Zurich Supper Club Rides Again...in London (CVA, Andrew, Paolo...missing Benoit...)

Another great evening, CVA hosting us at 67 Pall Mall. Great flight of wines from the old and new world - range of vintages and styles made it hard to pick a favorite...

• 2011 Weingut Clemens Busch Marienburg Rothenpfad Riesling Großes Gewächs 92 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  First wine of the evening, CVA brought this one, introduced the group the wine at the last dinner. Had been open a bit prior to my arrival, nicely chilled.
  
  Medium straw/gold color. Nose was crisp and lean, green apple, minerals, white flowers. Palate showing orchard fruits, apricot, citrus lemon. Crisp and dry through the mid palate, showing nice secondary notes. Medium weight and finish.
  
  Great aperitif, refreshing lead in to a big evening of red wines. Impressive wine with a number of years ahead of it.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1958 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva Cannubi 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  This bottle generously contributed by CVA. A recent purchase from a collector has left him with some gems like this bottle, perfectly stored. Cork came out clean, in good shape. Wine decanted and drank over the course of 2 hours.
  
  Dark garnet color, a slight bit of browning. If you asked me to guess age on the color I would have said vintage was mid 70s...Plate showing dusted cherry fruits, smoke along with classic "tar and roses" profile. As the wine opened it started to show layered nots of caramel and creme brulee on the mid palate.
  
  What can be said about a 60 year old wine that is still this good...one fun fact is we noted the cork was shorter than modern corks. They used shorter corks at this time to save money as it was viewed the wines would be consumed within 10 years, longer corks wouldn't be necessary. Whatever they did worked. A real experience to drink a wine like this - hard to put a score on it as I have no tasting experience with Barolos this old...scoring is based on wine and uniqueness alone. Still has life and well stored bottles probably can go further.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1969 Penfolds Grange 94 Points

  Australia, South Australia

  A generous contribution from Andrew, our go-to source for aged Grange in this group. He has sources with impeccable bottles with great provenance, hard to find anywhere in the world like this...cork came out clean, decanted and drank over the course of the evening.
  
  Medium ruby/garnet, some bricking on the edges. Expressive and distinct nose: aged red fruits, leather, cedar. Palate showing dusted black cherry, earth, cedar, and coffee. Showed some caramel on mid palate and through the finish, along with classic Grange leather.. Medium weight and long finish - especially given the age of this bottle
  
  A real treat to drink this wine, well aged Grange seems almost timeless and never confused with other wines. Pretty impressive wine approaching its 50th b-day...wine drank well for the first hour plus, peaked and rolled over about 90 minutes in.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1989 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins 95 Points

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

  This one contributed by CVA, a nice interlude with CdP between the old Barolo and Grange before getting the Calif Cab. Decanted for about 90 minutes prior to drinking.
  
  Medium core color, mild separation at the edges. Nose a bit reticent , started with animal notes, mushrooms...dusted red fruits underneath. Palate showing aged red fruits, plums, licorice, baking spice, pepper, cardamon (?) and garrigue. Fruit still very expressive spices were really showing through on mid palate...a lot going on here.
  
  Nicely aged and in its zone, should drink at this level for a while but I dont think it improves much. A great CdP from a great vintage, in its zone right now. The decant/air time here helped the bottle show better (IMO)

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2005 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  One of my contributions for the evening, drank next to 2008 VHR as the California flight. Decanted and rebottled prior to coming to the restaurant, was open about 2 hours prior to drinking.
  
  Youthful, bright ruby color. Rich nose showing dark berries, medicinal notes (in a good way...), expressive and primary. Palate was black cherry, blue fruits, some (brambly?) blackberry, cocoa powder, mineral notes. Still a concentrated and rich wine, showing secondary notes of blue fruits and oak through the mid palate. Full bodied, long finish.
  
  Really great showing on this evening (maybe WOTN for one of our group). The RP 100 points on this wine had expectations high - it was good but I wouldn't score this bottle as perfect. Really well made - great now, likely has another 15+ years in it....

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch 98 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  One of my contributions for the evening, drank next to 2005 Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan as the California flight. Decanted and rebottled prior to coming to the restaurant, was open about 2 hours prior to drinking. A sentimental favorite, had my 08s lost in a "cellar accident", these bottles were purchased directly from Bruce Phillips (a gracious offer..) as replacements. Good to open this bottle with a great group of friends.
  
  Dark ruby color. Elegant and expressive nose of dark fruits, cassis, graphite. Palate showing black raspberry, plum, pine/forest floor, herbs, licorice. Silky texture, secondary notes of mocha. Tannins are smoothed. Full bodied, long finish.
  
  Classic California Cab, as good as it gets...I have waited on these bottles as VHR (in my experience) is tannic in its youth, the age has softend the wine as expected. This was the inaugural vintage, one can speculate they are going to keep getting better over time. At 10 years old, this is great, will go 20+ years if wanting to cellar. WOTN for some in our group - our London somms loved this...not may bottles of VHR make it to Europe...

  Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Colgin Syrah IX Estate 98 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  One of my contributions for the evening, nice wine to finish a big night. Its been a few years since last bottle - Colgin Syrah one of the best American Rhone/Syrah wines made (IMO), fun to drink with this group to get reactions from an experienced wine group. Decanted and re-bottled prior to coming to the restaurant, had been open about 2+ hours prior to drinking.
  
  Bright ruby color, vibrant core, no real sign of age. Wild and exotic syrah nose of blue fruits, crushed stone, lavender, violets and smoke. Big palate showing black cherry, blueberry liqueur, savory meats, olive, pine resin and earth. Full body, 45 second finish.
  
  I would describe this wine as both "elegant and savage', showing what syrah can do when well made. A real "wow" factor on this evening. Has aged nicely but would say its still young at 10 years old, should be going strong for some time and continue to evolve. Our London somms were impressed, in contention for WOTN against some strong competition

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue