LC10. Keeps getting better with air; tightly wound at first but with more air shows layers of fresh fruit, citrus, very faint oxidative nutty notes, yeast, dough, incredibly complex and really compelling to just sit and smell a couple of hours after it's been opened.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Very pretty for the first hour or so, but then it fades to show generic old red wine characteristics. But for the first hour or so this is really lovely with lots of gentle red fruit, earth, traces of tobacco and herbs, very pretty.
Very young, but already quite compelling with a core of anise-streaked red and dark fruit tinged with higher toned herbal and floral notes, and savoury earthy and tarry elements. There's a sense of grace and polish to the palate that makes it very easy to drink, even though there's a sharp tannic bite on the back end.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Lots of bright red and dark fruit here tinged with herbs and a faint savoury earthy element. Loose knit on the back end, and I felt this is lacking a bit in structure. Not sure if this actually has upside, as I found it a bit unfocused and soft on the palate.
Very classic, old school Côte-Rôtie that just kept getting better and better with air. Iron, earth, leather, faint leafy notes, and a core of brined olives and red berried fruit. Polished, graceful, fully mature. Superb. Why can't modern Guigal Côte-Rôtie taste like this?
Doesn't show the strong smoky/petrol notes of previous bottles; the orchard fruit flavours are more intense and youthful here with gentle herbal and mineral accents, and there's a bright acid spine beneath with a vivid mineral undercurrent. Great balance and focus. Love it.
AP #7. Another winner from Grunhaus. Just a fantastic bottle of Riesling, with gentle autumnal pine cone notes, richer citrus, green apple and other tree fruit, minerals, and developing smokiness all coming together. So polished on the palate, great balance, finishing long - absolutely outstanding.
Wow! So much better than the last time I had this... the botrytis now is woven into the fruit, and it's just a seamless combination of fruit, spice, richer honey and marmalade elements, and some savoury smoky notes. Powerful acids beneath, and incredible balance and length. Spectacular wine.
Another rock star showing from this wine. So complex and wild, with an aroma that's an immediate wow, and layers of sage, green mango, herbs, grapefruit, spice, and papaya all coming together seamlessly. Really intense on the palate with powerful acids, amazing cut and focus - this never fails to wow.
There was a strong funky blue cheese-like note here that never really blew off with air and detracted from the other flavours here - beneath are some ripe peachy fruit notes and florality, but it feels a touch soft and doesn't show the depth and character I'd expect from a Christoffel Auslese.
Loved this. A total botrytis bomb with all sorts of ripe tropical fruits, apricots, and candied citrus flavours accented with honey, spices, maturing burnished elements, and a faint vinyl note that blew off with some air. Doesn't have the finesse and refinement of the Auslesen, but this is a lot of fun to drink.
2010 Jérôme Prévost Champagne La Closerie Extra Brut Les Beguines 92 Points
France, Champagne
LC10. Keeps getting better with air; tightly wound at first but with more air shows layers of fresh fruit, citrus, very faint oxidative nutty notes, yeast, dough, incredibly complex and really compelling to just sit and smell a couple of hours after it's been opened.
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1981 Il Colle Brunello di Montalcino 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Very pretty for the first hour or so, but then it fades to show generic old red wine characteristics. But for the first hour or so this is really lovely with lots of gentle red fruit, earth, traces of tobacco and herbs, very pretty.
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2000 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Very young, but already quite compelling with a core of anise-streaked red and dark fruit tinged with higher toned herbal and floral notes, and savoury earthy and tarry elements. There's a sense of grace and polish to the palate that makes it very easy to drink, even though there's a sharp tannic bite on the back end.
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2000 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 88 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Lots of bright red and dark fruit here tinged with herbs and a faint savoury earthy element. Loose knit on the back end, and I felt this is lacking a bit in structure. Not sure if this actually has upside, as I found it a bit unfocused and soft on the palate.
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1988 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Very classic, old school Côte-Rôtie that just kept getting better and better with air. Iron, earth, leather, faint leafy notes, and a core of brined olives and red berried fruit. Polished, graceful, fully mature. Superb. Why can't modern Guigal Côte-Rôtie taste like this?
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1997 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Auslese #9 92 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Doesn't show the strong smoky/petrol notes of previous bottles; the orchard fruit flavours are more intense and youthful here with gentle herbal and mineral accents, and there's a bright acid spine beneath with a vivid mineral undercurrent. Great balance and focus. Love it.
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1997 Von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Auslese 94 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
AP #7. Another winner from Grunhaus. Just a fantastic bottle of Riesling, with gentle autumnal pine cone notes, richer citrus, green apple and other tree fruit, minerals, and developing smokiness all coming together. So polished on the palate, great balance, finishing long - absolutely outstanding.
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1997 Egon Müller/Le Gallais Wiltinger Braune Kupp Riesling Auslese Auction 96 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Wow! So much better than the last time I had this... the botrytis now is woven into the fruit, and it's just a seamless combination of fruit, spice, richer honey and marmalade elements, and some savoury smoky notes. Powerful acids beneath, and incredible balance and length. Spectacular wine.
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2001 Müller-Catoir Haardter Mandelring Scheurebe Spätlese 95 Points
Germany, Pfalz
Another rock star showing from this wine. So complex and wild, with an aroma that's an immediate wow, and layers of sage, green mango, herbs, grapefruit, spice, and papaya all coming together seamlessly. Really intense on the palate with powerful acids, amazing cut and focus - this never fails to wow.
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2002 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese ** 88 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
There was a strong funky blue cheese-like note here that never really blew off with air and detracted from the other flavours here - beneath are some ripe peachy fruit notes and florality, but it feels a touch soft and doesn't show the depth and character I'd expect from a Christoffel Auslese.
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1992 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese 92 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Loved this. A total botrytis bomb with all sorts of ripe tropical fruits, apricots, and candied citrus flavours accented with honey, spices, maturing burnished elements, and a faint vinyl note that blew off with some air. Doesn't have the finesse and refinement of the Auslesen, but this is a lot of fun to drink.
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