#09-06, 8.5% abv. Lots of sweet fruit density on the nose and palate here. Good focus on the palate as well, with some nice sweet apple flavours. I think the acidity does come off a touch light, and if anything, I'm not too thrilled that this is developing a bit of creaminess that takes the edge off of the relatively low acidity (for a riesling, which means this still sits in a relatively high-acid category). I suppose what I'm saying is that the sugar and fruit seems to be dominating over the remaining acidity. Still, this is in a good place right now and makes for a pretty damn tasty bottle of Spatlese nonetheless. It will be interesting to see how this one changes as a few more years pass.
Very pale colour. A very primary nose of super juicy and fresh raspberries, roses, and a fresh sawdust note. The palate has the same juiciness and freshness, with lots of acidity. There's almost something that evokes a Jura red here from all the lightness. This definitely isn't as sweet and fruity as the primary-ness would lead me to think, but I'll be damned if this isn't a great, easy-drinking wine.
I'm an idiot. Despite having wrote a note about this half a year ago, reminding me to age this, I accidentally pulled it and opened it. Oh well. Lots of ripe black fruit (blackberries) on the nose, but the alcohol is a bit present on the nose. There's a fair bit of earthy funk as well, which in my book is a big plus. No signs of animale though. The palate has a medium-octane quality about it. It's definitely quite fruit-forward and big, but there's sufficient acidity here to keep this from being a RP100-pointer (and I mean that with the highest praise to the wine, and equally pejoratively towards the Parker school). Perhaps this is a tad underripe? The tannins are surprisingly light too...
I think this might be my first Sagrantino. Interesting stuff. A high-toned nose of balsamic, sweet black and red fruit, and a touch of cedar as well. There's a fair bit of acidity on the palate, which I found surprising, given the heat of 2003 (I'm pretty sure I notate this on every 2003 European wine that isn't jammy, even though there are many examples of these). In any case, the palate does come off a bit raisiny, but I'm not sure if that's just the grape or the vintage. There's a massive wall of tannin, and I think time will still help resolve that. I'd certainly be interested in trying this wine in a "better" vintage to see what it's like.
There's a fair bit of resemblance to the Andre Clouet rose in this bottle. Dare I say that it's the Bouzy terroir showing through? I have a hard time pinpointing exactly what it is, but some similar elements are the very prominent cranberry note, with just a hint of the requisite bitterness, as well as a very chalky texture. On top of those elements, there are some very pleasant sweet strawberry components -- this comes off quite round, though sweet this is not. I think it's just that this is a plumper rose, with some more fruit.
Disgorged October 2012. For a solera wine, I found this a bit lacking in the oxidative components. Nor does this have the same fresh zippiness in a bottle of the Bereche brut. I think it's stuck in a bit of an awkward place right now, with the solera still being a bit too young. This has a bit of fresh acidity still, and some nascent baked apple notes (which I associate often with oxidation). It's clear that the material here is fantastic, but again, it needs to pick a direction and run with it. This strikes me as a bit unfocussed at the moment, but I am looking forward to future releases of this solera with anticipation.
2005 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese 90 Points
Germany, Nahe
#09-06, 8.5% abv. Lots of sweet fruit density on the nose and palate here. Good focus on the palate as well, with some nice sweet apple flavours. I think the acidity does come off a touch light, and if anything, I'm not too thrilled that this is developing a bit of creaminess that takes the edge off of the relatively low acidity (for a riesling, which means this still sits in a relatively high-acid category). I suppose what I'm saying is that the sugar and fruit seems to be dominating over the remaining acidity. Still, this is in a good place right now and makes for a pretty damn tasty bottle of Spatlese nonetheless. It will be interesting to see how this one changes as a few more years pass.
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2013 Dirty and Rowdy Mourvèdre FAMILIAR 90 Points
USA, California
Very pale colour. A very primary nose of super juicy and fresh raspberries, roses, and a fresh sawdust note. The palate has the same juiciness and freshness, with lots of acidity. There's almost something that evokes a Jura red here from all the lightness. This definitely isn't as sweet and fruity as the primary-ness would lead me to think, but I'll be damned if this isn't a great, easy-drinking wine.
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2011 Gramercy Cellars The Third Man 90 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
I'm an idiot. Despite having wrote a note about this half a year ago, reminding me to age this, I accidentally pulled it and opened it. Oh well. Lots of ripe black fruit (blackberries) on the nose, but the alcohol is a bit present on the nose. There's a fair bit of earthy funk as well, which in my book is a big plus. No signs of animale though. The palate has a medium-octane quality about it. It's definitely quite fruit-forward and big, but there's sufficient acidity here to keep this from being a RP100-pointer (and I mean that with the highest praise to the wine, and equally pejoratively towards the Parker school). Perhaps this is a tad underripe? The tannins are surprisingly light too...
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2003 Arnaldo-Caprai Montefalco Sagrantino Collepiano 88 Points
Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino
I think this might be my first Sagrantino. Interesting stuff. A high-toned nose of balsamic, sweet black and red fruit, and a touch of cedar as well. There's a fair bit of acidity on the palate, which I found surprising, given the heat of 2003 (I'm pretty sure I notate this on every 2003 European wine that isn't jammy, even though there are many examples of these). In any case, the palate does come off a bit raisiny, but I'm not sure if that's just the grape or the vintage. There's a massive wall of tannin, and I think time will still help resolve that. I'd certainly be interested in trying this wine in a "better" vintage to see what it's like.
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NV Camille Savès Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé 90 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
There's a fair bit of resemblance to the Andre Clouet rose in this bottle. Dare I say that it's the Bouzy terroir showing through? I have a hard time pinpointing exactly what it is, but some similar elements are the very prominent cranberry note, with just a hint of the requisite bitterness, as well as a very chalky texture. On top of those elements, there are some very pleasant sweet strawberry components -- this comes off quite round, though sweet this is not. I think it's just that this is a plumper rose, with some more fruit.
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NV Bérêche et Fils Champagne Reflet d'Antan 90 Points
France, Champagne
Disgorged October 2012. For a solera wine, I found this a bit lacking in the oxidative components. Nor does this have the same fresh zippiness in a bottle of the Bereche brut. I think it's stuck in a bit of an awkward place right now, with the solera still being a bit too young. This has a bit of fresh acidity still, and some nascent baked apple notes (which I associate often with oxidation). It's clear that the material here is fantastic, but again, it needs to pick a direction and run with it. This strikes me as a bit unfocussed at the moment, but I am looking forward to future releases of this solera with anticipation.
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