The fill level was good, 3cm ullage, with slight signs of seepage but good color. The cork obviously crumbled on extraction. I was hoping for a unique experience, and maybe even some drinkable wine. Holy shit. This puppy was alive and kicking. There are no signs whatsoever of this tiring - vibrant acidity, a delicious sweetness, the whole package. Definitely deep into dessert wine territory, with a viscous, honeyed mouthfeel. Very reminiscent of hard apple cider, with almost a bit of heat. Carmely complexity. Blind, the group all guessed this to be in the 1980s, and I'd agree. A haunting bottle.
Edit, night 2 after sitting in the vacu-vin'd bottle: Bumping up two points. The heat and simpler apple notes faded away to emphasize a delicious carmel apple orange blossom creaminess, with some tobacco and boatloads of complexity. Phenomenal.
I loved this, but it also didn't live up to its reputation. The single thing holding it back was a bitter oak presence. Once you peel that away, there's a delicious wine here - not too fat, hot or buttery, leesy, with good fruit and acidity. I just hope that oak mellows out.
I'm not a big Alsace fan, but this was good. Gobs and gobs of petrol. It's got that overripe flavor that's typical of the region compared to Germany, but it's pleasant and tasty.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Beautiful nose - dark, creamy and understated. The palate was still fairly tight, but with a nice mouthfeel and very elegant flavors. Not at all what I'd consider a ripe style, but no greenness. I'd wait longer on this one, but it's nice.
Edit: Slightly better two nights later from a corked-up bottle in the fridge. Even better nose - someone dropped a banana in my Rioja! Giving a little more up on the palate, but this thing still isn't anywhere near ready.
Mmm. Warning: this thing was sour, with high-toned vinegar-y acidity. And I didn't mind it a bit. Mouthwatering, with a massive depth of meaty flavor. Polarizing, but delicious.
1949 Moulin Touchais Anjou Blanc 96 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou
The fill level was good, 3cm ullage, with slight signs of seepage but good color. The cork obviously crumbled on extraction. I was hoping for a unique experience, and maybe even some drinkable wine. Holy shit. This puppy was alive and kicking. There are no signs whatsoever of this tiring - vibrant acidity, a delicious sweetness, the whole package. Definitely deep into dessert wine territory, with a viscous, honeyed mouthfeel. Very reminiscent of hard apple cider, with almost a bit of heat. Carmely complexity. Blind, the group all guessed this to be in the 1980s, and I'd agree. A haunting bottle.
Edit, night 2 after sitting in the vacu-vin'd bottle: Bumping up two points. The heat and simpler apple notes faded away to emphasize a delicious carmel apple orange blossom creaminess, with some tobacco and boatloads of complexity. Phenomenal.
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2006 Markko Chardonnay Homage (Reserve) 83 Points
USA, Ohio, Lake Erie
No fruit or body, herbal, very odd.
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2007 Peter Michael Chardonnay Mon Plaisir 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
I loved this, but it also didn't live up to its reputation. The single thing holding it back was a bitter oak presence. Once you peel that away, there's a delicious wine here - not too fat, hot or buttery, leesy, with good fruit and acidity. I just hope that oak mellows out.
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2004 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg 88 Points
France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
I'm not a big Alsace fan, but this was good. Gobs and gobs of petrol. It's got that overripe flavor that's typical of the region compared to Germany, but it's pleasant and tasty.
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1998 Virginie de Valandraud 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Beautiful nose - dark, creamy and understated. The palate was still fairly tight, but with a nice mouthfeel and very elegant flavors. Not at all what I'd consider a ripe style, but no greenness. I'd wait longer on this one, but it's nice.
Edit: Slightly better two nights later from a corked-up bottle in the fridge. Even better nose - someone dropped a banana in my Rioja! Giving a little more up on the palate, but this thing still isn't anywhere near ready.
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1994 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Daddy like. Tons of sausage-y goodness, great mouthfeel, perfect age with that certain something. Yum.
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2006 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
A classic Napa Cab style, done well. Good structure, with definite life left in it. A little closed off, but very tasty.
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2005 Rosenblum Cellars Syrah Reserve Kick Ranch 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Same as before - I like it, but not as much as some of the others. This time it was way more sausage-driven. Tasty, but hot and simple.
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2005 Red Car Syrah Shake Rattle Roll 92 Points
USA, California
Mmm. Warning: this thing was sour, with high-toned vinegar-y acidity. And I didn't mind it a bit. Mouthwatering, with a massive depth of meaty flavor. Polarizing, but delicious.
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