London off-line w Pjaines

http://www.tufnellparktavern.com
Tasted Monday, March 4, 2013 by StefanAkiko with 668 views

Introduction

People sharing the same interest can have a great time together. And we did. It was great to re-see all the very friendly British people.
It helps when proprietor Martin joins in and shares his warm humor and good wines. No corkage fees for us in this place :-)
...oh how I look forward to the next event!

Flight 1 - Whites from the 80's forward (3 Notes)

There was also a completely unoaked Burgundy, but my poor notes are not decipherable, however it was a little too fruity for my taste. The Mosel was the most interesting wine of the flight, with its rather fascinating geriatric emanations.

  • 1989 Reinh Oster Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese halbtrocken 85 Points

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    Geriatric halb-trocken with still a few Riesling somersaults and tricks. Woke up well after aeration. Za-zing! This marked the final btl of the "wet paint wine". I love the diversity of really mature wines, and maybe in particular the other-worldly emitted aromas of the old Mosel darlings...

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  • 2010 Faiveley Mercurey Clos Rochette Blanc 83 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Mercurey

    Nose of peach and tropical fruits. In the mouth it's a velvet, oily, clean wine finishing with oak. Sprightly acids carry the wine from complete boredom to better than good.

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  • 1996 Château Rabaud-Promis 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Fully mature, raisin laden and botrytized on both nose and palate. Pleasure in a bottle with acids M+ perfectly balancing this sweet wine. In it's stride, in it's prime, in my belly :-)
    Had immediately from 1/2-btl.

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Flight 2 - First red flight (3 Notes)

The Cornas was too young to win tonight's WOTN. Instead the mind-blowing Spaniard got that price. It was a dear reunion, must have been some 20 years since I last had Vina REal GR...

  • 1985 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Viña Real Gran Reserva 92 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    "Occasionally we drink also young wine when we meet."
    Immensly powerful, rich, maturing wine with lively fruit, olive brine and a most appealing excess of sumi ink. Structurally, it flirts with Bordeaux, except the high acids and hints of dill puts this behemoth in it's rightful place. Yeah, and a blast of oak. Finishes a little short and scratches 3 points from my impression of this wine. Would gladly have it again and again. Early drinking window, possibly ~10 years from its peak. Cork was wet the whole way, but not bleeding through.

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  • 2004 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape 85 Points

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

    Unusual aromas but generally bland. Sporting a nose of caramellized boiled goat cheese, alarmingly unwashed socks and some other rather unusual expressions. In the mouth it has no flaws, is fruity enough but (this evening at least) showed not much of a personality. Mellanmjölk!

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  • 2008 Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

    This is a brilliant wine from an off year. That Mr Allemand is proud of his wine and a perfectionist shines through in this FANTASTIC bottle. As I sunk my nose in to it I had to scream: Yahoo! Rich, garrigue, tar, behind-of-cow and black pepper. In the mouth this is built for the long haul with a dramatic tannic structure, M+ acids, great fruit and finishes loooong. Absolutely astonishing. After this bottle I read about Mr Allemand and he has made it to my very exclusive list of: Constant sourcing.
    This is really good s**t!

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Flight 3 - 2nd red flight (3 Notes)

There were some more red wines that came after these, but they were not amazing. Even if some attendees may not accept that there can be anything worse than McManis (my wine). The Dauzac held my interest best and married the food best.

  • 2011 McManis Family Vineyards Petite Sirah 88 Points

    USA, California

    Completely the odd ball in the company of tonight's btls. Shunned by PJ. Over-extracted and over-whelming. Very charming if you like the style. If you don't: Vader's breath.

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  • 2010 Marchesi Mazzei Chianti Classico Fonterutoli 84 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

    Cherry-cherry tart cherry wine with M+ tannin. Thin impression. Should improve with a few year's of rest.
    Served immediately.

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  • 1995 Château Dauzac 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    An unusually perfumey bouquet of flowers and herbal notes. In the mouth it's an old school, elegant wine with a tannic bite. Me like! Incredibly delicious. Not yet fully mature and has many years of good life ahead.
    Had immediately.

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Flight 4 - Stickies (3 Notes)

Even if we shared a Sauternes to start with, these are the stickies. The port was vibrating much better than the others, but I'd happily rehave any of the wines from this flight.

  • 1995 Fonseca Porto Guimaraens Vintage 93 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    Amazing grip and structure in early drinking window. Intense fruit, figs and the most savoury leather components available to mankind.
    Putting the last btl in to a time capsule for ~2020.
    Decanted 5 hrs.

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  • 2009 Domaine Lafage Maury 91 Points

    France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Maury

    Young, fruity, sweet, clean, red with intensity and fantastic pleasure served from 1/2-btl. Served immediately, just perfectly chilled.

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  • 2003 Candido Aleatico Salice Salentino 92 Points

    Italy, Puglia, Salice Salentino

    Rich, elevated sweet red with tobacco galore and long, sweet, still young taste that makes me salivate from memory. This was an unexpected surprise element with dessert. Had immediately from 1/2-btl.

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Closing

The most liked wine was the 1985 Vina Real GR. The other most liked ones were Chateau Dauzac and the port.

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