Birthday tasting @ Roel's

Netherlands
Tasted Thursday, May 7, 2009 by jkoenen with 378 views

Introduction

Cosy and informal tasting with Roel and David. Random bottles, no theme.
All wines served blind.

Flight 1 - Welcome (1 Note)

Flight 2 - Flight #1 (3 Notes)

  • 1990 Château de Fieuzal 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Intoxicating bouquet of black cherries, creme de cassis, Indian ink, iodine and prunes topped of by a posh fragrance of autumn notes and a fair dosage of oak. Gloomy and serious. Medium bodied mid-palate with hints of licorice, tobacco, fresh and lively red fruit. Medium length, good acidity. Traditional Bordeaux presentation, with a certain Italian structure (spicy red berry fruit, lively acidity). Palate could be deeper, denser, but the nose is great. 17/20

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  • 1998 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Spicy bouquet with notes of cinnamon, cloves, ginger and kardamom. Cherries and rosehips in a middle-eastern bazaar. Milkchocolate, cocoa-powder. Mysterious and difficult to describe. The fruit is crispy and fresh, though there is something raisiny present, but the overall palate makes a dusty, smoky and meaty impression. Dusty, powdery tannines. Nice, wavy length and persistent finish. Very, very nice. 17,5/20

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  • 2000 G. Moulinier Saint-Chinian Les Terrasses Grillées 89 Points

    France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Saint-Chinian

    Nose of mature shiraz; peppered blackberries, rosemary, rose petals and leather. This is clearly the youngest wine in this flight. In the mouth there is lot of black fruit, licorice and bayleaf. Still a little strict and stiff, probably needs more time/air. A cool, phlegmatic, aloof wine. The aftertaste carries a certain sultriness, but it's not sweet. A lovely glass of Languedoc. 17/20

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Flight 3 - Intermezzo (1 Note)

  • 1994 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (Bottle opened on 2-5-2009) Unbelievable presentation: concentrated, yet sleek. I was only picking up black stuff: ink, soy-sauce, "appelstroop", black cherries, cassis, earth, dark chocolate, incense, sundried tomatoes and leather. Very suave, broad and completely ripe and mature. Fabulous juice from an underappreciated vintage. 18.5/20

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Flight 4 - Flight #2 (3 Notes)

  • 1995 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Civilised, modest though multilayered and complex bouquet. Well dosed and concentrated, very good balance and harmony. Bright, clean and very young, tilting from primary to secondary characteristics. Perfectly ripe and juicy tannines, lots of fresh, crunchy fruit. Velvety throughout the finish, oak plays a wonderful supportive role. Complete and complex wine that will gain in points after a few more years in the cellar. My guess: top-notch Bdx from a recent cool year, 2004?... Guess not.... What a surprise and what a wonderful wine, full of promise. 18+/20

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  • 2004 Bodegas AAlto Ribera del Duero AAlto 92 Points

    Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

    Smoky, nutty, velvety mouthfeel. Highly concentrated wine with a breathtaking complexity: notes of a wet forestfloor, a humidor, almonds, hazelnut, espresso, caramel-and-cream, gingerbread, ink and iodine. No subtlety here, but quite sensual, even slutty, showy and in-your-face. Powdery, dusty tannines. Some alcoholic heat is the only let-down. 18/20

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  • 2001 Château Gazin Pomerol 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    First sniff: pine forest, mint, eucalypt, lavender, black cherry. Kretek cigarettes! Then Creme de Cassis, blackberries, anise, licorice. On the palate I pick up this complexity too, but in the end the bouquet is the most impressive part. Powerful, grainy tannines, beautifully packed and covered by black fruit juiciness. A sinewy, robust, masculine and honest wine with the best yet to come. I was very surprised that this turned out to be a Pomerol. Guessed: St. Estephe. 17.5/20

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Closing

Personal WOTN: 1994 Pichon Lalande
Other wines to look out for: 1995 GPLacoste.

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