tasting the May releases from the Government monopoly with "the cupbearers"

Well, this was a lovely happening. Interesting wines all through the tasting, which was done in a quite civilized manner.

• 2007 Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Saering 85 Points

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  There's a distinct note of gas station, some mild apple basket aromas. However, there's an empty feeling on the mid-palate, soft and thinnish fruit, and despite the decent acidity and a feeling of an overall well made wine given the fruit material, this falls somewhat flat.

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• 2010 Weingut Willi Bründlmayer Riesling 1ÖTW Reserve Ried Heiligenstein 84 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal

  Shock full of lime with a honey sweetness note that does not mesh all that well. Long, fine finish that is fresh and clean. A bit simple in my book, and too green, but for what it is, it is certainly good.

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• 2010 Gianni Voerzio Langhe Arneis Bricco Cappellina 82 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Sweet apple aroma with a streak of minerals that is pleasant enough. In the mouth this is unfortunately very thin.

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• 2008 Tissot (Bénédicte et Stéphane / André et Mireille) Arbois Selection 90 Points

  France, Jura, Arbois

  The nose, it's...it's... Manzanilla! incredibly appetizing oxidative notes. On the palate, bone dry, nutty, fine, and elegant. Will go get me some.

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• 2010 Domaine Bruno Clair Marsannay Rosé 86 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay Rosé

  a lot of pinosity on the nose, pure and fine but simple and rather lacking in complexity. nice freshness, well stated and elegant. just what the doctor ordered to conjure the rather late-in-arriving Swedish summer.

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• 2011 Domaine de la Mordorée Tavel La Dame Rousse 81 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Tavel

  neon colored liquid almost kills any momentum for me to hit it off with a wine from the start, so it does not bode well. On the nose, there's a lot of winegum sweetness. On the palate, there are somethings that speak in favor of this wine, with a hint of spice, a surprisingly dry and light body. still, this producer and I rarely agree. this time is no different.

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• 1986 Château Bel-Air Lagrave 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc

  Brick color, sloeberry, grass, graphite and pencil shavings, short finish but very delicious and well integrated body. Tannins feel like someone has taken the finest sandpaper and brushed for a millenium against the small particles until there's almost nothing left.

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• 2007 Familia Zuccardi Zeta 86 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza

  on the nose there is vanilla and chocolate, but most of all the rancid smell of fresh butter gone sour. Underneath there is a lot of dark ripe fruit. The color is lilac. But to my great surprise this wine is rather elegant and very well structured on the palate. the olfactory shock of the rancid butter note is soon forgotten. One wonders if the wine will calm down and if the oak will integrate and mellow out. probably not to complete satisfaction though.

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• 2008 Lohsa Maremma Toscana Mandrone di Lohsa 89 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Maremma, Maremma Toscana

  very open and warm nose with tobacco, violet pastils, green capsicum, herbs. Fresh and rather elegant, entirely void of tannic structure and grip, this makes me think it shouldn't be stored for very many years. crowd pleaser.

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• 2007 Podere Santa Maria (Colleoni) Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Wine of the night for me. Excellent nose of cherries, green pepper, and layers of complexity underneath. And what structure!

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• 2009 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage Blanc Chevalier de Sterimberg 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  My favourite varietals in white wine. An appelation and wine full of promises and high expectations: as I dip my nose into the glass, an immediate and happy vertebral reaction. This is warm-fruited and open, and, as someone else wrote, a dose of luxurious oak on the nose that makes one think of meursault. I simply love the smell of traditional (bitter-sweet) marzipan and apple mousse on the nose.
  
  Not very long finish though and there is something to the round fleshy feeling of this wine which makes me doubt that it will keep for as long as one would normally expect/hope - although I am aware that even this super ripe marsanne dominated style has a will to live that can sometimes be surprising. I would probably not buy to store but to drink.

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• 2009 Domaine des Lises Crozes-Hermitage 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

  Exciting and wild nose with cherry pits and dark fresh berries. Good acidity, medium long finish, somewhat rustic, but really fun. Good value too.

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• 2009 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

  This crozes-hermitage shiraz just has too much new oak on the nose and feels too extracted and warm-blooded for me. I give it this though, there is quite a bit of depth and many peppery layers of complexity.

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• 2009 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Petite Chapelle 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  rather mute nose which opens up to some rather well integrated oak notes as we let this sit for a while, occasionally swirling the glass. Long, peppery, a lot of dry, fine caliber, tannins; excellent structure and build.

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In closing, I must say that there were a couple of wines I felt like I want to buy, but to my surprise I found these not primarily in the second flight of 4 exuberantly drinkable and luxurious Northern Rhone wines, in spite of that being what lured me to this tasting to a large extent. WOTN the Santa Maria Brunello. Best value wine: the Arbois from Dom Tissot. Rose for the season: Bruno Clair Marsannay.