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Off the beaten track

Tasted January 12, 2024 by ploher with 77 views

Flight 1 - Assyrtiko from Santorini (2 notes)

White
2019 Sigalas Assyrtiko Santorini Greece, Aegean, Cyclades, Santorini
Good intensity on the nose, savory, spicy and mineral. Some attractive hints of burnt honey like I often experience with Assyrtiko. Quite full bodied on the palate, again with good intensity also on the mid palate. Solid length, savory. Driking well but will live long. 17.5/20
White
2018 Argyros Assyrtiko Cuvée Monsignori Greece, Aegean, Cyclades, Santorini
Great nose here full of bright yellow fruit, hints of smoke, fresh and mineral. Sleek, elegant palate, amazing intensity here, more depth in terms of fruit and texture than the Sigalas tasted next to it. Really unusual length, glues itself tot he palate. Still feels young and should develop further. Amazing stuff. 18+/20

Flight 2 - White Jura (2 notes)

White
2016 Tissot (Bénédicte et Stéphane / André et Mireille) Traminer Arbois France, Jura, Arbois
Oxidative, with lots of peeled potatoes and ripe yellow apples on the intense nose. Sweet-sour on the palate, soft texture; extreme acidity on the finish which is not (yet) fully balanced. Maybe needs some more years to calm down a bit. Good and characterful nonetheless. 16.5+/20
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2018 Tissot (Bénédicte et Stéphane / André et Mireille) Chardonnay Rose Massale France, Jura, Arbois
Very floral on the nose, only slightly oxidative with hints of ripe bananas, but lovely fragranced. Wonderful palate, flavorful, full-bodied, creamy texture, very long and savory on the finish. This will develop into something really special I think down the road. 17.5+/20

Flight 3 - Great white "red wines" (2 notes)

White
2004 Chateau Musar Blanc Lebanon, Bekaa Valley
Mmm what a bouquet; fragrant yellow fruit like mirabelles and melons, honey, fresh mountain herbs, exudes eceptional clarity and calm. Total harmony on the palate, again somehow calm, very complete, perfect balance between sweet fruit, acidity and freshness. Complex, changing and long. 19/20
White
2004 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Very dark color compared to the Musar 2004 tasted next to it. Feels older. But the nose is stunning of course, oranges, kumquats, roasted nuts and the typical LdH „old bookshelf“ aroma. The palate is intense, fruity, has lovely caramelized an nutty flavors. And then the crazy acidity grabs you on the long finish. Gets better and better the longer it sits in the glass. Fantastic. 18.5+/20
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Flight 4 - Loire Cab Franc (2 notes)

Red
2014 Domaine Guion Bourgueil Cuvée Deux Monts France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil
Bright red fruit on the nose like raspberries, almost like a lollipop, with pepper and green paprika. Fine and fresh palate, light to medium body, nice balance, fine tannins on the finish with some slight green, herbacous flavors. Delicious already but will benefit from more time in the cellar. 17+/20
Red
2015 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Clos Guillot France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon
So much darker and more masculine than the Guion tasted next to it, more fruit, more extract, more tannins, more of everything, and I mean that in a positive way. Tobacco, barnyard, leather, dark, ripe fruit, bell pepper, a real character wine. Despite the tannic bite this is drinking well but will hold maybe forever. Amazing showing of this wine. 18+/20
3 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 5 - Bairrada, Baga (2 notes)

Red
2016 Filipa Pato Bairrada Nossa Calcario Tinto Portugal, Beiras, Bairrada
Sweet, dark cherries on nose and palate, great energy, sweet, powerful and fleshy fruit ; the high acidity makes it very juicy; still lots of crispy tannins on the finish. Feels extremely young and shouldn’t be touched for at least 5 more years. But I think the potential here is really great. 18+/20
Red
2015 Niepoort Poeirinho Garrafeira Portugal, Beiras, Bairrada
Hm, seems also a bit closed on the nose. Some caramel here, green pepper and cherries. Also a bit hard to read on the palate. Definitely less powerful and structured than the Nossa Calcario tasted next to it, but nicely balanced. Also too young, but I don’t think this has the build and / or potential of the Nossa. 17/20

Flight 6 - Faugeres (2 notes)

Red
2014 Domaine Léon Barral Faugères Valinière France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Faugères
The nose here is completely stunning grabbing your attention immediately and really doesn’t let it go. Lots of umami, soy sauce, cured meat, crushed, fragrant red berries ; the palate holds everyting the nose promises. Lovely juicy, fleshy fruit, mineral and savory, complex. Really powerful but not heavy at all. Fantastic wine. 18.5+/20
Red
2015 Domaine Binet-Jacquet Faugères Grande Réserve de Schiste France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Faugères
Some natural vibes here on the nose, slightly oxidative, hints of malt beer, red fruit, spicy mineral character. Lovely sweet fruit on the palate, mineral. Super freshness here despite the powerful build. Great wine with an even greater future. 17.5+/20

Flight 7 - Northern Piedmont (2 notes)

Red
2009 Petterino Gattinara Riserva Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Gattinara
Roses, tar and rubber on the nose, some sweet spices like cinnamon along the sweet red fruit. Very tannic and austere on the palate. As I know this wine quite well, I’m sure that’s entirely my and not the wines fault. Shouldn’t have decanted this. Last showing of this wine / vintage was much better. No rating.
Red
2012 Le Piane Boca Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Boca
Darker, sweeter than the Petterino next to it, riper on the fruit, more balsamic. But unfortunately the same story on the palate. Hard, austere and completely blocked by a wall of tannins. This tasting serves as another strong reminder that you should never decant (especially young) Nebbiolo … No rating.
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