PnP. Golden yellow color. No obvious (sugar) crystal sediments. Nose: ginger, rose petal, tropical fruits and a hint of smoke. Palate: big, ripe, kaleidoscope of tropical fruits and mandarin zest. Sweetness: ZH clearly labels its wines Indice 1 (dry) to 5 (sweet). Dessert wines Vendange Tardive (VT) and Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN) are separate classification. This wine is Indice 3. Paired with: Vietnamese egg roll w/ a thin slice of Vietnamese pepper and gâteaux salés. Yum! If you want fruit, drink it now. Mature ZH sheds its fruits and residual sugar as it develops secondary aromatics. It is a matter of taste preferences among white wine drinkers (esp. level of acidity), but I cannot find flaws to this gewurztraminer. It is what it is.
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From a Sotheby's auction: Labelled "Aulden Cellars (from the cellar of Thomas O. Rider. September 7, 2007)". Update: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_O._Ryder
I would admit, better than the original (on-release) purchase I consumed years back. At that time, I thought Kangarilla was better than Romas, better than Blewitt Springs (all Clarendon Hills Grenache).
This 21-year-old bottle? New world style? Definitely Yes. (Do not expect Rhone style). But no bretts (riskier with mature Rhones) Well-extracted? Definitely Yes (served at 57-60 degrees F, I did not notice the 14.5% ABV). Fruit still alive, with hardly any bricking? Yes. I was surprised. Tannin well-integrated? Yes. Did I like it? Yes. My wife and I are impressed. (Proves nothing, except to say we appreciate new world wines). Paired with lamb steak. Has a hint of bitter chocolate after-taste.
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Finally enjoyable to drink! At 5 years old, my guests were too modest to spit it out. At 15 years, tannins had softened but took 2 days to open up. At 20 years... Nose initially closed (even after a 2-hour decant). Then something earthy, leather, stone and a faint hint of herbs. Minimal bricking. My wife thought I opened a Brunello or Barolo, but heavier body than both. Tart black cherry and some other dark fruits. Tannins soft and integrated. Has not develop much secondary (aging) aromatics or taste. Tannin structure could last another 5 years, but I do not know what else I will be waiting for. Prime for drinking. My last bottle.
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2017 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain
11/23/2023 - HJImperial Likes this wine: 98 Points
PnP. Golden yellow color. No obvious (sugar) crystal sediments.
Nose: ginger, rose petal, tropical fruits and a hint of smoke.
Palate: big, ripe, kaleidoscope of tropical fruits and mandarin zest.
Sweetness: ZH clearly labels its wines Indice 1 (dry) to 5 (sweet). Dessert wines Vendange Tardive (VT) and Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN) are separate classification. This wine is Indice 3.
Paired with: Vietnamese egg roll w/ a thin slice of Vietnamese pepper and gâteaux salés. Yum!
If you want fruit, drink it now. Mature ZH sheds its fruits and residual sugar as it develops secondary aromatics.
It is a matter of taste preferences among white wine drinkers (esp. level of acidity), but I cannot find flaws to this gewurztraminer. It is what it is.
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2001 Clarendon Hills Grenache Old Vines Romas
4/24/2022 - HJImperial wrote: 94 Points
From a Sotheby's auction: Labelled "Aulden Cellars (from the cellar of Thomas O. Rider. September 7, 2007)".
Update: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_O._Ryder
I would admit, better than the original (on-release) purchase I consumed years back. At that time, I thought Kangarilla was better than Romas, better than Blewitt Springs (all Clarendon Hills Grenache).
This 21-year-old bottle?
New world style? Definitely Yes. (Do not expect Rhone style). But no bretts (riskier with mature Rhones)
Well-extracted? Definitely Yes (served at 57-60 degrees F, I did not notice the 14.5% ABV).
Fruit still alive, with hardly any bricking? Yes. I was surprised.
Tannin well-integrated? Yes.
Did I like it? Yes. My wife and I are impressed. (Proves nothing, except to say we appreciate new world wines). Paired with lamb steak.
Has a hint of bitter chocolate after-taste.
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2001 Feudi di San Gregorio Irpinia Serpico
1/3/2022 - HJImperial Likes this wine: 93 Points
Finally enjoyable to drink! At 5 years old, my guests were too modest to spit it out. At 15 years, tannins had softened but took 2 days to open up. At 20 years...
Nose initially closed (even after a 2-hour decant). Then something earthy, leather, stone and a faint hint of herbs.
Minimal bricking. My wife thought I opened a Brunello or Barolo, but heavier body than both.
Tart black cherry and some other dark fruits. Tannins soft and integrated. Has not develop much secondary (aging) aromatics or taste. Tannin structure could last another 5 years, but I do not know what else I will be waiting for. Prime for drinking. My last bottle.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment