tasted 2021/04)

Friday 2 April 2021

A Bottle Of Bubbly - 2011 Cuvée Edmond, E. Barnaut


2011 Cuvée Edmond, E. Barnaut
A fine, stony, bread filled nose with notes of fennel seeds, red apples and wet cement. A fine depth. Very, very good.
The taste is velvety and fine with notes of red apples, wet stones, fennel and grilled lemons. A fine acidity. A hint of maturity. 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier. 6 gr dosage. 
91p   (tasted 2021/04)

Thursday 1 April 2021