A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV BLCK, Alain Mercier

NV BLCK, Alain Mercier

This Blanc de Noir offers up a steely, laid back nose with notes of dried raspberries, tiles, sweet minerals and a touch of lavender. Very, very good.

The taste is racy and fine with a cleansing acidity and notes of red apples, steel, minerals and dark bread. Long and fine. 3+ years.

91p   (tasted 2023/05)

A Louis Roederer Lunch Tasting

I was invited by Vinunic to a lunch tasting at Agnes (great food as always). Alexis Deligny from the estate conducted the tasting with charm and humour.

2015 Blanc de Blancs

A fresh, forward nose with notes of lemon candy, smoke, chrushed rocks and white flowers. Very delicate and fine.

The taste is tight and refined with a racy acidity and a long lasting intensity. Very fine. 6+ years.

94p   (tasted 2023/05)

2016 Rosé

A gorgeous rosé with a deep, focused nose with notes of wild strawberries, sun warm rocks, dried raspberries and a fine perfumed note.

The taste is tight and seedy with notes of dried strawberries, flint, raspberry licorice and dried flowers. Very long. 5+ years. 62% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay.

94p   (tasted 2023/05)

2015 Brut

A handsome, electric nose with notes of lemon cream, steel, wet cement and white flowers. Very fine.

The taste is racy and balanced with a cleansing acidity and lots of yellow fruits. A bit closed. Very long. 8+ years. 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay.

93p   (tasted 2023/05)

2015 Cristal

Very deep, very focused and very lovely, with gorgeous notes of white peach, red apples, almond paste and ripe flowers. A lovely salinity.

The taste is rich and rewarding with a stunning intensity and balance. Boatloads of ripe lemons, red apples, spices and chrushed rocks. Very, very long. 10+ years. 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay.

96p   (tasted 2023/05)

Collection 244

Based on the 2019 vintage (54%), and the rest from the perpetual reserve (vintages between 2012 - 2018). The nose is young and mineral laden with notes of dark bread, red apples and grass. Very fine.

The taste is dry and fine with notes of warm grass, dry passionfruit and lots of chrushed rocks. 5+ years. 41% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir & 26% Pinot Meunier.

92p   (tasted 2023/05)

Collection 243

From magnum. A tight, stony nose with notes of lemon cream, violets, red apples and assorted spices. Very fine.

The taste is crisp and steely with notes of lemon zest, white peach and flint. A very fine structure for aging. Based on the 2018 vintage (59%). 42% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir & 18% Pinor Meunier.

92p   (tasted 2023/05)

Collection 242

From magnum. A deep, creamy nose with notes of brioche, Lily of the Valley, ripe lemons and steel. Very, very good.

The taste is nicely concentrated with a cool lemon fruit, a fine acidity and a medium long finish. 4+ years. 42% Chardonnay, 36% Pinot Noir & 22% Pinot Meunier.

90p   (tasted 2023/05)

Collection 241

From magnum. A somewhat restrained nose with notes of dry nuts, candied lemons, gravel and a slight metallic touch. Very good.

The taste is dry and a tad foursquare with notes of hay, apple peel, gravel and nuts. Medium bodied. Don´t know if aging will develop it, but I will find out, since I have a magnum of this... 42% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay & 18% Pinot Meunier.

87p   (tasted 2023/05)

2011 Les Blanches Voies Blanc de Blancs, Penet-Chardonnet

2011 Les Blanches Voies Blanc de Blancs, Penet-Chardonnet

This 12 year old bubbly is fresh as a daisy with notes of mature green apples, chalk, smoke and summer warm gravel. Distinct and fine.

The taste is cool and smoky with a fine yellow fruit, a cleansing acidity and a long, elegant finish. Somewhat mature but this still has a long way to go.

92p   (tasted 2023/04)

1998 Côte-Rôtie, Guigal - d´Ampuis, La Mouline, La Turque & La Landonne

S invited to a faboulous tasting a couple of weeks ago. The first flight was, in short, awesome!

Tasted double blind.

1998 Côte-Rôtie d´Ampuis, Guigal

A spicy, medium bodied nose with notes of black currants, dusty earth, black pepper and violets. Very, very good.

The taste is mature and seedy with a fine warmth, dried black fruits and a long, dry finish. I would say fully mature.

91p   (tasted 2023/07)

1998 Côte-Rôtie La Mouline, Guigal

A very deep, refined nose with notes of bakelite, pounded meat, violets and sun warm rocks. Very fine.

The taste is tight and complex with gorgeous black fruit, silky tannins and notes of undergrowth, salt licorice, violets and smoke. Very, very long. 5+ years.

96p   (tasted 2023/07)

1998 Côte-Rôtie La Turque, Guigal

A high, intense nose with notes of black olives, fresh herbs, dark flowers, chrushed rocks and sweet violets. Just stunning.

The taste is tight and finely structured with still sturdy tannins and notes of green peppers, olives, dark chocolate and spices. Great wine. 8+ years. 

97p   (tasted 2023/07)

1998 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne, Guigal

A very deep, focused nose with notes of dried blackberries, dark chocolate, diesel oil and dark tobacco. Gorgeous.

The taste is meaty and taut with broad tannins and notes of black pepper, scorched earth, violets and iron. Very, very long. 8+ years.

97p   (tasted 2023/07)

Next up - 1999 Côte-Rôtie, Guigal - d´Ampuis, La Mouline, La Turque & La Landonne...

NV La Cuvee Influence Rose, Miniere F&R

NV La Cuvee Influence Rose, Miniere F&R

A fine, toasted bread filled nose with additional notes of orange zest, almond paste, red apples and sun warm tiles. Open and fine.

The taste is willful and dry with a fine acidity and notes of red apples, smoke and minerals. A long, fine finish. 41% Pinot Meunier, 31% Chardonnay, 28% Pinot Noir. Dosage 3,8 gr. Degorged 2021/08.

90p   (tasted 2023/05)

Two Baroli From Le Strette

2013 Barolo Corini-Pallaretta, Le Strette

A very fine "tar & roses" nose with additional notes of violets, forest floor, diesel oil and dried strawberries. Complex and fine.

The taste is young and focused with polished tannins and notes of dried flowers, iron, violets and dried strawberries. A fine length. 6+ years.

94p   (tasted 2023/05)

2015 Barolo Bergeisa, Le Strette

A bigger nose in structure, yet withdrawn when it comes to individual traits, but there are notes of dark cherries, bakelite and warm rocks. 

The taste is broad and tight with rugged tannins and notes of dark cherries, asphalt and hints of tobacco. Very long. 8+ years.

91p   (tasted 2023/05)

With these two cru´s I have now tasted wines from 117 MGA`s. There are 170 MGA´s in total but 27 of them are not produced as a single vineyard wine. That leaves 143. 

26 to go...

2019 Nebbiolo d’Alba La Pipina, La Bioca

2019 Nebbiolo d’Alba La Pipina, La Bioca

Tasted at the winery in January 2022 - https://barolista.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-barolo-boys-in-piedmont-visits-to.html - it was fun tasting this wine again. Brought up in concrete vats, as shown on the label, this Nebbiolo sports a fresh, open nose with notes of herbs, dried strawberries, violets and hockey pucks. Very nice.

The taste is cool and seedy with notes of rosehips, red cherries, tobacco and a fine coffee bitterness in the finish. Very mineral laden. 5+ years.

90p   (tasted 2023/05)

2007 - 2020 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling GG, Dönnhoff

This was a really impressive tasting, all vintages between 2007 and 2020 from the master Helmut Dönnhoff and the Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle vineyard in Nahe. 

L & M had planned a executed a perfect tasting dinner with great food and these stunning Rieslings.

Despite 13 years between the youngest and oldest, all wines, regardless of age, but more so in the younger versions, displayed a crystalline purity, a freshness and raciness that is hard to pin down and describe. They were pure like a mountain river on a cold spring day.

My favourites age wise was the 2009-2011 vintages. They are still young and fresh but have taken baby steps towards a fine maturity. 

Below I note the individual characters of the vintages.

2007 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

Deep, evolved and with more dried than fresh fruit. A tad warm in the finish but with a fine maturity.

90p   (tasted 2023/04)

2008 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

The 08 shows of a very deep, beautiful nose with apricots, bay leaves and iron. The taste is long and balanced with a beginning maturity. Very fine.

93p   (tasted 2023/04)

2009 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

A high, energetic nose with notes of ripe flowers, mosquito repellent and lemon candy. The taste is rich and concentrated with a brilliant acidity and gorgeous violet notes. Loooong.

95p   (tasted 2023/04)

2010 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

A bootomless deep, hauntingly beautiful nose with notes of wet asphalt, matchbox, summer grass and passionfruit. On the palate this is 5-10 years away from perfection - grip, concentration and a finish that goes on forever.

97p   (tasted 2023/04)

2011 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

A gorgeous nose with skin cream, sun warm rocks and lemon candy. On the palate it all about focus and elegance. Lovely. 6+ years.

95p   (tasted 2023/04)

2012 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

The 12 is a restrained creature with shy notes of wet asphalt, tangerines and grass. A tight, grapefruit dominated taste with lots of locked up fruit. Needs plenty of time.

93p   (tasted 2023/04)

2013 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

A high, cool nose with notes of ripening strawberries, grape and spices. The taste is cool and tight with a very fine focus and purity. 6+ years.

93p   (tasted 2023/04)

2014 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

Oooh boy, the nose is a dream with notes of nutmeg, sweet minerals, dried flowers and incense. On the palate there are layers upon layers of rich lemon fruit, lemon licorice and a acidity that is of the charts. Awesome. 6+ years.

97p   (tasted 2023/04)

2015 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

A deep, mineral laden nose with notes of chives, dry licorice and sweet minerals. The taste is handsome, balanced and rich. A stunning wine that needs 7+ years.

96p   (tasted 2023/04)

2016 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

A racy, refined nose with notes of birch leafs, wet cement and grass. A young, tight taste with sour/sweet lemons and racy minerals. 9+ years.

93p   (tasted 2023/04)

2017 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

A cool, stony nose with notes of grapefruit, white peppar and chrushed rocks. The taste is high and elegant with locked up yellow fruit and a very fine acidity for the future. 10+ years.

92p   (tasted 2023/04)

2018 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

A deep, grassy nose with notes of lemon cream, dry licorice, herbs and violets. The taste is fresh and racy with a fine intensity and a beautiful ripe lemon fragrance. 8+ years.

94p   (tasted 2023/04)

2019 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

Ooh so young, ooh so much embryonic power, ooh so much to look forward to in 10-15 years. Heaps of blood oranges, smoke, detergent and white flowers. Just stunning.

97p   (tasted 2023/04)

2020 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle

Very laid back on the nose with timid notes of grapefruit, grass and cold vanilla ice cream. The taste is tight and focused but very restrained. This will need plenty of time, 10+ years.

94p   (tasted 2023/04)

2021 Cinsault, Rall

2021 Cinsault, Rall

Another bottle from this South African winery. This Cinsault jumps out of the glass with high energy and salivating notes of fresh herbs, ripening raspberries, gravel and tobacco leaves. Very, very good.

The taste is cool and fresh with low key, silky tannins, a good acidity and lots of red berries. A fine gravelly note in the finish. For gulping down now and the coming 6+ years.

90p   (tasted 2023/05)

Two Minor 1995 Bordeaux

1995 Château de la Commanderie

This Lalande-de-Pomerol sports a mature nose with notes of dried plums, smoke, iron and dried ink. 

The taste is light and fully mature with notes of dried plums, forest floor, old leather and smoke. The finish is dry and good. On its own this is a 84p wine, but - with the help of a couple of centiliters of Port in the decanter (an old trick that I taught from Hugh Johnson) the nose is richer and the palate is still dry but with more body and with a fine laid back sweetness.

86p   (tasted 2023/05)

Château Coufran

One of my earliest multible buys (I think it was eight bottles) was the 1982 Coufran, so I have always have had a soft spot for this château. The 1995 opens with a nicely mature, medium rich nose with notes of ripe black currants, pipe tobacco, fresh stables and a ever so slight hint of mint. Very, very good.

The taste is mature and velvety with notes of cigarr, black currants, leather and moist earth. Medium long and fine. Perfect for drinking now and the coming 6+ years.

88p   (tasted 2023/05)

Just Bought

This bottle came with a hilarious description in the auction catalog - "Wine made from fresh grapes"...

2013 Barolo, Aldo Clerico

2013 Barolo, Aldo Clerico

A deep, dark nose with notes of forest floor, dried strawberries, herbs and fir wood. The fruit is coated with a large dose of new oak.

The taste is young and tight with notes of dried tomatoes, fir wood, earth and dry tobacco. Ends on a bitter oak note. This will need 8+ years to integrate the wood.

85p   (tasted 2023/04)