Unusual Whites, A fine wine tutored tasting with Catherine Owen

Berry Bros & Rudd, London
Tasted Friday, October 18, 2013 by Papies with 618 views

Introduction

Catherine Owen presented a flight of unusual whites in the very usual quality of BBR tastings. Very interesting to see new grape varieties we would not normally go for.

Flight 1 - To Start (1 Note)

Flight 2 - Italy with character (2 Notes)

  • 2007 Ciro Picariello Fiano di Avellino Summonte 91 Points

    Italy, Campania, Fiano di Avellino DOCG

    Low yields and no sign of oak here. Music to our ears. Quite a green/gold colour. Intense on the nose, green apple, light honey. Nutty feel too. A fuller wine, with character and purity of fruit, Very Good. 91+

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  • 2009 Fattoria La Monacesca Mirum 92 Points

    Italy, Marche, Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva

    30 yr old vines here, No oak and late harvested grapes.. Light golden in colour. Open but light on the nose, not an aromatic wine as such but still with an evident fresh nutty nose. Citrus edge too. Late harvest helps here and the wine has a full, ripe feel, lots of flavour and a creamy texture. Very balanced as a wine although 14% in alc level. Proper find from a grape we would never have ordered. 92

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Flight 3 - Spain but not Rioja (2 Notes)

  • 2011 Pazo de Señoráns Albariño Rías Baixas 91 Points

    Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas

    Crisp, fresh aromatic wine. Light melon, peach and light vegetal on the nose. Lovely fresh character, mineral. Not the most complex wine and definitely one to have in its youth ( the producer advices within 3 years) but makes for very nice aperitif. a very nice find 91

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  • 2011 Bodegas Rafael Palacios Godello Valdeorras Louro do Bolo 85 Points

    Spain, Galicia, Valdeorras

    Quite a pale colour, light exotic on the nose, light green feel. 13.5% Alc but feels a hot wine. Not very inspiring and failed to make an impact. Average. 85

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Flight 4 - Germany but Not Rielsing (2 Notes)

  • 2011 Dönnhoff Weissburgunder Trocken 'S' 88 Points

    Germany, Nahe

    Pale in colour. Mineral, citrus very good acidity here and definitely dry. Granted the acidity is enough to hide any residual sugar for the sake of the argument we shall call this dry. Sharp wine, firm. Interesting but not very memorable. 88
    We preferred the pinot gris we had side by side.

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  • 2011 Dönnhoff Grauburgunder Trocken 'S' 91 Points

    Germany, Nahe

    A lot better than the Pinot Blanc we tried side by side. Dry wine.
    Pale in colour. aged in large German oak barrels. Round wine, expressive, lacks the sharpness of the Pinot Blanc but that lack of sharpness makes it a much more enjoyable wine. Quite enjoyable 90-91

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Flight 5 - Austo-Tyrolean (2 Notes)

Flight 6 - The oldies (4 Notes)

  • 2005 Pazo de Señoráns Albariño Rías Baixas Selección de Añada 91 Points

    Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas

    Very interesting to see after the normal albarino which needs to be enjoyed very young. This expression of the albarino is the exact opposite and comes from 45yr old vines, ages 30m in old wood and then a further 12m in bottle. Good colour here, gold and gives you the feel of a vendage tardive wine. Nutty feel to the nose. Not much in residual sugar either and the acidity keeps that in check. Lots of ripe, rich fruit, creamy texture and on the concentrated side. Proper quality wine here. 91-92

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  • 2002 Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Les Lys 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    This was interesting find. Old vines, 40yr +, and spend quite a bit of time on its lees. No oak here and released after 6 years in bottle. Much like in a Terlano Chardonnay Rarita, the creamy side is added from good aging and old vines not oak. Light straw colour. Mineral, slate, good ripeness and concentration. Lots of aging capacity and this is a wine of character and purity. Not the most complex wine but still this is one to buy. 92

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  • 2002 Maison Roche de Bellene Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chenevottes Collection Bellenum 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru

    Dark honey colour. Green apple and honey nose. Very evolved nose, dense and rich. Quite full on the palate, well aged and with lots of presence. A very good wine and probably at its peak. 92 and drink now

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  • 1996 Royal Tokaji Wine Co. Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos Mézes Maly 95 Points

    Hungary, Tokaji

    Dark caramel in colour. Lovely sweet, dense nose and this is wine deserves its grand cru status. Good acidity keeps the sweetness in check and adds to the balance of this great wine. A proper wine and no need to say more. 95 and with lots of aging capacity.

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