Tuesday Wine Night - Free Style

An interesting mix of 3 white wines and 2 red wines.

• 2008 Domaine Bernard Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet Reserve 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Appearance is clear, pale intensity, lemon colour.
  Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of fresh flinty minerality.
  On the palate, high crisp acidity, medium body, long finish. Flavours of tons of flinty minerality, lemons combined with a bit of oak influence, and a hint of creaminess, all coming together to give quite a rounded mouth-feel. Very fresh and elegant.
  From the producer's website:
  "The grapes come from one of the oldest vineyards, planted in 1955 by Bernard Defaix and exceptionally well exposed to the sun. This “cuvée” is partially fermented in oak barrels. Half of the wine is fermented in barrels and remains for 12 months on fine lees with regular "batonnage". After tasting, this wine aged in barrels is blended with the same“cuvée” that has been aged in stainless steel tanks. The final blend is bottled 18 months after the harvest."
  Now I know why there is oak influence and a touch of creaminess.

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• 2012 Michele Chiarlo Gavi Rovereto 86 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Gavi

  Appearance is clear, pale intensity, lemon colour.
  Nose is clean, medium- intensity, with slight aromas of grass and fresh hay.
  On the palate, medium acidity, medium body, medium finish. I felt that other than a touch of lime, this was generally lacking in fruitiness, resulting in a hollow mid-palate. A bit of an oily/waxy mouth-feel, and a bitter taste towards the finish.

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• 2006 Hermanos Pérez Pascuas Ribera del Duero Viña Pedrosa 93 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  Tasted blind.
  Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour.
  Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of sweet vanilla oak.
  On the palate, medium acidity, silky smooth tannins, medium finish, with flavours of plush dark fruits, some milkiness, and a bit of tobacco. Very well integrated.
  I guessed a 10 year old Italian Merlot. This is a nice Ribera del Duero. Interestingly labeled as "Red Table Wine" only.

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• 2009 Giacomo Conterno Barbera d'Alba Cascina Francia 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba

  Poured through Vinturi and left to air in decanter for an hour.
  Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purple colour.
  Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of fresh flowers and perfume. Very much like a Northern Rhone wine floral scent.
  On the palate, high acidity, low tannins, full body, long finish. Lots of black fruits, cherries, and later on with more air, developed licorice and leather flavours. Hardly felt the 15% alcohol.
  Conclusion was that it could be better in about 3-5 years' time.

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• 2009 Garofoli Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Podium 91 Points

  Italy, Marche, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore

  Appearance is clear, pale intensity, lemon colour.
  Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of citrus fruits and minerals.
  On the palate, medium+ acidity, full heavy-weight body, and a long finish. Flavours of lemon, stone fruits also, and saline minerality, Mouth-feel is somehow a little fizzy also, which could possibly be due to carbonic maceration? Slight bitter taste towards the finish.
  Good structure will see this wine do well with more age.

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Having limited experience with Italian white varietals previously, this was truly another educational night.