Post Christmas Tasting

All wines tasted blind.

• 2008 Kanta Riesling Balhannah Vineyard 90 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

  My first Australian Riesling. Thanks to Chris  Egon Müller goes Australia, from blue slate.
  Clear, youthful pale lemon color. Clean, medium- intense nose which was really hard to track. My first guess was Chenin Blanc, my second one Grüner Veltliner. Very restrained, driven by stony mineral, less fruit (yellow stone fruit).
  Dry, with a tiny little “sugar tail”. Medium acidity, alcohol and body. Lean with interesting tension and pressure, never broad or fat, what I had expected. Aromas driven by the must fermentation, very slight hints of petrol. Interesting experience and a very good Riesling. Has potential for further ageing of at least 5+ years.

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• 2007 Didier Dagueneau Silex 92 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé

  My first Silex and what an experience! If somebody asked me before, which grape varieties I would detect blind, Sauvignon Blanc would probably among the very view varietals I can think of. But this wine is a complete different story!
  Clear, medium- lemon/gold color. Clean, medium intense at first quite youthful nose driven by citrus fruit. With a lot of air it developed very beautiful, complex notes of smoke, flint stone and very, very little aromas of green pepper.
  Dry, high- acidity, medium alcohol and body. Very elegant, nothing loud or screaming, driven by the terroir (flint stone), very little fruit, hard to detect as a Sauvignon Blanc. Very interesting wine, quite youthful wine. My only problem with it is it’s lack of length. Compared to the great nose and interesting palate the finish was not that great, long and complex.
  This wine (especially from a Magnum) is really young and has just started to become an adult. It has certainly 5-10 years of further development ahead and may gain some more complexity on the finish. Unfortunately, I will never know, because this was my only bottle…

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• 2005 Claus Preisinger Pinot Noir 89 Points

  Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee

  Clear, pale ruby-garnet color. Very exciting, medium intense developing nose with floral aromas, herbs, little soil and surprisingly also little oak. Hard to pinpoint its origin, but certainly not Burgundy. Very surprised to hear that it is from Austria.
  Dry, with quite some extract sweetness. Medium acidity, body and alcohol (12,5%). Fine grained tannin. Medium+ intense aromas of red fruit, not only strawberries, cacao, oak. Medium finish. Certainly, at its peak without potential of further development.
  Interesting wine though.

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• 2005 Anton Boner-Liechti Blauburgunder Malanser Blauburgunder 85 Points

  Switzerland, Eastern Switzerland, Graubünden, Malans

  Cuvee of 95% Pinot Noir and 5% Syrah, created to have a very long life.
  Clear, medium garnet color. Clean, medium+ intense youthful/developing, rather simple nose: red pepper, rose leaves, reminds me of some German “fungus resistant” red varietal.
  Dry, quite youthful, has potential for ageing, but will not improve. High alcohol (14%).Rather simple and one dimensional, short finish.

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• 2005 Domaine Arlaud Morey St. Denis 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis

  Clear, medium+ ruby color. Clean, developing nose. Lots of red fruit (cherries), very little oak, a bit artificial aromas in my opinion.
  Dry, medium- acidity, medium, fine and ripe tannin. Medium body, 13% abv. Aromas of cherries, iron/blood, very elegant and juicy. Medium length. Good Burgundy at its peak without further potential but it will certainly stay on this level for several years.

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• 2011 Thomas Studach Pinot Noir 92 Points

  Switzerland, Eastern Switzerland, Graubünden, Malans

  Clear, medium ruby/garnet color. Clean, medium intense and developing nose. Very interesting, very aromatic. Smoked meat, soil, not “over oaked” as other German/Swiss Pinots.
  Dry, very elegant and already approachable. Joyful to drink, complex aromas with a lovely mixture of red fruits, spices and herbs that continue on the medium+ finish. Forget about Gantenbein, drink Studach!
  Drinks fine now, but will continue to improve over several years!
  One of the best Swiss Pinot I had so far.

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• 2008 Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay Vendanges Sélectionnées 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay

  Clear, medium ruby, quite youthful color. Clean, at first quite closed and dense nose. With air and time it opens up and reveals very elegant and fine red fruit highlighted with fine oak.
  Dry, medium acidity and fine grained tannin. Medium body (13% abv). Very interesting saltiness, combined with red fruit and herbs. It has lots of tension and pressure on the palate and makes fun to drink. Very straight and quite youthful. Has a bright future and will certainly continue to develop for at least 5+ years. Lovely Burgdundy!

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• 1971 Aldo Olivero Barolo 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  I did not expect much, but the fill level and cork of the bottle was excellent.
  Clear, pale tawny color. Clean medium intense, fully developed nose at the edge of being a bit past peak. I really like this perfume of aged Barolos, its slight morbid charm. Cedar wood, fine tobacco, spices, forest soil.
  Dry but lots of extract sweetness. Acidity and fine grain tannin are still well integrated and not fallen apart. Aromas driven by the tertiary aromas, floral notes, mushrooms, soil, fine oak. They continue on the medium+ finish. What a lovely surprise! No potential for further ageing, drink up now!

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• 2001 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese *** 88 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Clear, pale golden color. Clean, medium intense and fully developed nose with a lot of brown slate and petrol. Yellow fruit is in the background.
  Not as sweet as expected, medium-dry. Low alcohol (7,5% abv). On the palate quite one dimensional. Slate and a few ripe yellow stone fruits. Lacks tension and complexity. Medium- length. Not what I expect from a three star Auslese. Will certainly stay on this level for several years, but I highly doubt that it will gain more depth, length and complexity.

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• 2010 Emilio Rojo Ribeiro 89 Points

  Spain, Galicia, Ribeiro

  Clear, pale golden color. Muted, clean nose, dense, compact, a bit yeasty. Does it need air?
  Bone dry, lacks a bit of acidity and flavor intensity. One can feel its potential, but it is really hidden (at the moment). One can drink it now, but it will stay on this level (and maybe develop and improve) for several more years. At the moment not very interesting or appealing.

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• 2006 Emmanuel Houillon (Maison Pierre Overnoy) Savagnin Arbois Pupillin 92 Points

  France, Jura, Arbois Pupillin

  What an interesting wine! Thanks Tom for the experience!
  Clear, pale amber color. Clean, medium+ intense, fully developed nose. I think you either love it or hate it. Smoke, curry notes, yeast.
  Bone dry, medium acidity, body and alcohol (12,5%). Medium+/pronounced, complex aromas of nuts (walnuts), yeast, sweet-sour curry. Very interesting mix of a good Oloroso Sherry and a Vin Jaune. These aromas linger on and on in the long finish. Special and certainly not for everyone but if you like this style you will definitively love it. Has years of development ahead!

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• 1971 Schloss Eltz Eltviller Langenstück Riesling Auslese

  Germany, Rheingau

  Hazy amber color. Nose past its best with aromas of malt, Sherry. Sugar and acidity are decomposed. Unfortunately past peak. Not rated.

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