Preparing for our next Dreamtasting @ Thijs'

Netherlands
Tasted Friday, June 7, 2013 by jkoenen with 874 views

Introduction

Thijs invited some friends in his wonderful new apartment to dive in some interesting bottles and honest, good food.
Most bottles were served open label.
Since I was too busy enjoying myself, my notes are rather limited.
We had a great bunch of wonderful wines (+), while some of them were truly memorable (++).

Flight 1 (4 Notes)

Flight 2 (5 Notes)

Flight 3 (11 Notes)

  • 1985 Castello di Verrazzano Chianti Classico Riserva Cinquecentenario

    Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

    This is a very rare bottle.
    Wonderful rusticity, fresh green garden herbs, stewed fruit, still very lively, nice acidic backbone. Some irony rusty notes peaking through after a while, so drink up when you own a bottle. (+)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2003 Giuseppe Quintarelli Cà del Merlo Veneto IGT

    Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT

    Unique, quintessential nose of grilled bell-pepper, sacher torte, cappuccino, caramel and loads of floral notes. On the palate estranging flavors like bananapeel, mango, plumcake, roasted coffee, smoke, lavender and hyacinth are tumbling over each other. Incomparable wine. (++)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 1991 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único

    Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

    Open and generous bouquet, sweet fruit notes, some evolution lurking underneath. Blackberryfruit on the palate, sophisticated, utterly drinkable and enjoyable. Very detailed and precise, thought provoking complexity. Drinking at peak now, will hold for many years to come. Wow. (++)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2002 Domaine René Engel Clos Vougeot

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

    Pretty, complex and attractive Pinot, but didn't hit the spot for me. But - to be honest - most Pinots don't...

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 1998 Château La Lagune

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

    Steely nose, slightly underripe. Classical Bordeaux Claret all over the place. But unfortunately not extremely charming or tasty. Had a difficult time this night.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2004 Fernando Remírez de Ganuza Rioja Reserva

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

    Ahum.. Thick, oaky, young, modern Rioja. Good wine, for sure. But not very striking nor memorable.

    Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2004 Château Calon-Ségur

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

    Popped 'n poured. Clean and pure red and black fruit on the bouquet, somewhat reticent. But on the palate this was fierce and tannic. Rock hard and unenjoyable. Second bottle this week, and the former was much better: that one had been opened several hours before tasting...

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 1997 Dominus Estate

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Red fruit, cocoa, coffee. Although this is very good stuff, I still was slightly disappointed, because of the apparent tannic stucture. There's also a green streak in the wine that I often admire but somehow seems artificial and out of place in this wine.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2000 Château Montrose

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

    Confirmed our opinion that a number of (more classically styled) wines from Bordeaux 2000 are not in the best drinking window at the moment. Loved the nose, but the palate remains rough, stern and drying.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2000 Château Gruaud Larose

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    Barnyard, rustic, fruit is hiding. Tannic presentation on the palate, not much going on at the moment.

    Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2000 Château Pavie

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Open, generous, not as reserved and tight as the former 2 bottles of Bordeaux 2000 we had this evening. Cherry, plum, lush, sexy, seductive, lots of power and alcohol tipping the scales, but balance is wonderful. Thick and extracted, cigar, espresso, black truffle, creme de cassis, cocoa powder, oak and dark chocolate. Very well structured, full of power and complexity. Mighty, superlong, resounding aftertaste. Beautiful. (++)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Flight 4 (3 Notes)

Closing

A wonderful, informal get-together that brought us lots of good fun and a couple of bottles that were off the charts.

Personal WOTN: Quintarelli Ca' del Merlo 2003
Other wines to look out for: Billecart Salmon Cuvee Nicolas François 1999, Chapoutier St. Peray Hongrie 2010.

×
×