Aged in large old oak vats on the fine lees for 22 months, 11.5% ABV. Rich and with lots of leesy complexity, impressive chalky minerality, lemon and lime zest, has real depth and energy in spite of slightly low acidity, slender and racy, intense and elegant, good length. Impressive and very distinctive. Not sure how this will age.
Koshitan rice from Niigata, 70% polished, aged in oak for 18 months. Pale yellow gold; very strong notes of koji mould, smoky, spicy and sweet; the palate is rich (17.2% ABV) and delicately sweet, juicy and with a yeasty kick in the flavours; good length, lots of mould. I really don't know how to rate this and I am not really sure that I am a fan.
Light and relatively slender style, perfectly integrated oak, hint of cream, pepper and eucalyptus, blackberry and ripe cherry, fresh and lively, violets and peaches, good length. The vines are still quite young, and with very sensitive wine- making Hans-Peter Ziereisen has found a lovely balance between intensity and elegance.
Bottled 2016. A nice and rich style of Verdelho, with notes of apricot and barley sugar, spices and nuts, gently sweet, juicy and lively, with ripe but tangy acidity, good length. An elegant and stylish wine.
Bottled 2015. Much intenser and more concentrated than the Barbeito Verdelho 1981 which preceded it, not as fruity though, quite deep and masculine, with wonderfully typical Terrantez austerity on the long but slightly hard finish.
Bottled 2016. Intense and concentrated but not austere or forbidding, hint of lovage from the long oak ageing, caramel and apricot, deep and layered, honey, seashell minerality, just a hint of wood, excellent length. Quite a gentle style for a d'Oliveira of this venerable age.
Museum release. Elegant sweetness, light but with a piercing intensity, floral and fresh, lemon cream, peach, smoky slate, waxy but no TDN, effortless elegance, completely belies its 17 years of age, long and layered finish. Just beautiful.
A blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay. Sweet and juicy with candied fruit, hints of honey and light caramel, flowers and a remarkably intricate nutty complexity, intense but very elegant palate, touch of lowland whisky on the finish. Delightful.
NV Eric Rodez Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Very rich style, lots of red apple fruit and spice, but tightly worked around a firm mineral core, wonderfully intense flavours, excellent length.
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2012 Ziereisen Gutedel Steingrüble 91 Points
Germany, Baden
Aged in large old oak vats on the fine lees for 22 months, 11.5% ABV. Rich and with lots of leesy complexity, impressive chalky minerality, lemon and lime zest, has real depth and energy in spite of slightly low acidity, slender and racy, intense and elegant, good length. Impressive and very distinctive. Not sure how this will age.
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2013 Kaetsu Kirin Junmai Vintage 2013
Japan, Chūbu, Niigata
Koshitan rice from Niigata, 70% polished, aged in oak for 18 months. Pale yellow gold; very strong notes of koji mould, smoky, spicy and sweet; the palate is rich (17.2% ABV) and delicately sweet, juicy and with a yeasty kick in the flavours; good length, lots of mould. I really don't know how to rate this and I am not really sure that I am a fan.
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2012 Ziereisen Syrah Gestad 90 Points
Germany, Baden
Light and relatively slender style, perfectly integrated oak, hint of cream, pepper and eucalyptus, blackberry and ripe cherry, fresh and lively, violets and peaches, good length. The vines are still quite young, and with very sensitive wine- making Hans-Peter Ziereisen has found a lovely balance between intensity and elegance.
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1981 Barbeito Madeira Verdelho 93 Points
Portugal, Madeira
Bottled 2016. A nice and rich style of Verdelho, with notes of apricot and barley sugar, spices and nuts, gently sweet, juicy and lively, with ripe but tangy acidity, good length. An elegant and stylish wine.
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1977 D'Oliveiras Madeira Terrantez 93 Points
Portugal, Madeira
Bottled 2015. Much intenser and more concentrated than the Barbeito Verdelho 1981 which preceded it, not as fruity though, quite deep and masculine, with wonderfully typical Terrantez austerity on the long but slightly hard finish.
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1908 D'Oliveiras Madeira Boal Reserva 94 Points
Portugal, Madeira
Bottled 2016. Intense and concentrated but not austere or forbidding, hint of lovage from the long oak ageing, caramel and apricot, deep and layered, honey, seashell minerality, just a hint of wood, excellent length. Quite a gentle style for a d'Oliveira of this venerable age.
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1999 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spätlese 92 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Museum release. Elegant sweetness, light but with a piercing intensity, floral and fresh, lemon cream, peach, smoky slate, waxy but no TDN, effortless elegance, completely belies its 17 years of age, long and layered finish. Just beautiful.
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NV Henri Giraud Ratafia de Champagne 92 Points
France, Champagne, Ratafia de Champagne
A blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay. Sweet and juicy with candied fruit, hints of honey and light caramel, flowers and a remarkably intricate nutty complexity, intense but very elegant palate, touch of lowland whisky on the finish. Delightful.
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