Last Years Last Tasting

Miran called out for a tasting dinner between Christmas and New Years celebrations. Great fun - as always!
All wines tasted double blind.

1989 Saarburger Rausch Riesling Kabinett Auction, Ziliken
A mature, cool nose with notes of petrol, rubber boots, dry nuts and dried flowers. Some elderberries after a while. Quite subdued.
The taste is mature and dry with notes of dried apricots, earth, rubber and dried flowers. A high acidity. A bit hollow in the middle. Good.
83p   (tasted 2014/12)

1979 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese**, Jos, Cristoffel Jr.
A round, fine nose with notes of lavender honey, diesel, hyacinth and lots of minerals. Very expressive and fine.
The taste is mature and tight with a more dried up sweetness than on the nose. Notes of dry honey, dried melon and moist earth. A long, perky finish. Mature but not overly so. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2014/12)

Next line up was a tricky one. Guesses were all over the place in form of different vintages, different producers, different cepages and so forth. And then - all from the same producer, the same vintage and the same grape, all that separate them is from which Grand Cru village they come from... Go figure.

1996 Brut Millesimé, Nicolas Feuillatte

Chouilly - The Chouilly has a upfront, fine nose with signs of maturity and notes of day old bread, ripe yellow apples, apple juice, fudge and a warm smoky note.
The taste is round and somewhat mature with notes of yellow apples, milk chocolate fudge and minerals. A medium long, fine finish. Very good.
87p   (tasted 2014/12)

Le Mesnil - Corked #"#%&/%¤!

Ay - The Ay is as mature as the Chouilly but displays a warmer nose with notes of Tarte Tatin, autumn leaves and some chocolate wafers. A little deeper.
The taste is also warmer but at the same time more refined with lots od sweet minerals. Very, very good.
89p   (tasted 2014/12)

Cramant - The three following wines felt much younger than the two previous ones. The Cramant has a wonderful nose, full of dark lemon cream, summer flowers, lychee and spices. Cool and refined. Lovely.
The taste is tight and focused with notes of lemon cream, lychee, spices and dark fudge. The finish is long and intense. A high, cleansing acidity. A still young wine with lots of potential.
92p   (2014/12)

Ambonnay - The Ambonnay has the same spiciness as the Cramant, only with added intensity, with additional notes of barely ripe red apples and lots of crushed rocks.
The taste is young, intense and spicy with notes of red apples, summer flowers, wet rocks and dark fudge. A long, crisp finish with a high acidity. Very fine.
92p   (tasted 2014/12)

Verzy - The Verzy steals the show with its stunning nose, full of sweet lemon cream, cap gun smoke, crushed rocks, elderberries and a hint of fresh ginger. Deep and satisfying.
The taste is young, tight and complex with notes of spicy lemon cream, elderberries, dry liquorice, wet asphalt and minerals. The finish is long and precise. Very balanced. This is gooood!
93p   (tasted 2014/12)

We were then presented with 6 decanters that contained, according to Miran, "thin and weedy Pinot". As it turned out, Miran had got it wrong, again...:-)

2002 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux, Comte Armand
Usually one of my favourite Pommards, this was very good but as good as it was four years ago. The nose is spicy and medium deep with notes of beetroots, veal stock, black fruits and even a lightly peppery note, someone said sausages.
The taste is big and somewhat brawny with notes of sweet lingon- and blueberries, warm earth, leather and cooked root vegetables. It has a underlying firm structure. Needs more time.
89p   (tasted 2014/12)

2002 Givry 1er Cru Clos du Cellier Aux Moines, Domaine Joblot
Almost always a fine wine, this vintage was no exception. The nose is meaty, warm and concentrated with notes of sweet red belly peppers, forest floor, dried raspberries and spices. From time to time it has a Cabernet Franc feeling. Very good.
The taste is younger than the nose leads on, with fine notes of raspberries, lingonberries, forest floor, spices and veal meat. Very good tannins. Red cherry seeds in the end of the finish. There is no hurry drinking this one.
91p   (tasted 2014/12)

2002 Nuits St Georges Clos des Porrets, Henri Gouges
This very fine wine sports a concentrated, still young nose with notes of cool raspberries, licorice, tobacco and root vegetables. Very elegant.
The taste is tight, intense and seedy with notes of sweet lingonberries, tobacco, beet roots and warm earth. A very fine acidity. Long and lingering. Not as great as the 1964 but almost.
93p   (tasted 2014/12)

2010 Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots, Lucien le Moine
I don´t think I have ever tasted a disappointing or even a mediocre wine from Lucien Le Moine, and this stunner was no exception from the rule. The nose is deep and beautiful with notes of wild strawberries, rose petals, freshly grounded spices, warm tiles and expenisve leather. Penetrating and focused. Just great.
The taste is handsomely elegant and precise with notes of ripe raspberries, spices, rose petals and some deep flowery notes. The finish is long and refined. This is as good as it gets, and with age it will become even greater.
96p   (tasted 2014/12)

2008 Upper Picnic Spring Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Neely
The only American bottle in the line up doesn´t convince. The nose is spicy and fine in the beginning but soon evolve some dirty, earthy beet root, coca-cola notes. Warm. Chocolate biscuits.
The taste is warm, concentrated and a touch flabby with notes of raspberry jam, fennel, sweet licorice and moist earth. The taste is more harmonious than the nose. Good.
85p   (tasted 2014/12)

2009 Bürgel Spätburgunder, Keller
A fine, young, seedy nose with blue- and raspberry fruit intermingled with notes of asphalt, dried flowers, dried spices and earth. A cool sweetness to the fruit. Very good. A bit seedy.
The taste is young, fresh and seedy with notes of a raspberry and blueberry smoothie, asphalt, licorice and gravel. A long and finely tuned finish. This is fine.
92p   (tasted 2014/12)

2007 Barolo Marenca, Luigi Pira (magnum)
I obviosuly prefer the top of a magnum... This was not kind of Miran. Two decanters presented as two different wines, but in fact just a magnum split in two decanters. Did the two glasses differ? Yes, they did... Even after it was revealed, they did. At least, in my mind...
Anyway, the nose (in the better, first glass) is deep, meaty and earthy with notes of fresh mushrooms, ripe red cherries, rosehips and pipe tobacco. A lovely warmth to the fruit. Very, very good.
The taste is young, tight and concentrated with notes of hard cherry candy, rosheips, tobacco ashes, dusty earth and some leather. A very long finish with some distinctive tannins. This will turn out even greater with 5+ years in the cellar. Before we knew what it was I scored glass 1 - 95p, and glass 2 - 93p, so if you mix them together you get...
94p   (tasted 2014/12)

2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos des Papes
This had been opened the day before and we got a taste of what was left. The nose is big and warm with notes of raspberry jam, raspberry liquorice, dark cookie dough, resin and fried herbs. Good.
The taste is broad and warm with notes of black cherries, raspberry jam, garrigue and meat stock. A long, very good finish.
88p   (tasted 2014/12)

2003 Quarts de Chaume, Baumard
I had this pegged as a Vouvray from Huet, but alas... It has a deep, penetrating nose with lovely notes of oil cloth, hay, white peaches, dried apricots and rubber. Some earthy notes after a while. Very, very good.
The taste is big, sweet and concentrated with notes of lemon cream, hard candy, oil cloth, hay and some rubber. A long, fine finish with a cleansing acidity. Still young.
91p   (tasted 2014/12)

1992 Vesuvio Vintage Port
Last up was this Port. The nose is young and slightly peppery with notes of bakelite, black cherries, figs, fried nuts and moist earth. Very tight and a bit unyielding. Needs time.
The taste is broad shouldered and steady with notes of sweet liquorice, figs, green raisins, dark chocolate and bakelite. A long, warm, generous finish. I think that this will need another 8+ years to reach some sort of maturity.
90p   (tasted 2014/12)

Drinking Tonight - 1985 Barolo Riserva Rocche Di Castiglione, Michele Chiarlo

On this last night of almost three weeks vacation I needed something mature yet sturdy to go along a plate of braised beef. I opted for this, hopefully, mature bottle from Michele Chiarlo. This was bottle 2.326 out of 2.800 produced. Would love to have one or two of the 100 magnums produced...

1985 Barolo Riserva Rocche Di Castiglione, Michele Chiarlo
Upon opening the bottle the nose was locked tight and I decanted it two hours before dinner. And it needed that time. In fact it got better and better all evening.
The nose slowly evolves into a old fashioned Barolo with wonderful notes of warm rosehips, dried cherries, rose petals, red tea, hot gravel, a mushroom forest and coffee grounds. Very expressive yet firm. Very, very good.
The taste is mature, solid and steadfast with fine red fruit and notes of rosehips, lingonberries, bakelite, mushrooms and gravel. There are some old style, a tad foursquare tannins lurking in the background. A long, warm finish that ends dry. I liked this a lot and it was a perfect match with the beef.
91p   (tasted 2015/01)

 

The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2014

It is that time in the beginning of the new year - to reminisce over the vinous year of 2014 and remember all those great tastings and bottles. And I of course need a little help to jog my memory, this year in the shape of 2000 Blanc de Blancs, José Michel. It worked...:-)

189 posts here and 600+ bottles tasted and drunk. The big focus this year have been on my birth year - 1964 - aka The Greatest Vintage Ever! :-) A separate post will focus on the 127 bottles of 64´s that I have opened during the year.

It is hard to narrow it down to just ten bottles, but it is invigorating to impose strict rules on yourself, isn´t it..?
Here is the list, in vintage order.
A toast to an equally great 2015!

1963 Finest Dry Oloroso, Gonzalez Byass
I have said it before, and will probably say it again and again - I drink way to little Sherry. And this world class wine really showed why Sherry can be so fantastic. Interesting enough I tasted some of the worst wines of the year at the same tasting... Thanks Mikke!
96p   (tasted 2014/01)

1964 Mazis-Chambertin, Remoissenet
Five 1964´s makes this years list and first up is a beautifully aged Burgundy. When Burgundy matures in this kind of way, there is not much in the world of wine that is more rewarding to drink and cherish.
96p   (tasted 2014/04)

1964 Château Palmer
I described this wine in my post as a "kind of wine epiphany". And this perfectly aged Palmer was truly great from the first sip to the last. A wine to remember. Like drinking velvet.
94p   (tasted 2014/07)

1964 Chateau Cheval-Blanc
Several of the St Emilion´s from this tasting could have made this list - Ausone, Pavie, Figeac or Pavie-Decesse. But there was one bottle that stood head and shoulders above the others. This bottle proved to be a poster child for the expression "an iron fist in a velvet glove". A truly majestic wine.
98p   (tasted 2014/10)

1964 Barbaresco Riserva Speciale, Bruno Giacosa
The two last 64´s to make this years list was both tasted on the night when Barolo Boys did 1964 Barbaresco and Barolo´s. This Riserva Speciale showed why Bruno Giacosa is considered to have been one of the greatest wine maker ever. And this tasting from 2009 was ample proof of that. Greatness in a bottle.
97p   (tasted 2014/11)

1964 Barolo Monfortino, Giacomo Conterno
And how about perfection? Probably the only time I will taste this and luckily it performed in a stunning manner. All that you ask for in a maturing Barolo and then some. It was even more perfect on day two. An amazing, breathtaking bottle of wine.
100p   (tasted 2014/10)

1985 Barolo Vigna San Giuseppe, Cavallotto
The rest of the list is some youngsters, or in the case of this Barolo, somewhere in between. Served at the same tasting as the Masseto below - thanks Miran! - it felt like on top of its game on that evening but will surely stay on that level for 8+ years. And the one visit that I have made to Cavallotto is one to remember, or what do you say Miran...:-)
96p   (tasted 2014/05)

1994 Clos de la Coulée de Serrant, Nicolas Joly
Nicolas Joly made the 2012 list with his 2002. This year this 8 year older version also makes the list. Tasted during our vacation, it was one of the best wines of summer. There is something special about this expression of Chenin Blanc. Will have to get me more bottles!
96p   (tasted 2014/07)

1996 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets, Jean Noël Gagnard
There is something special with a perfectly aged white Burgundy. I bought three bottles of this wine and the first was oxidised, but this one showed true greatness. I hope that the last bottle will be this great.
97p   (tasted 2014/07)

1998 Masseto
What can you say about this 100% Merlot wine? That it is one of the greatest wine on planet earth? Or that it now is (almost) prized as its Merlot friend Petrus? No matter what, I have loved every bottle of this nectar, and this year I have been lucky to drink two vintages.
The 2001 was absolutely fantastic but earlier the the 1998 proved to be a masterpiece. As it was when it made 2011 years list. And the 2004 made 2013 years list.
98p   (tasted 2014/05)

The previous years:
The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2013
The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2012
The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2011

Two Bottles From Pago De Los Capellanes

A while back I tasted the 2013 Joven Roble at 19 Glas. I liked it a lot and ordered a couple of bottles and also their 2010 Tinto Crianza. Time for a shootout at home!
Info about the estate here.

2013 Joven Roble, Pago de Los Capellanes
The Joven behaves almost identical this time and it doesn´t budge much from one day to another. A young, tight nose with fine notes of blueberry bushes, plums, bonfire and warm tiles. A lovely perfumed note emerges after a while. Very, very good.
The taste is young and focused with a fine structure and sweet plum- and blueberry fruit. A long, steady finish with a inky touch. Needs time. This is a very good wine that probably will be even better in 3-5 years time. Glad that I have a bunch.
91p   (tasted 2015/01)

2010 Tinto Crianza, Pago de Los Capellanes
This 100% Tempranillo beauty (The Joven Roble is also 100% Tempranillo) showcases a deep, high strung, concentrated nose with notes of ripe plums, hoisin sauce, sweet red apples, liquorice, exclusive leather and some fried dill. Very, very fine. Better on day two.
The taste is young, velvety yet firm, with gorgeous notes of plums, sweet red currants, raspberry liquorice, fine leather and chocolate covered cherries. A lovely mouth feel, with some firm tannins showing themselves in the end of the long, long finish. This is a very fine wine in the making, just wait 5+ years.
93p   (tasted 2015/01)

Now I have ordered the 2010 Tinto Riserva - can´t wait!

Backup Notes - Yet Another Trade Tasting - Bristly Wines

Another day, another trade tasting. A couple of months ago I attended Bristly´s.
As usual I started with Champagne, just one bottle though, the 2004 Cuvée Nicole Moncuit Blanc de Blancs, Pierre Moncuit which still is very young with notes of hyachint, lemon peel, copper and minerals. The taste is fresh and elegant with lemon fruit, bread and a high acidity. Needs some years to soften a bit (~91p).

Two Chassagne-Montrachet from Fernand & Laurent Pillot proved to be a pair of fine white Burgundies. The 2012 Champgains has a young, spicy nose with sweet/sour lemons and minerals, and a young, fresh nose with lots of acidity and ripe lemon fruit (~91p). The three year older version, the 2009 Champgains is more ripe with sweeter yellow fruit and a fine smoky note. The taste is elegant and racy with a lovely lemoncello character (~91p).
Moving on to the Pommards from F & L Pillot, the 2010 Rugiens shows a big, upfront nose with notes of ripe strawberries, pinenuts and liquorice. The taste is tight and focused with ripe red fruits and a long, broading finish (~90p). The 2009 Clos de Verger has almost the same profile as the Rugiens but with added depth and a fine earthiness (~91p).

Next up to be poured is two Brouilly´s from Jean-Claude Lapalu. Neither is my cup of tea, the 2013 V.V. has a yesty, unripe nose and a dry taste with notes of rubber, fermenting lingonberries and a high acidity (~72p). The 2013 La Croix de Rameaux is better, but the light strawberry nose and tight, foursquare nose will not make me a fan (~78p).

Moving on to Italy, Castello di Monsanto provides three fine bottles. The 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva has a fresh cherry fruit on the nose and seedy taste with lots of warm gravel and herbs, very good (~90p). The 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio is a very fine bottle of Chianti with its open nose full of herbs, sweet/sour cherries, worn leather and veal stock. The taste is tight and intense with lovely fruit and a taut backbone (~92p). Finally, the 2008 Chianti Classico Riserva Cinquantenario feels more mature than the Il Poggio and is a bit woody on the nose and the taste is high and full od acidity and laid back fruit. Very good but I would love to taste it again (~87p).

From Roagna, the 2007 Barbaresco La Pajè displays a light, earthy, fine nose and a traditional, seedy taste with a fine lingonberry fruit (~86p). The 2007 Barolo La Pira is way up on the quality ladder with its deep, intoxicating nose full of ripe cherries, truffles and asphalt. The taste is long, precise and combines power and lightness. Very, very fine (~93p). The 2007 Barbaresco Asili Vecchie Vigne is almost as good as the Barolo. It shows lots of autumn scents on the nose and on the palate it is long, fresh and seedy with great character (~92p).

From one of my favourite producers, Domenico Clerico, I tasted three bottles. 2008 Barolo Pajana has a young, focused, fine nose with notes of creamy cherry fruit and lots of mushrooms. The taste is young and structured with boat loads of locked up cherry fruit (~91p). The 2008 Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra is a gorgeous wine. Very young of course, but every element of future greatness is there (~94p). Lastly, the 2005 Barolo Percristina is very backward and shows very little of its future self, but with lots of vigour you can get the glass to display some aromas of ripe cherries and a very elegant structure. This will need lots of time (~92p).
An affordable and nice Barolo is the 2008, Raineri. A new producer for me, it delivers a light, mushroomy nose with some additional rosehips and herbs. The taste is young, tight and medium bodied with a good length (~87p).

And now it was time for the big line up of Châteauneuf-du-Pape´s. First four bottles from Domaine Saint Prefer. The 2011 Classique has an open, kirschy nose with a good warmth. The taste is big, fiery and a tad to sweet for my liking (~84p). The 2011 Colombis is much better with a fresh cherry and raspberry fruit paired with some garrigue and dried flowers. The taste is young, tight and concentrated (~89p). Even better is the 2011 Réserve August Favier with its focused nose full of ripe fruit, resin and stony notes. The taste is intense and fresh with a fine warmth (~90p). And at the top of the heap, the 2011 Collection Charles Giraud sits. The nose is deep and concentrated with a lovely creamy fruit. It flows over the palate with notes od raspberry coulis, garrigue and warm rocks. backed up with a fair amount of tannins. A great wine in the making (~93p).

From Domaine la Barroche, two Châteauneufs-du-Pape´s were poured. The 2011 Signature has a big, steady, upfront nose with notes of warm resin, earth and raspberry jam. The taste is structured and tight with dense fruit and notes of fried herbs and scorched earth. Very good (~90p). The two year older version, 2009 Signature, has a big, hot nose with notes of lingonberry jam, rubber and dried herbs. The taste is hot and dry with dried up raspberry jam, garrigue and the same rubber note as on the nose (~85p).

Domaine de la Janasse had three bottles on display. The 2012 Tradition has a big, seedy nose that is a bit unfocused. The taste is big and bold with lots of fruit, tannins and alcohol. Needs to settle down, but for now, not for me (~84p). The 2012 Chaupin is several steps up the quality ladder, with a ripe, powerful nose with notes of ripe raspberries, bonfire, forest floor and dried flowers. The taste is young and tight with sweet fruit, dense tannins and a fine focus (~90p). Last, but definitely not least, the 2011 Vieilles Vignes displays a young, fresh, cherry filled nose with notes of asphalt, forest floor and dark resin. The taste is young, steady and concentrated with notes of hard cherry candy, fresh herbs, liquorice and pine wood. Very, very good (~92p).

Two bottles from Le Vieux Donjon was thoroughly enjoyed. The 2011 has a old fashioned, somewhat barnyardy nose with a fine warmth and notes of ripe raspberries and dry liquorice. The taste is big and bold with fine sweet fruit, ripe tannins and a long, warm finish. Very, very good (~91p). The 2012 is a winner from the first sniff and sip. The nose is deep and restrained but the quality of the fruit shines through. Very refined. The taste is young, tight and concentrated with a perfect strawberry- and raspberry fruit, intermingled with notes of forest floor, leather and resin. A great wine in the making (~94p).

2011 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Château Sixtine, Cuvée de Vatican has a warm, spicy nose with a lot of earthy aromas. The taste is big and warm with steady tannin and a long, herbal finish. Very good (~87p). The 2012 of the same wine is better, the nose is deeper with a lovely kirsch note and the taste is more focused an the fruit it denser and more intense. Will turn out great (~91p).

The last bottles from Châteauneuf-du-Pape were a pair from Mas de Boislauzon. The 2012 Tradition has a cool, refined nose with notes of an autumn pine forest, dried raspberries, fresh herbs and liquorice. The taste is young, tight and impressive with notes of forest floor, ripe raspberries, thyme and some coffee powder notes. A long, intense finish. This is gooood (~93p)! The 2012 Cuvée du Quet is almost as good as the Tradition and while there are many similarities, this is more backward and today it doesn´t show the same goodies as the Tradition does (~92p).

The last wines tasted were the stunning wines from La Pèrira en Damasiela. First up the only white, the 2011 Deusyls which showcases a fat, hedonistic nose with notes of vanilla dusted ripe peaches, sweet summer flowers and lemon curd. Deep and profound. The taste is intense and concentrated with lovely sweet yellow fruit and lemon cream. There are acidity to match the rich fruit. This I like (~93p)!
The simplest red (and there is nothing simple with this wine!) is the 2011 Obriers de la Pèira that has a meaty, deep nose with lots of black fruits. The taste is big and tight with power and balance. Great stuff (~91p). After tasting the 2009 Las Flors I ordered bottles, for this is must have. The nose is decadently ripe, deep and beautiful with lots of sweet/sour cherries, dry liquorice, scorched earth, expensive leather and high octane chocolate. The taste is dense, tight and headstrong with boatloads of ripe black fruit, immense tannins and a finish that never stops. Not for the faint hearted and it is still young...(~96p).
Finally, the 2008 La Pèira has a tough job following the Las Flors, and it doesn´t reach its height, but this is no slouch, with its deep, restrained, tight nose and its massive, withdrawn taste that reveals more promise than enjoyment today. Wait at least 8 years for this one (~92p).

1964 Barolo - Two More Bottles Tonight

Soon the year is up and I am continuing to drink my 64´s. I will not be able to honour my statement from earlier this year, that I would be drinking all of my 64´s this year. I have worked at it....but there will be some bottles left. More of that in a post soon.
But, tonight two bottles from the hallowed hills of Piedmonte.

1964 Barolo Riserva, Fontana Saverio
A big, open, mature nose with notes of cherry jam, cold coffee, withered rosehips, some tar in the distance and moist autumn earth. Not that complex but very direct and hedonistic. Very good.
The taste is mature, soft and warm with notes of ripe red cherries, sugared coffee, mild chocolate wafers, autumn leaves and fried mushrooms. A long, warm finish with fruit, acidity and tannins melted together in a fine blend. Easy to take big gulps of. Very, very good.
88p   (tasted 2014/12)

1964 Barolo Riserva, Michele Nicolello
This, the 2.094th bottle of 19.860 made, is a stunner. If this would have been poured to me blind I would have guessed it to be a 1982 or a 1978. Not older than that.
The nose is deep and profound with lovely notes of ripe black cherries, freshly shaved truffles, rose petals, warm gravel and fine bonfire aroma. Just beautiful.
The taste is big, broad and multi layered with a fine, taut structure and sweet, warm fruit. Gorgeous notes of sweet cherries, hard cherry candy, rosehips, ceps and coffee powder. The finish goes on for over a minute. There is some finely tuned tannins in the end. A great wine that is barely mature and that will keep on giving pleasure for 10+ years.
95p   (tasted 2014/12)

Drinking Tonight - 2008 Chianti Classico Riserva, Castello Monterinaldi

After tasting the 2010 Chianti Classico - http://barolista.blogspot.se/2014/08/vacation-wine-diary-day-27-chianti.html - I was curious about the 2008 Riserva. Well, lets open one.

2008 Chianti Classico Riserva, Castello Monterinaldi

This needed some hours in a decanter before revealing nice aromas of sweet/sour cherries, dried rosemary, warm earth, worn leather and some dark cookie dough. Except for the cookie dough, a very traditional, old style nose. Very good.

The taste is still young and tight with notes of hard cherry candy, earth, old leather, dried herbs and lingonberry bushes. A high, fresh acidity. A touch of old balsamic vinegar. The finish is medium long and in the end a touch anemic. Today I prefer the 2010 Normale. But I have a hunch that this will evolve into something even better with time. And for 21 Euro I will buy a bunch. 

87p   (tasted 2014/12)

A Bottle Of Bubbly - Retasting Lenoble´s 2008 Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs

I was very impressed by this 2008 earlier this year. But at this sort of tastings, nice as they are, you don´t have the time to follow the wine for more than 15-20 minutes. At home, I can follow the same wine for days, really to getting to grips with it.
Lets pop and pour!

2008 Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, AR Lenoble
A very pure, young, cheeky nose with lovely notes of lemon cream, white peaches, buttercup flowers and milk chocolate. Refined and with lots of nerve. This is really good. Lots of potential. Hints of fresh ginger after some time in the glass. Stunning.
The taste is young, concentrated and intense with notes of lemon cream, fudge, butter biscuits and sweet minerals. A racy acidity that cleans the palate. Long and pure. This is a very fine bottle of young Champagne.
Opened yesterday and today the nose is the same but it is a tad softer on the palate. Very creamy. Great wine. Glad I have a bunch.
95p   (tasted 2014/12)

The Christmas Port - 1964 Port Vinho Generoso, Casa do Douro

I needed some Port to go with the creamy Stilton and stingy Cheddar. I have never seen this producer and I was anxious to see how this should behave. And I am curious to what this is. It is not a Vintage Port, nor a Single Quinta, nor a Tawny, and the label doesn´t say - if anyone knows what it is, please let me know. The colour is in any instance that of a tawny.
Since I am the only one who drinks fortified wines in the family (too bad...:-)), this bottle will last for me all Christmas long.

1964 Port Vinho Generoso, Casa do Douro
The nose is deep and sweet with masses of milk chocolate, figs, white raisins, moist earth and a wet bonfire. Very deep and intoxicating. Vanilla cookies with melted chocolate and some dark liquorice. This is hedonism in a glass!
The taste is velvety and creamy, yet intense and with lots of power. Gorgeous notes of milk chocolate cream, pistachio nuts, figs, old leather and a touch of cap gun smoke. A lovely warmth in the long finish. Fully mature and drinking extremely well.
93p   (tasted 2014/12)