New Year's Eve in Eketahuna
Tasted Saturday, December 31, 2011 by Marc with 688 views
Introduction
This was the start of 24 hours of tasting (with a few hours off for sleep and a walk!) in rainy and cold Ekatahuna, New Zealand - roughly one hour to the north of Martinborough. It is a small hamlet abutting a mountain range and is rather cold and wet - which makes it a wonderful place for enjoying great wine! Eight of us joined to celebrate the new year with a variety of different wines.
NV Pol Roger Champagne Brut Réserve 90 Points
France, Champagne
This particular bottle was cellared 7-8 years in a very cold cellar. It is biscuity, yeasty, very fresh and has cut. This is excellent stuff which has aged extraordinarily well.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Duval-Leroy Champagne Femme de Champagne 93 Points
France, Champagne
Great wine. Very acid, very mineral, some autolysis. This is old school direct and vibrant champagne. It can stand a lot if age.The major feature of this wine was the freshness which carried well with its bottle age. Really excellent luxury champagne.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 94 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Absolutely fresh. Very lime peel and mineral. Some so2, but overall a very rich example that has impeccable balance and a satiny texture with a focused and round mid palate and a finish that won't quit. This will take many more years without any trouble. Unusual fruit weight on palate for kabinett - lightness and finesse.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Very hazelnut and lemon, high acid, minerality and some oxidation. The mouth is a little disjointed and feels slightly out of balance. This has power and presence but feels as if it's best days were behind it.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2007 Curly Flat Chardonnay 85 Points
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Macedon Ranges
Very new world. Tropical fruit nuance, very creamy oak. Not yet in balance. It is too obvious at the moment. Being under screw capsules makes future evolution difficult to predict.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1997 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Very focused with mineral cherry fruit. Certainly high acid but has excellent cut and fruit weight. This has the potential to improve. This wine shows the roasted character typical of the vintage, but has focus and excellent intensity that suggest further positive evolution is likely.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1999 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir Beaux Frères Vineyard 93 Points
USA, Oregon, Yamhill County
Round fruit, hazelnut nuance beautiful balance and layers. Classically burgundy in style . The table went for burgundy which caused consternation at the table. This is excellent pinot noir of great character that has aged very well.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1997 Louis Jadot Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Domaine Louis Jadot 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
Stemmy character, silky texture. Outstanding wine but felt a little uninvolving for its pedigree. Showed the roasted character of the vintage.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1982 Château Magdelaine 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Faultless wine. Perfect condition, leather, cedar round rich merlot fruit. Velvet texture - brilliant proportion . This wine has improved over the past 20 years. In the past the wine has felt uninvolving. Pulled and poured. Favorite wine of the night for me due to its perfection of maturity, even though the Las Cases 1990 is the "better" wine.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1990 Château Léoville Las Cases 97 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
A stunning wine of great power. This is archetypal medoc - displaying the essence of dark black currant, graphite and toast in a massive slightly monolithic framework. This could well become a perfect wine in 10 - 20 years. Popped and poured and had it had a half day in a decanter it would shown even better. 97+++points.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1997 Vietti Barolo Rocche 94 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Exotic vibrant nose of fresh and dried flowers, tarry and mineral nuance and spirit top notes. Totally involving nose which leads to a very tannic framework that showcases red fruits and roses. This wine is very grippy and will continue to improve over the next 5 years. Popped and poured . lovely restrained hints of violets licorice and tar. The seems a touch sleepy at the moment. Excellent potential.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue