New Year's Eve, 2019 Pokai Parera
Pokai Parera, Ekatahuna, New Zealand
Tasted Monday, December 31, 2018 by Marc with 229 views
Introduction
Prawn and pineapple salsa
Crab and egg nori rolls
Crayfish ravioli with yuzu butter
Roast venison with porcini potatoes
Cheeses
Strawberry and fennel granita
Raspberries and blueberries with sabayon
NV Veuve Clicquot Champagne Extra Brut Extra Old 91 Points
France, Champagne
Gentle, frothy texture. Light on its feet, but possesses a wonderful balance between freshness and aged nuance. Subtle wine, no hard edges, very refined. Perhaps lacks a little intensity, and layers of flavour in the middle, but it is completely convincing in its smooth as silk style. Great wine to start start a meal.
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
1996 Duval-Leroy Champagne Femme de Champagne 93 Points
France, Champagne
Intense wine with very high and defined acid levels. These acids give the wine fabulous definition, and the intensity of the fruit certainly stands up to the structure. While there is plenty of bottle age, this wine remains fresh and interesting. Slight hint of strawberry on the nose, possibly on account of the 100% Pinot Noir cepage. The fruit may be slightly past its peak, but overall, this is complex, complete and refreshing.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2000 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc De L'Orée 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Rich, soft, and certainly oxidative. Paired with a lobster ravioli in a yuzu-butter sauce, this was a first-rate match. On its own (and served a little too warm), it lacks a slight amount of focus. Unlike the extraordinary Le Meal 2000, this wine feels ready, or even slightly past its peak. If served cooler, I believe the focus of the wine would have improved. Warm honeysuckle notes, walnuts, and green herbs mingle in a classic (older school) Hermitage style. The wine is unlikely to improve.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2001 Château Quinault L'Enclos 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
The first of a brilliant flight of 2001 Bordeaux wines, this was the essence of Merlot. Leather, cedar, dark plums, feathery tannins. A warm bouquet is followed by a broad entry that becomes more intense and focused in the mid palate. This is a gentle wine (drinking perfectly now) that is complete, complex and delicious. Softly layered mid midpalate that invites another sip!
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2001 Château Pape Clément 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Intense Cabernet - dominant wine, that is drinking really well, in a slightly herbal style. Intense currants, and earthy notes lead to an intense and beautifully delineated finish. Beautiful feathery tennis combine with a clear and pointed acid structure. The warm texture and soft, mellow and ripe mouthfeel of the wine are special features of this excellent 2001.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2001 Château Cos d'Estournel 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
The third Bordeaux tasted in a wonderful flight of 2001s. This was easily the finest wine of the thee outstanding wines. While the Cos is drinking really well right now (like the other 2001s), it certainly feels younger that the other two wine. The Cos shares a feathery texture and an approachable texture with the other wines, but adds more layers to the classic Cabernet notes. It also has a greater sense of vibrancy than the other two wines, that provided a lift to the palate. Drinks like a great vintage Cos at its peak.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
1999 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon 86 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Drunk after a flight of 2001 Bordeaux, this came across as very monolithic, ripe, confectionary and sweet. The nose has some pretty rose and floral aspects and black doris plum fruit, but the overall impression is one of (very sweet, new world) cabernet with lashings of new (and sweet) French oak. The Darioush has aged, but has not really developed, and has certainly not transformed. On the other hand, it feels considerably younger that the 2001 Bordeauxs. The structure of the wine is really new-world, and simple. The dimension and ripeness of the wine is impressive, but the overall effect is not very layered. It is a very tasty wine, and for its style, it is excellent. If paired with a grilled steak on a BBQ, the personality of this wine would be met with greater favour that I am suggesting.... One wonders of the wine will transform with age, or is this style best drunk close to release?
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchère 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
Stunning Puligny-Montrachet - classy hazelnut, vanilla, and mealy notes are impeccably matched by its gorgeous fruit intensity and power. slightly smokey, indicating some char on the barrels. Slightly lemon - this would be a great fish wine. Bright acids lend a lip-smacking aspect to the palate. Intense wine with perfectly modulated back palate. This is solid in feel, but lithe, focused and classy. This will improve. 92+
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2005 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux 1ère Trie Clos du Bourg 93 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Gorgeous wine, that is developing exceptionally well. Very ripe peach notes, opulent sweet mouthfeel (80.9 grams per litre), intense acids add fabulous definition. I wouldn't call this a baby, as there is certainly plenty of bottle age complexity around, I have no doubt that this will continue to develop for decades (in a cold cellar). Served with cheese - not sure if that would be ideal. I think seared Fois Gras with caramelised apples, or something along those lines would be a happier match (or a creamy blue cheese)...
Read 2 Comments / Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue