Dinner with Mervyn and Jerming (Casa Esperanza): It has been 14 years since the last bottle I had. It has certainly developed nicely with an intriguing and quite yummy maturity. Golden hued, almost old Sauternes in colour, it had a very expressive nose of golden honey, some bits of caramel and the ripest apple aromas, with just a little shade of spice at the sides. Very attractive. The palate was really interesting too. A little mute when served too chilled, it unfolded nicely to show a quietly complex mouthful of red apples lined with a really nice spine of spice and mineral and lemon zesty acidity, all trailing away into a long, fresh finish that had that tiniest bit of bitter-sweetness that gave it a really nice length. There was a lovely savoury note that came out with time too - reminded a bit of preserved lime. I do not think it is qualitatively better now than it was in its youth, but it is definitely very different. While maybe just starting to thin out at the edges, this was still really lovely on the night.
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Grapemates Christmas Party 2016: Bottle 2. Less expressive on the nose, there is toast, caramel and lemon. The palate shows better acid balance and the fruit presents itself nicely. Drink now based on these two bottles.
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Grapemates Christmas Party 2016: Bottle 1. Expressive nose with floral, lemon, popcorn and musk. The palate has a slight oxidative twang to it that throws things off slightly. Still decent drinking.
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5/15/2022 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
Dinner with Mervyn and Jerming (Casa Esperanza): It has been 14 years since the last bottle I had. It has certainly developed nicely with an intriguing and quite yummy maturity. Golden hued, almost old Sauternes in colour, it had a very expressive nose of golden honey, some bits of caramel and the ripest apple aromas, with just a little shade of spice at the sides. Very attractive. The palate was really interesting too. A little mute when served too chilled, it unfolded nicely to show a quietly complex mouthful of red apples lined with a really nice spine of spice and mineral and lemon zesty acidity, all trailing away into a long, fresh finish that had that tiniest bit of bitter-sweetness that gave it a really nice length. There was a lovely savoury note that came out with time too - reminded a bit of preserved lime. I do not think it is qualitatively better now than it was in its youth, but it is definitely very different. While maybe just starting to thin out at the edges, this was still really lovely on the night.
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5/14/2022 - JerM wrote:
(Paul's) Bright, cookie, toasted butter, crisp acidity. Woodsy, clean, aged, juicy.
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12/23/2017 - ddwestaway Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich, golden colour. Honey and raisin aromas. Well balanced, good length for a chardonnay. Drink now.
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12/21/2016 - CamWheeler wrote: 88 Points
Grapemates Christmas Party 2016: Bottle 2. Less expressive on the nose, there is toast, caramel and lemon. The palate shows better acid balance and the fruit presents itself nicely. Drink now based on these two bottles.
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12/21/2016 - CamWheeler wrote: 86 Points
Grapemates Christmas Party 2016: Bottle 1. Expressive nose with floral, lemon, popcorn and musk. The palate has a slight oxidative twang to it that throws things off slightly. Still decent drinking.
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