Lot 636047, disgorged October 2022. Extremely pallid colour, to the point it looks like a modestly aged blanc de noirs. But you do get hints of red fruit on the palate; a bit of sweetness gives this breadth on the palate that I quite enjoy. Always been a fan of the Bara SC Rosé -- this bottle is no exception.
The first ever non-CSH grand cru that Trimbach bottled, if memory serves. And it took a while to actually get around to trying it. Fantastic stuff -- drinks like a top-notch German GG (to make the obvious comparison). A bit heady, with plenty of sweet riesling aromatics (lemongrass, etc.) and more yellow fruit on the palate. Shows the correct maturity, but it's a little neither here nor there, having lost its fresh fruit. Best to let this get to a secondary stage at this point.
Crazy wine -- very much sui generis and really appealing if you have a salt kink. The sherry gives this just a bit of sotolon and adds lots of weight here, but you get this crazy salinity throughout that I absolutely adore. There's a slight savagnin ouille thing, as well as some coconut notes, but this is a flavour profile that is really out there. Super compelling.
Solid, but uninspiring. Ticks all the boxes with more of a tilt towards fruit than salinity and chalk, but good breadth on the palate, as you would expect for a grand cru. All in all, feels quite stainless-steel focussed, but there is a bit of waxiness that might actually be from neutral oak.
Didn't really like this -- it had a bit of an oxidative, browning quality that I just couldn't get over. Other than that, most of the expected hallmarks of a Loire white are there -- high acidity and that classic wooliness.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet
Fun to cross paths with this wine again, after tasting it at the Domaine back in February 2020. The warm vintage shows more prominently, and there's a waxiness and oiliness here that has since developed. None too complex, but very much in line with the Moreau style. I would have liked a bit more of an acid kick, or to see this with yet more age.
Despite this having gotten four hours of air before dinner, it just didn't seem to come around. Incredibly hard tannins, despite a softer, perfumed nose with a mix of red and black fruit. Just feels like it's shut down hard right now and not particularly worthwhile to open now. The quality's not up for debate though -- would love to revisit this once it starts resolving.
I liked this bottle more than the previous -- more red fruit, less harsh, and silkier in texture. Plenty of tart and juicy red fruit here, with a pleasant crispness and some large-grained tannins on the finish. Not too complex, but an amply delicious table red.
This is one of the better gamays I've tasted (mind you, this is a massive handicap because I genuinely believe Philip the Bold was right). There is but a very light touch of gamay sucralose, but otherwise this is weighty and drinks like a proper red wine. Dark complexion, leathery, and just a very light hint of barnyard.
Bottled March 16, 2022. Super precise and intense raspberry flavours. In context of all the other beverages on the table tonight, hyper acidic, but in the context of sour beers, this is actually pretty well-balanced. Very fresh and juicy -- I love these fruited Cantillons young.
Only moderate American oak notes here. Black fruit and leather, and only starting to develop secondary characteristics. I quite enjoy the balance here, but knowing how well these wines age this is a wine that will benefit from a few more decades in the cellar.
Hits all the barbera notes but doesn't do much more than that. Admittedly somewhat disappointing, especially after a splendid 2017 a few years ago. Dark fruited, rich, and dense, but it just never gets into the next gear.
2016 Paul Bara Champagne Grand Cru Spécial Club Rosé 93 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Lot 636047, disgorged October 2022. Extremely pallid colour, to the point it looks like a modestly aged blanc de noirs. But you do get hints of red fruit on the palate; a bit of sweetness gives this breadth on the palate that I quite enjoy. Always been a fan of the Bara SC Rosé -- this bottle is no exception.
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2009 Trimbach Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Geisberg 93 Points
France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
The first ever non-CSH grand cru that Trimbach bottled, if memory serves. And it took a while to actually get around to trying it. Fantastic stuff -- drinks like a top-notch German GG (to make the obvious comparison). A bit heady, with plenty of sweet riesling aromatics (lemongrass, etc.) and more yellow fruit on the palate. Shows the correct maturity, but it's a little neither here nor there, having lost its fresh fruit. Best to let this get to a secondary stage at this point.
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2018 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Blanco Seco Reserva 93 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Crazy wine -- very much sui generis and really appealing if you have a salt kink. The sherry gives this just a bit of sotolon and adds lots of weight here, but you get this crazy salinity throughout that I absolutely adore. There's a slight savagnin ouille thing, as well as some coconut notes, but this is a flavour profile that is really out there. Super compelling.
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2020 La Chablisienne Chablis Grand Cru Grenouilles Château Grenouilles 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Solid, but uninspiring. Ticks all the boxes with more of a tilt towards fruit than salinity and chalk, but good breadth on the palate, as you would expect for a grand cru. All in all, feels quite stainless-steel focussed, but there is a bit of waxiness that might actually be from neutral oak.
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2019 Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur Clos Romans 88 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur
Didn't really like this -- it had a bit of an oxidative, browning quality that I just couldn't get over. Other than that, most of the expected hallmarks of a Loire white are there -- high acidity and that classic wooliness.
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2018 Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet
Fun to cross paths with this wine again, after tasting it at the Domaine back in February 2020. The warm vintage shows more prominently, and there's a waxiness and oiliness here that has since developed. None too complex, but very much in line with the Moreau style. I would have liked a bit more of an acid kick, or to see this with yet more age.
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2020 Domaine Jean-Marc / Thomas Bouley Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
Despite this having gotten four hours of air before dinner, it just didn't seem to come around. Incredibly hard tannins, despite a softer, perfumed nose with a mix of red and black fruit. Just feels like it's shut down hard right now and not particularly worthwhile to open now. The quality's not up for debate though -- would love to revisit this once it starts resolving.
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2016 Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet Fixin Les Crais 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Fixin
I liked this bottle more than the previous -- more red fruit, less harsh, and silkier in texture. Plenty of tart and juicy red fruit here, with a pleasant crispness and some large-grained tannins on the finish. Not too complex, but an amply delicious table red.
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2021 Coudert Fleurie Clos de la Roilette Griffe du Marquis 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Fleurie
This is one of the better gamays I've tasted (mind you, this is a massive handicap because I genuinely believe Philip the Bold was right). There is but a very light touch of gamay sucralose, but otherwise this is weighty and drinks like a proper red wine. Dark complexion, leathery, and just a very light hint of barnyard.
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NV Cantillon Brewery Rose de Gambrinus
Belgium, Brussels
Bottled March 16, 2022. Super precise and intense raspberry flavours. In context of all the other beverages on the table tonight, hyper acidic, but in the context of sour beers, this is actually pretty well-balanced. Very fresh and juicy -- I love these fruited Cantillons young.
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2004 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 93 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Only moderate American oak notes here. Black fruit and leather, and only starting to develop secondary characteristics. I quite enjoy the balance here, but knowing how well these wines age this is a wine that will benefit from a few more decades in the cellar.
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2021 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barbera d'Alba 88 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba
Hits all the barbera notes but doesn't do much more than that. Admittedly somewhat disappointing, especially after a splendid 2017 a few years ago. Dark fruited, rich, and dense, but it just never gets into the next gear.
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