1000th Tasting Note

I was close to my 1000th CellarTracker tasting note and wanted to cross the threshold with a few good wines.

• NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée 87 Points

  France, Champagne

  One of the worst showings of an NV Krug I have had; some wondered if there were any issues with the bottle, but it came from a lot that showed beautifully before. Disgorged around April 2007 (v721). On open, was overly cold, which I thought was the reason it was muted. With warmth, bitter orange and biscuits, but without depth or great interest. A good bottle, but not at all exciting.

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• 1966 Château Haut-Batailley 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  High shoulder. A medium-intensity nose on open became quite pronounced with an hour decant. A textbook Pauillac nose: primarily pencil lead, some cedar and tobacco. Very light, silky mouthfeel, with only a hint of tannin, medium(-) acid, very low alcohol. Sour cherry and graphite on the palate. Classic Pauillac. Fairly short finish. Still kicking and quite nice.

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• 2010 Ballot-Millot & Fils Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  The nose gave up very little on open, and the palate showed some silky berry and stalk before clamping down into something austere and without fruit. With air, it developed a very pretty nose of raspberry, and a palate of raspberry and begonia. Silky palate with low tannin and medium acid. Can certainly be enjoyed now. I have no experience with how it might age. Very good.

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• 2006 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Spätlese Goldkapsel

  Germany, Nahe

  "Too big for a Spatlese" spoke the peanut gallery, and despite the label, they were right. Rich Auslese body with high sugar balanced by plenty of acidity. Honey, apricot, peach, lilac, pear. Quite nice.

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• 2011 Henri Jouan Chambolle-Musigny Vieilles Vignes 84 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny

  I loved the 2010! Unfortunately, the 2011 was quite a disappointment. This shows very little of the pretty red-fruited character I expected, instead it is primarily stems and herbs with some sharp elbows of bitterness. The red cherry fruit is muddled, not precise. It has reasonable structure to age for a few years with medium tannin and medium-plus acid, and I would wait and hope as it is not yielding a lot of pleasure right now.

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• 2012 Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Sonnenberg Riesling Spätlese feinherb

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  On the first day, it begged for more time and a chance to get some air. Prior to being given that liberty, it showed high acidity with little but a drop of fruit sweetness to tame it; hoping some air gives it more heft and character to take on the acid.
  
  A few days on, it does put on more heft and becomes somewhat broader, nicely balancing the previously austere frame, but it also becomes more clipped on the finish.

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• 2007 Weingut Karlsmühle Lorenzhöfer Riesling Eiswein

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  I thought that this had some botrytis and showed some Scheurebe-like exotic, wild notes; spicy. Dried pineapple, honey, bitter orange. Obviously, has high sugar but balanced by a bracing acidity. Long finish of light honey. Yummy.
  
  After two weeks (!) this hasn't really changed at all. Still vibrant, spicy, pineapple, with great acidity and a very long finish.

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