Here Comes The Pain...

Here comes the pain is not one of Slayers best songs. But I came to think about when tasting their wine...
A "funny" present on my birthday a while back - I will get back to you - you know who you are...:-)

2011 Slayer Reign In Blood Red
This is a Cabernet Sauvignon from California and according to the back label I should enjoy it with food, friends and great music. Well, Slayer is great but this wine is not.
The nose is big, sweet and (over)ripe with notes of black currant jam, beet root juice, scorched earth, vanillin oak and a touch of green peppers that shows itself at the back of the nose. Unbalanced, both sweet and anorectic at the same time.
The taste is big, upfront and, at first, sweet with notes of black currant jam, band aid, cough syrup, warm road dust and old chocolate. The tannins are not integrated and fight their own fight on the side. Very dry at the end of the finish. Again, unbalanced. I would like to evoke the Angel Of Death on those who came up with this idea...
62p   (tasted 2013/12)

Drinking Tonight - 1978 Chateau Labergorce-Zede

After a looong first day at my new job (many handshakes, many new names....) I needed something mature, smooth and forgiving. This bottle really did unwind me tonight!

1978 Chateau Labergorce-Zede
Rigth from the first pour this perfectly aged Bordeaux shows beautiful aromas of stables, pencil shavings, dried red and black currants, moist autumn leaves and a touch of dog fur. Mellow and fine. As far from a blockbuster you could get, and the better for it. I love this kind of understated, mature Bordeaux bottles, that you can get for a song (bought for 25 Euro).
The taste delivers what the nose promise, a warm, mature, soft black currant fruit with some pencil shavings, autumn leaves, tobacco and dog fur tossed in. The finish is medium long, balanced and mellow. This is what I needed. Doesn' t get an A for complexity but surely one for drinkability.
87p   (tasted 2014/01)

Two Bottles Of Bubbly

These were thoroughly enjoyed over the holidays, sipped over some days to follow their evolvement.

2006 Diebolt-Vallois Fleur de Passion
This youngster opens with a smooth yet intense and fresh nose with notes of yellow apples, fennel seeds, butter cookies, elderberries and dry fudge. Very, very good. With air it becomes sweeter and more buttery.
The taste is young, elegant and fine with notes of white currants, fudge, summer flowers and lots of minerals. A very fine acidity. Medium bodied. This will need some years in the cellar, and it will become better, but it will never reach the 2004 or the 2002, but it is marginally better than the 2005.
92p   (tasted 2013/12)

NV Gosset Grand Blanc de Blancs
A young, elegant nose with lots of fresh bread, newly washed clothes, white balsam vinegar, butter biscuits and elderberries. Opens up fine in a big glass (never use those tall, narrow glasses for Champagne - I know where you live! :-)).
The taste is young, tight and focused with notes of grilled lemons, lemon cream, chalk, dry biscuits and white currants. The finish is long and refined. A very good acidity. This will need 3-5 years to really show of. As fine as last time.
91p   (tasted 2013/12)

The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2013

While sipping on a glass of 2006 Fleur de Passion (post will follow), I recollect the wines tasted during 2013.
200 posts on this blog, 762 wines tasted, the Brunello project concluded, lots of fantastic tastings and dinners, and the first 100p wine in a couple of years - 2013 has been good to me :-)
But it is always hard to etch out the 10 most memorable wines - but after a half bottle of Champagne the list is completed!
Here it is in vintage order.
A toast to an equally great 2014!

19?? Barolo, Giuseppe Mascarello
An unknown vintage of Barolo from Giuseppe Mascarello comes first, since I don´t know the vintage. But what a wine its was, with perfect maturity and a haunting complexity. I still think it was a great Barolo vintage, such as a 52, 58, 61 or a 64. The gamble on this bottle was richly rewarded.
94p   (tasted 2013/02)

1954 Viña Tondonia, R. Lopez de Heredia
This old school Rioja was the star of a Spanish dinner, thrown by my friend Oscar. A privilege to drink and a fine recollection from the beginning of my foray into wine, when I in 1984 tasted a 1964 Riserva from an unknown producer. Aah, what memories! Thanks Oscar!
96p   (tasted 2013/10)

1990 Barolo Brunate, Ceretto
Another perfectly mature Barolo makes the list. I really like the Ceretto style and this 1990 Brunate was a perfect example of the ethereal sensations of a mature Barolo. I need to drink more mature Ceretto - but wait a moment - I will! :-)
94p   (tasted 2013/08)

1997 Brunello di Montalcino Cerbaiola, Salvioni
A lot of Brunello´s could have made this list, but as I said in my Brunello epilogue Salvioni really captured my heart during this project. And I can´t just choose one Salvioni, the 2001 comes further down the list. The 1997 is what dreams are made of and in 5+ years this will achieve perfection. I will definitely get back to it then!
98p   (tasted 2013/05)

1998 Shiraz Reserve, Fox Creek
I remember buying several bottles of this when it was sold at the state monopoly for around 33 Euro. And had a 98p Parker score! :-) Several have been drunk over the years and while good I have never seen its greatness. Until this year. Tasted twice this year and performing stunningly both times. A pity I don´t have any left...
97p   (tasted 2013/02 and /04)

1998 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne, Guigal
This was probably the tasting of the year - nine vintages of La Landonne from Guigal. You don´t get to do that much, unless you are a millionaire.
Almost all vintages performed on the highest level but one was a truly perfect wine, the 1998. You couldn´t have a better time than then drinking this wine, at least with your clothes on...
The 1998 La Turque was tasted a few days ago and was stunning - 98p. I have to taste the 1998 La Mouline, usually my favourite of the three.
100p   (tasted 2013/10)

2001 Brunello di Montalcino La Cerbaiola, Salvioni
Another candidate for a future perfect wine, the 2001 Salvioni was, in tough competition, the star of my last Brunello chapter - 10 bottles of 2001 Brunello. Brunello doesn´t get any better than this, and I´m in pursuit of more vintages of the nectar from Salvioni.
98p   (tasted 2013/09)

2002 Meursault Les Perrières, Leroy
There are lots of opions of Madame Bize-Leroy, but when she gets everything right (which she most often does) no one can deny the quality of her wines. This semi mature Meursault proved that point - utterly gorgeous, intense and harmonious, it almost brought tears to my eyes.
97p   (tasted 2013/11)

2004 Masseto
Nowadays Masseto is a bit rich for my wallet, but oh boy is it good to drink it when someone else has bought it! :-) Thanks Miran!
Ripeness, a firm aristocratic backbone and boatloads of hedonism - what not to like! As I said in the headline of that post - Pour Me More Fucking Merlot!
98p   (tasted 2013/08)

 

2011 Rossese di Dolceacqua Galeae, Ka*Mancine
During our stay in Liguria in the summer of 2013 I visited Tenuta Anfosso and Ka*Mancine. The 2010 version of the Galeae was a splendid wine, and the 2012 was a very fine wine. A didn´t get to taste the 2011 at the estate, but found it later in a Enoteca. As good as the 2012 I then ordered a six pack and have drunk it during autumn. I now have ordered a second six pack of the 2011 and one of the 2012. I just love the drinkability of these wines and of Rossese in general!
90p   (tasted 2013/07)


The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2012 - here
The Ten Most Memorable Wines Of 2011 - here

New Years Eve

No notebook, just amazing food, great company and some bottles of wine to see the new year in.

Very much alive and kicking!

2007 - fresh and juicy

2010 - really fine

Corked - #¤"%&¤#"!!

1996 - no premox, just stunning!

Bad pic but a great wine - need to find some Huber Chardonnay

Happy New Year!

Another vinous year has passed - lots of great bottles and fantastic tastings. In a few days the list of my 10 most memorable wines of 2013 will be posted. But there is one day left!

Maybe one of these bottles, which I will be bringing to a friends place for New Years Eves dinner, will make the list...? And there will surely be more memorable bottles tonight!

A Happy New Year to all!

The Great Syrah Competition!

I'm wasted...

23 wines tasted - I will be back!

And yes, we have a winner...:-)

The line up:
2005 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett
2002 Keller Dalsheimer Hubacker Riesling Spätlese (Goldkap)
2007 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Spätlese A.P. #7

2002 Sine Qua Non Just For The Love of It
2003 Sine Qua Non Papa
2001 Sadie Family Columella
1999 Boekenhoutskloof Syrah
2004 Viña Montes Folly Syrah
1998 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque
2001 Domaine Pierre Cros Les Aspres
1997 Tenimenti Luigi d’Alessandro Podere Il Bosco (magnum)
2009 Clonakilla Shiraz
2001 Torbreck Run Rig
1999 Greenock Creek Creek Block
2008 First Drop Shiraz The Cream
1996 Clarendon Hills Astralis

1998 Noon V.P.
1990 Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg 1er Trier

Just Bought

Santa delivered a Christmas present a couple of days late but given what was inside, I forgive him!
Five more bottles to add to the 1964 stack - next year will be fun...:-)

Two 1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Time again to test drive two more 1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the forgotten stash...:-)

1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Bosquet des Papes
This has a deep, warm, mature nose with notes of raspberry jam, thyme, garrigue, raspberry liquorice and dried resin. A nice warmth but it is a tad flabby in its structure.
The taste is big, warm and ripe with notes of thyme spiced raspberries, lingonberry bushes, resin, milk chocolate and forest floor. Soft tannins. Good but it hasn´t got much of a backbone. Fully mature and should probably have been drunk some 5+ years ago.
85p   (tasted 2013/12)

1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Le Vieux Donjon
This on the other hand is a really fine bottle of an almost mature Châteauneuf. The nose is deep, creamy yet intense with lovely notes of dried strawberries, root vegetables, violets, dried rose petals and lots and lots of herbs. Very complex and fine. A very fine warmth. Very floral. Great.
The taste is big, warm and juicy with still a firm tannin grip and notes of strawberry compote, licorice, fried root vegetables, forest floor and fresh rosemary. The finish is long and balanced. This still needs a couple of years to hit its plateau, but it is impossible to resist today. Bought in 2000 for 20 Euros - too bad I didn´t bought more...
93p   (tasted 2013/12)

Some Christmas Bottles

These bottles were opened over the last couple of days. More to follow...:-)

2011 Rosso di Montalcino, Castello Romitario
A young, fresh nose with notes of sour cherries, rosehips, lingonberry bushes, rosemary and road dust. Very nice. Upfront juicy fruit.
The taste is young, tight and firm with notes of red cherries, lingonberries, liquorice and Tuscan gravel. Luscious and fine. Some violets in the medium long finish. A fine acidity. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2013/12)

2004 Brunello di Montalcino, Collosorbo
I have missed drinking Brunello lately! This bottle consoles me with an open, semi mature, spicy nose with notes of red cherries, black tea leaves, dried rosemary, tobacco ashes and autumn leaves. A fine warmth. Not that complex but a very yummy fruit.
The taste is big, warm and maturing with notes of sweet and sour cherries, asphalt, autumn leaves and some tobacco. A long, warm finish with nicely polished tannins. The taste is verging on great. Very, very good.
91p   (tasted 2013/12)

2010 Gigondas Sieur Alphonse, Bonpas
A medium deep, nice nose with notes of resin, Christmas spices, white pepper spiced blueberries and some earthy aromas. A fine warmth.
The taste is young, warm and spicy with notes of cooked blueberries, warm rocks, balsa wood and old leather. Some dried strawberries in the rather short finish. Good.
84p   (tasted 2013/12)

2012 L´Integrale, Domaine des Pothiers
I received my first case from Vinlådan just before Christmas. This cuvee is made from Gamay and has a young, seedy, fresh nose with notes of cool blackberries, thyme, violets, liquorice and a hint of blueberry yoghurt. Fruity and fine.
The taste is young, clean and medium bodied with notes of blueberries, resin, liquorice and thyme. A medium long, fresh finish with pleasing tannins. Hard blueberry candy. Very good.
88p   (tasted 2013/12)

Merry Christmas!

I have obviously been a good boy since Santa left me this case today for drinking over the holidays!

Merry Christmas to all!

And is there a better way to start Christmas then with a serene version of Silent Night - (after 0:52 you really get in the spirit of the holidays...:-))

A Great Evening With Great Burgundy´s

P invited to a evening with Burgundy´s. Lovely food, stunning wines and new acquaintances - thanks P for a great evening!

Alas, we opened with a bottle of non-Burgundy...
1999 Pol Roger Blanc de Blanc
A fine, elegant, somewhat mature nose with notes of yellow apples. dry caramel, hazel nuts and buckthorn. Very fine. A elegant perfumed note with some time in the glass.
The taste is fine, elegant and dry with lots of yellow apples and notes of dry fudge, buttercup flowers and minerals. A medium long, fine finish. Drinking well now and the coming 5+ years.
91p   (tasted 2013/11)

Flight 1
2007 Saint-Aubin Murgeri des Dents de Chen, Domaine Gerard Thomas
A big, lightly butteru nose with notes of red apples, almond paste and warm gravel. A fine maturity. Very good.
The taste is mature, round and good with notes of red apples, clam shells, almond flakes and gravel. A medium long finish with a tad foursquare acidity. Ends dry and good.
85p   (tasted 2013/11)

2010 Saint-Romain, Alain Gras
This is good! A deep, tight, fresh nose with notes of white peaches, assorted nuts, sea shells, cap gun smoke and a tiny rubbery note. Interesting and intriguing. Very, very good.
The taste is young, tight and fine with yellow apples, sweet lemons, clay and chalk. A tight, fine acidity. Medium long. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2013/11)

2010 Rully La Pulelle, Paul & Marie Jacqueson
A deep, clean nose with notes of yellow apples, almond flakes, dried apricots and chalk. Medium deep. Good.
The taste is good, cleanly made and medium long with notes of lemon peel, elderberries, smoke and some oaky notes. Good but doesn´t seem to catch my interest.
83p   (tasted 2013/11)

Flight 2
2007 Meursault Les Meix Chavaux, Domaine Roulot
This young Meursault has a fine, cool, beautiful nose with notes of lemon cream, mussels, orange peel, hazel nut paste and summer flowers. Very elegant and a little restrained. Still young.
The taste is young, tight and fresh with notes of lemon and lime peel, chalk, mussels and pressed flowers. The acidity is very high and cleans the mouth effectively - a little to effectively on its own, this needs food. For hedonistic drinking, wait another 5+ years.
91p   (tasted 2013/11)

2005 Meursault, Comtes Lafon
This has a more mature appearance on the nose with lovely notes of smoke, yellow apples, sea shells, banana peel and butter cup flowers. Rich and ready. Very, very good.
The taste is big, open and intense with notes of smoky yellow apples, crushed rocks, lemon cream and butter biscuits. The finish is long, warm and sumptuous. Drinking perfect now.
93p   (tasted 2013/11)

2010 Batard-Montrachet, Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard
Aaaaaaah, this more than made up for a corked Coche Dury. The nose is bottomless deep and hauntingly beautiful with notes of cold butter, paint, dried apricots, grilled lemons and some fugde aromas. Pure and really handsome. Great!
The taste is liquefied velvet with a stunning intensity and purity. Lovely notes of grilled lemons, passion fruit, fudge, wet rocks and a tiny smoky note. The acidity is beautiful balanced and the finish goes on forever. Still young of course but ooooh so good even now. In 6+ years time, this will be flirting with perfection.
97p   (tasted 2013/11)

Flight 3
2006 Aloxe-Corton Les Grandes Lollierés, Domaine Maillard
A cool,, somewhat earthy nose with notes of lingonberries, Christmas spices, scorched earth and some bacon fat. Very good.
The taste is young, tight and on the light side of things but exposes a fine lingonberry- and strawberry fruit alongside some notes of earth, leather and meat stock. Good acidity. Very, very good.
88p   (tasted 2013/11)

2005 Beaune Clos du Roy, Domaine Prieur-Brunet
The nose is fine, tight and a little sweet with notes of lingoberry bushes, warm earth, dried strawberries and leather. After a while some dirty aromas appear.
The taste is tight and lean with notes of lingonberries, cherry pips and worn leather. A medium long finish that ends with a bitter twist. A little unbalanced.
78p   (tasted 2013/11)

2008 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Humbert Fréres
A warm, fruity, lean nose with notes of dried strawberries, root vegetables, orange peel and juniper berries. A bit rigid but it has a nice warmth.
The taste is young, tight and warm with notes of strawberries, mushrooms, fried herbs and some woody notes in the finish. Good.
83p   (tasted 2013/11)

Flight 4
2009 Vosne-Romanée Vieilles Vignes, Cecile Tremblay
This young Vosne has a deep, focused and fresh nose with notes of raspberries, eastern spices, leather and forest floor. Light on its feet in a very positive way. Structured. Very, very good.
The taste is young, tight and concentrated with notes of just ripening raspberries, licorice, forest floor and root vegetables. Very well balanced. Long and lingering. This is good!
92p   (tasted 2013/11)

2011 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts, Domaine Dujac
The most interesting and enigmatic wine of the whole evening. This is what I wrote down when I sniffed it - smoked sausages, ginger bread cookies, rust, dried up Coca-Cola, cigarette ashes, mosquitoe spray, smoked fish.... What should one make out of that? Very concentrated. Very young. Would love to taste this again in 10 years time.
The taste is young, very concentrated and focused with notes of smoky red berries, cherry pips, expensive leather, moist forest floor and strawberry ice cream. Very, very long. This I would like to get reunited with...
92p   (tasted 2013/11)

2010 Echezeaux, DRC
A stunningly hedonistic, deep and complex nose with notes of raspberry truffles, parsnips, blood orange peel, black pudding and a perfect autumn forest walk. Just fascinating. Deep and very refined. Still young, but oooooooh so good!
The taste is young, fresh and very intense with notes of sweet raspberries, dark chocolate, moist forest floor, rosehips, Asian spices and new leather. The finish goes on and on and on... This will need another 10+ years to really show off, but you can´t resist this beauty today.
96p   (tasted 2013/11)

A extra bottle was brought by one of the guests. And this was no slouch!
2002 Mazy-Chambertin, Armand Rousseau
This has a semi mature, ripe nose with fine notes of sweet lingonberries, dried strawberries, moist earth, cigar smoke and worn leather. A very fine warmth. Deep and fine.
The taste is semi mature, lovingly sweet, refined and pure with notes of raspberries, licorice, Asian spices, leather and earth. The finish goes of for over a minute with a fine sweetness and structure. Very, very fine. A lovely maturity.
93p   (tasted 2013/11)

More impressions and info here and more pics here.