Man, this bottle is showing well. It has a gorgeous honeyed, amber tigne and a pretty explosive bouquet. It initially showed as very ripe and sweet on the nose with notes of apple, brown sugar and cinnamon, as it got air, the nose got a bit more savoury. The minerality came to the fore with a bit of salinity and iodine. On the palate, the wine was still very alive with a crisp minerality and acidity to offset the (savoury/ unsweet) stewed apple notes. This bottle actually tasted like it had years to ride.
Purchased at Kermit Lynch in Berkeley
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Dark golden colour similar to an Oaked Chardonnay with a few years age. Viscous and dense looking with alcohol level evident.
the nose gave off toasty oak notes - coconut, marshmallow - and also a bit of a nutty tang (like almond skin). I also got orange peel and a bit of pineapple.
On the palate the wine was very dense and mouth-filling. It is similar in weight to a big Chardonnay but with a very different profile. There is a really strong bitter tang set against refreshing acidity. I love this, but others might find it a bit strange if not used to the style.
My one complaint - I expected the wine to grow in complexity on the nose and palate with a bit of air. In my case, the opposite was true. Within an hour, the wine seemed muted and folding in on itself.
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Really impressive. This is still a bit tight and tastes like it needs more air or another few years to unwind. The colour is starting to dull with garnet around the rim but, overall, the wine is still deep ruby. The nose gives kirsch, minerals, a bit of pepper. Still very fresh with a good balance between fruit and emerging earthy characteristics. On the palate wine replays the nose. it is very well balanced with med plus acid and tannins still quite prevalent. Med-plus length, grippy finish. The Mourvèdre is very prominent to me. The wine tastes like it could easily go for another 5 to 7 years without losing any complexity. Overall, very pleasantly surprised.
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1994 Château d'Epiré Savennières Cuvée Spéciale
2/8/2014 - Unwashedmasses Likes this wine: 92 Points
Man, this bottle is showing well. It has a gorgeous honeyed, amber tigne and a pretty explosive bouquet. It initially showed as very ripe and sweet on the nose with notes of apple, brown sugar and cinnamon, as it got air, the nose got a bit more savoury. The minerality came to the fore with a bit of salinity and iodine. On the palate, the wine was still very alive with a crisp minerality and acidity to offset the (savoury/ unsweet) stewed apple notes. This bottle actually tasted like it had years to ride.
Purchased at Kermit Lynch in Berkeley
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2009 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Fontaine
2/1/2014 - Unwashedmasses Likes this wine: 91 Points
Going from memory:
Dark golden colour similar to an Oaked Chardonnay with a few years age. Viscous and dense looking with alcohol level evident.
the nose gave off toasty oak notes - coconut, marshmallow - and also a bit of a nutty tang (like almond skin). I also got orange peel and a bit of pineapple.
On the palate the wine was very dense and mouth-filling. It is similar in weight to a big Chardonnay but with a very different profile. There is a really strong bitter tang set against refreshing acidity. I love this, but others might find it a bit strange if not used to the style.
My one complaint - I expected the wine to grow in complexity on the nose and palate with a bit of air. In my case, the opposite was true. Within an hour, the wine seemed muted and folding in on itself.
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2005 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel
2/1/2014 - Unwashedmasses Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really impressive. This is still a bit tight and tastes like it needs more air or another few years to unwind. The colour is starting to dull with garnet around the rim but, overall, the wine is still deep ruby. The nose gives kirsch, minerals, a bit of pepper. Still very fresh with a good balance between fruit and emerging earthy characteristics. On the palate wine replays the nose. it is very well balanced with med plus acid and tannins still quite prevalent. Med-plus length, grippy finish. The Mourvèdre is very prominent to me. The wine tastes like it could easily go for another 5 to 7 years without losing any complexity. Overall, very pleasantly surprised.
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