Weekly tasting group #169; South Africa vs France

@ The factory by MN
Tasted Monday, June 1, 2015 by Zweder with 470 views

Introduction

We knew the theme, but all wines were tasted blind.

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • 2010 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay 90 Points

    South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

    Beautiful ripe yellow fruits like banana and peach in the bouquet, some honey and a good dose of oak as well. On the palate yellow fruits like pineapple and ripe sweet apples, a firm amount of acidity, grapefruit bitterness and oaky flavors. Excellent new world wine. Ready now and the next few years.

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  • 2011 Marc Colin et Fils Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly Blanc 89 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru

    Not so very expressive bouquet with white fruits, minerals and grasses. On the palate an elegant wine with white fruits, minerals, a touch of sweetness but also firm citrus acidity and bitterness. Ready now and the next few years.

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Flight 2 (2 Notes)

Flight 3 (2 Notes)

  • 2012 Mullineux Syrah 89 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland

    Beautiful bouquet with dark forest fruits, cherries, sweet spices and beautiful oak. On the palate a sweet start and a bit lactic, cherries and raspberries, a lot of herbs and spices, some licorice and chocolate, good acidity and youthful, round tannin. Firm bitterness in the finish. A bit too young. Probably wise to wait until 2017 and drink it over the 3 years after that.

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  • 2012 Johann Michel Cornas 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

    Dark forest fruits, cherries, chocolate, beautiful oak and some pleasant barnyard in the bouquet. On the palate dark and red berries, a lot of garrigue, beautiful oak, firm but juicy acidity and slightly sticky tannin. The wine is still too young, but my guess is that it will reach early maturity around 2017 and will drink nicely until well into the 2020’s. 89+

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Flight 4 (2 Notes)

  • 2008 La Motte Pierneef Collection Shiraz-Grenache 88 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region, Franschhoek Valley

    Ripe, very ripe red and dark berries in the bouquet. Same on the palate. Some bell pepper, iodine herbs and eucalyptus as well. Mild acidity and slightly sticky tannin. Ready now and the next few years. 87 – 88

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  • 2008 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape 88 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    The bouquet is not so very expressive but shows ripe blackberries, garrigue and smoke. On the palate a somewhat sweet start, ripe red and dark berries and spiciness like nutmeg. Low acidity and mild, round tannin. Ready now and the next few years.

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Flight 5 (2 Notes)

  • 2010 Château Lilian Ladouys 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    In the bouquet dark forest fruits, sweet spices and a good dose of oak. On the palate ripe dark forest fruits, some bell pepper, firm acidity and sticky, drying tannin. The oak is not fully integrated yet. Wait until 2019 or 2020 or a few years longer. The wine did not really impress this evening. 87+

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  • 2008 Meerlust Rubicon 90 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

    Concentrated dark forest fruits like blackberries, licorice and sweet spices in the bouquet. On the palate ripe and sweet dark berries as well. A touch of bell pepper, sweet spices and good oak. Beautiful and harmonious wine. Ready now and the next few years.

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Flight 6 (2 Notes)

  • 2003 Havana Hills Kobus 89 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region

    Ripe red fruits, beautiful oak and some toast in the bouquet. On the palate a lot of sweet and ripe red and black berries, soft spices, coffee and some smoke. Good acidity and creamy round tannin. Ready now, but no real hurry.

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  • 2003 Domaine de Baronarques 89 Points

    France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Limoux

    Beautiful bouquet with black fruits and sweet spices. On the palate creamy and round with good acidity, some chocolate, a pleasant touch of sweetness and round tannin. Beautiful and harmonious wine. Ready now and no real hurry.

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