Hawker night at Caroline's
Tasted Saturday, March 9, 2024 by melvinyeowq with 59 views
Introduction
Great party as usual at Caroline's with home-made hawker dishes of prawn mee, braised pork rice, and char kuay teow (stir-fried rice noodles). Theme was grower Champagne > 10 years, and Rhone > 15 years.
2013 Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Les Mottelettes 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Brought for a friend. Was in two minds about opening this given that previous notes said that this was not showing at the moment, but thought this was approachable albeit with the tautness of 2013s. Not the most refined champagne, but liked the zesty, energetic nature of this.
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NV Alexandre Filaine Champagne Cuvée Spéciale 89 Points
France, Champagne
Normally a big fan but this was a miss for me, some funkiness and wooliness on the nose that I did not enjoy.
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2013 Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Blanc de Noirs Cote de Bechalin 92 Points
France, Champagne
Brought for a friend. Clean, precise red apple fruit, but a little strict and austere at the moment. Very tightly-wound so would recommend a decant or leaving it for a few more years.
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2012 Roger Pouillon et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Les Blanchiens 93 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Guessed this to be a Chardonnay-dominant blend from a warmer vintage like 2012. Broad-shouldered with a creamy texture, but with tensile citrus fruit. Well-balanced and enjoyable.
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2006 Pierre Moncuit Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Nicole Moncuit Vieille Vigne 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Very generous, expressive citrus and slight bruised apple fruit. Rich, toasty brioche and an opulent 2006 as usual without being flabby.
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2007 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Nicolas François 91 Points
France, Champagne
Less coarse than the last time I had this, but still anaemic and dominated by the acidity compared to the more well-rounded '02 and '00.
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2000 Ployez-Jacquemart Champagne Liesse d'Harbonville 91 Points
France, Champagne
Golden in colour, rich and nutty champagne in the old-school style. Felt like it was losing acidity so better to drink up.
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2009 Ployez-Jacquemart Champagne Extra Brut Vintage 91 Points
France, Champagne
Fresh, driven red apple fruit. Still very youthful compared to the 2000 Liesse d'Harbonville alongside.
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2008 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Meursault Les Tillets 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault
Brought for the host/chef who loves whites. Oily, waxy texture with buttery notes, the heavy oak use gave the wine a large frame that I wasn't sure if the quality of fruit was able to carry. An example of a white Burgundy from another era.
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1996 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 89 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Still quite acidic and tannic with warm roasted fruit so guessed 2003 Hermitage. A rather plodding wine.
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1999 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Le Gréal 90 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
A little disappointed by this for a vaunted maker and vintage, thought this was a southern Rhone. Dense and powerful dark red fruit, had an oak signature of a modern maker with some coffee and mocha notes.
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1983 E. Guigal Hermitage 94 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Brought for a friend. My third and best bottle for this vintage so far, so fresh that most people guessed 2010s for this. Similar impressions except this was more youthful, had a primary nose with a beautifully balanced palate of dark red and brambly fruit.
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1991 E. Guigal Hermitage 88 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
My contribution. Not the best showing for this today, too tannic and alcoholic.
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2000 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette Reserve 95 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
Wow my first instinct was a Jamet with some age. Silky, dark red fruit with a hint of coffee notes, but when it was revealed to be a southern Rhone I said it had to be a Rayas-family wine. Guessed '98 or '01 Fonsalette because I didn't think the des Tours range had the structure to age so well. Loved the minerality here, which isn't something I come across in reds. Absolutely superb and probably the first time I've been wowed by a wine from the Rayas stable (not that I had many). Reading previous notes, seems like there is a huge bottle variation (as usual), so YMMV.
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1996 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Brought for the host. Wasn't expecting much since aged CDPs can be a crapshoot, but was pleasantly surprised at how fresh this was. Clean nose, slightly plummy but vibrant blackcurrant fruit, tannins were resolved but still had a very good backbone.
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2006 Robert Michel Cornas Cuvée des Coteaux 93 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
Brought for a friend. Similar to my impressions four years ago but more open for business. Sweet red cherry fruit without any game that led some to guess CDP which was fair. Lovely restraint and silkiness on the palate.
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1997 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis 89 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Think Guigal went over to the dark side by this period, and the quality of fruit in this cuvee wasn't what it was already. Overripe fruit with an obvious oak signature, rather generic and soulless.
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2004 Domaine Jacques Tissot Savagnin Flawed
France, Jura, Côtes du Jura
Corked
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2001 Château Rieussec 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Apricot, marmalade and crème brulee. I always find Rieussecs solid, if unspectacular.
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