| | Big gathering of wine enthusiasts. 2 whites, 7 reds. - 2007 Didier Dagueneau Buisson Renard - France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, lemon colour.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with a complex melange of aromas - smoky, flint minerality, citrus fruits, and some oily notes.
On the palate, this wine has mouth-watering high acidity, on a full body with flavours of citrus fruits, lemon, lime, stony minerality, slight chalk, and also a vanilla creaminess that I think must be some kind of oak influence. Long finish. Excellent mouth-feel and so well textured and balanced.
I feel myself comparing this with high quality creamy Chardonnays, but with the high acidity of the Sauvignon Blanc providing the extra zing.
Best Sauvignon Blanc I have had so far! I feel so privileged to have drank this. (96 pts.)
- 2011 Domaine Cornu Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Blanc - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, lemon colour.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of butter and dairy cream.
On the palate, medium acidity, medium+ body, with flavours of oak, and a mix of tropical pineapple with peaches. Medium finish.
Quite a good white Bourgogne. (90 pts.)
- 2000 Clos de l'Oratoire - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
From a pop & pour bottle.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with nice strong aromas of dark cherries, oak, and leather.
On the palate, medium- acidity, smooth high tannis, and full body. Flavours of oak, plush dark fruit, plums, cherries, and tertiary notes of earth and leather. Long finish.
Fruits went down after about 2hrs. I think this is already at its peak, no point ageing any more. Drink up. (91 pts.)
- 2000 Réserve de la Comtesse - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Tasted blind.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby going garnet colour.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with massive green herbaceousness. Green bell peppers invading my nostrils.
On the palate, medium acidity, medium tannins, full body. Flavours of green bell peppers that actually became more restrained with more air. Sweeter mouth-feel also with more air. Long finish. I initially thought Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon but this somehow lacks the power. I guessed a French Cab Sauv/Cab Franc blend, or maybe even a pure Cab Franc.
This is one for the herby green fan club. (88 pts.)
- 1997 Bernard Levet Côte-Rôtie - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Popped & poured.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of smoke, leather, and barley.
On the palate, medium acidity, medium+ tannins, full body. Flavours of spices, white pepper, and just a bit of dark fruit. A bit hollow on the mid-palate. Can't tell if the fruit is just sleeping or already faded. Medium+ finish.
Elegant and drinking nicely, but a bit disappointing for a Côte-Rôtie. (89 pts.)
- 1989 Maison Lou Dumont Bourgogne Lea Selection - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne
Tasted blind.
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, ruby colour.
Nose is clean, medium- intensity, with aromas of forest floor and dried leaves.
On the palate, high acidity, light low tannins, medium body. Flavours of bright red fruits, cherries, oak, and spices. Long finish.
Amazing that this can have so much primary fruit left after 25 years! (93 pts.)
- 1999 Paolo Scavino Barolo Carobric - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted blind.
Appearance is clear, deep dark intensity, almost black colour.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of mint, dairy cream and vanilla oak.
On the palate, high acidity, big tannins that still manage to be rounded and supple, and a full body. Flavours of vanilla oak, mint/menthol, dark black cherries, and a slight herby undertone. Great structure. Long finish.
I initially thought this was a big Cab-dominated SuperTuscan without Sangiovese. Subsequently I changed my guess to an American Meritage.
Modern big Barolo. This Barolo still needs many more years show its full potential. I wished it could have been decanted much longer. 92 points for now, with time it should reach 94+. (92 pts.)
- 2007 Arnaldo-Caprai Montefalco Sagrantino Collepiano - Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino
Tasted blind.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purple colour.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with alcoholic vapours, and behind that, aromas of sweet raspberries, licorice, cassis, and oak.
On the palate, high acidity, massive tannins that hit you and may possibly leave some people concussed. Massive full-bodied wine, with a myriad of flavours including blackberry jam, licorice, cassis, smoke, black pepper, spices, oak, and earthiness. Long long finish.
Monster of a wine. Tastes like a blend of all the rich powerful grape varietals. Leave this brute alone for a long time in the cellar. (93 pts.)
- 2005 Cantina Del Farnio Prunideo Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
From a magnum bottle. Popped & poured.
Appearance is clear, medium+ intensity, ruby colour.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of chocolate and red fruits.
On the palate, high acidity, firm high tannins but quite approachable. Full-bodied. Flavours of Sangiovese sour cherries and a bit of leather. Long finish.
Overall, quite like a good Chianti Classico, but doesn't perform much beyond that.
90% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. (89 pts.)
Wine discussions flying all over the room. Another interesting wine night. |
