MM’s belayed birthday; a mixed set of whites, reds, and sweet wines.

All wines were tasted fully blind.

• N.V. Vincent d'Astrée Champagne Brut Zéro - France, Champagne
  The bouquet shows brioche, chalky minerals, apples, citrus, nuts and toast. On the palate green apples, citrus, a lot of chalky minerals, nuts, grapefruit and slightly oxidized impressions. A bit special because it is a 100% Pinot Meunier. (87 pts.)
• N.V. Gebrüder Simon Riesling Brut - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
  In the bouquet ripe apples and candy flavors. On the palate a bit aromatic with ripe apple, peach and candy flavors, some lime and lemon, a touch of sweetness and fresh acidity. Ok bubble. (86 pts.)

• 1991 Mathern Niederhäuser Rosenberg Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Nahe
  Golden yellow. In the bouquet apricots, yellow peach, ripe apples, honey and some minerals and smoke. On the palate caramel, honey, apples, cinnamon, currants and tea. Off dry and a bit oxidized. Mild acidity. Quite mature. No score.
• 2007 Nicolas Joly Clos de la Coulée de Serrant - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières-Coulée de Serrant
  In the bouquet honey, caramel, butterscotch and coffee. On the palate honey, a lot of oxidized impressions and a firm amount of bitterness. Very tasty and very special. The heat in the finish is a bit too much. No score.

• 2005 Domaine Jean-Marc Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs-Gain Rouge - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
  Mature bouquet with some oak, earth, licorice and cinnamon. On the palate mature, still some cassis, vanilla, earth, mushrooms and autumn impressions. Still juicy, but also drying tannin and some bitterness in the finish. Ready now and the next few years. (88 pts.)
• 2004 Domaine François Gerbet Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Petits Monts - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
  The bouquet shows some barnyard and mature impressions. On the palate dark fruits like cassis, blackberries and cherries. Some chocolate, coffee and toast. Firm acidity, sticky, drying tannin and bitterness. A bit out of balance, but to be positive; still juicy. (87 pts.)

• 1998 Château Citran - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
  In the bouquet metal, cherry and earth. On the palate a mature wine with earth, green herbs and green bell pepper. There is ok acidity with good freshness and melted tannin. Overall an ok and still pleasurable, quite mature and basic (plus) wine. Drink now or very soon. (86 pts.)
• 2007 Tenuta Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  In the bouquet lovage, caramel, leather, coffee and chocolate. On the palate red berries and cherries, some herbs and spices and smoke, firm acidity. Round tannin. Quite mature and not sure if this bottle has been properly stored. No score.

• 2006 Ca' Marcanda (Gaja) Magari - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
  Beautiful bouquet with dark berries, plums, smoke, tobacco, some toast and a touch of pleasant barnyard. On the palate dark berries, chocolate, autumn impressions, toast, pleasant acidity and beautifully round tannin. A complex and luxurious wine and completely ready now, but no hurry. (92 pts.)
• 2007 De Toren Fusion V - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
  Consistent with last year's note. Beautiful wine which is ready now and still has a future of a few years. (90 pts.)

• 1993 Mathern Niederhäuser Rosenberg Riesling Auslese - Germany, Nahe
  Beautiful bouquet with petrol, honey and yellow tropical fruits. On the palate apricots, orange peel, tangerine, honey and some mint. Beautiful balance between acidity and sweetness. Good length. Elegant wine. (89 pts.)

• 1963 Domaine Gorges du Soleil Rivesaltes - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Rivesaltes
  In the bouquet currants and raisins. On the palate chocolate, raisins, pleasant sweetness and remarkably fresh acidity. Beautiful and elegant wine. (91 pts.)
• 1963 Kopke Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto
  Beautiful bouquet with currants, raisins and nutty flavors. On the palate a firm amount of sweetness, raisins, chocolate, pleasant acidity. Good length. Well balanced and very clean. Beautiful Port wine. (93 pts.)