Fantastic new-worlds
Tasted Thursday, July 27, 2023 by melvinyeowq with 97 views
Introduction
New-world theme where the stereotype of big, oaky wines was firmly debunked. These wines surprised me in terms of their balance between power and elegance that I loved. Also helped that most of them were in just the right stage of development. Personal favourites were Caymus, Mount Mary, Leeuwin Estate and Heitz.
2007 Laurent-Perrier Champagne Brut Millésimé 92 Points
France, Champagne
High dosage was evident, this was quite sweet but had high acidity so I thought it might have been a grower with high Chardonnay content. Turned more hedonistic with air. A very open-knit and giving champagne that was very fresh for its age.
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2019 Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Smaragd Setzberg 93 Points
Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau
Brought as an extra to go with the seafood dishes. Lovely zip and acidity, slightly exotic grapefruit and pear notes. Great balance and reconfirmed that I like these Austrian Rieslings on the younger side.
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1989 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
This was superb from the moment that it was popped and poured, so elegant and integrated. Loved the resolved, silky tannins on this. Slightly sweet but cool, restrained fruit from a bygone era. Incredibly well-balanced and very much at its apogee.
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1999 Mount Mary Quintet 94 Points
Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Curiously this presented itself like a Pinot on both the nose and the palate at first. Fresh strawberry and raspberry notes with overt five spice. A classy, silky wine that put on weight with time in the glass. Liked the red-fruited nature that persisted even as some greenness emerged. Still quite youthful and vibrant so plenty left in the tank for this wine.
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1992 Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Art Series 94 Points
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Wow very thankful for a birth year wine. Loved the lush yet subtle dark red fruit that showed an elegant restraint. Some tertiary soy notes. Well-balanced with no hard edges, drinking at its absolute peak.
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2006 Opus One 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
This was clearly from a different era compared to the wines from the 90s. Larger-scaled with unintegrated oak, made in a plummy and more extracted style but with a bell pepper note that was still present. My first Opus so grateful to have tried this, but I suspect that this wine would appeal to others more.
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2011 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
Thought this was much older than it was. Old-school with some earthy notes and dusty tannins. Had the most resemblance to an old-world wine out of the line-up tonight, liked the restraint but did not wow me like the 1999 did.
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2002 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
A big boy kind of wine with powerful, extracted black fruit. Better than the 1999 that I tried previously but this felt unbalanced still, especially next to the Opus which was a better wine in my opinion. Not my kind of wine.
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2008 Aristos Duque d'A Grand Cabernet 84 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley
Slightly strange mint and toothpaste note on the nose and the palate. Similarly black-fruited as the Shafer but cooler given the the higher altitude. Plenty of unintegrated oak, liquorice and the inky, plummy fruit made for a bad combination to me.
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1999 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
My contribution - showed better than the 1991 I brought a couple of months ago. Had a similar restraint and the mint, eucalyptus notes to the last time. Evident power beneath the elegance, this was another beautifully balanced, delicate wine.
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2005 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Estate 91 Points
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
Brought for a friend. A sturdier, darker wine than the Heitz. Quite dense but thought age had done this wine good by reining in the exuberance and scale of the wine. Some mint and eucalyptus notes that bore some similarities to the Heitz.
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