High acid dinner (Rieslings, Riojas, Madeiras, etc)

Served with a spicy Thai coconut chicken soup.

• 2013 Dirty and Rowdy Sémillon 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville

  Juicy citrus and yeasty flavors. A strong tangerine streak keeps this tangy and lively. Lovely wine with good clarity and focus.

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• 2010 Nikolaihof Neuburger 90 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  Lemony and waxy, with a slight quince note. This almost reminded me of a demi-sec Chenin Blanc. A nice citrus pith bitterness on the finish. Fruity and fun.

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• 2007 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Spätlese "Schmitt" 87 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  A bit ungiving and closed on the nose. This palate did display a bit of lemon curd, vanilla cream and orange oil. Soft and friendly but lacking minerality and depth.

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• 2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 91 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  A surprising "rounded" wine here, given the producer and the vintage, but delicious nonetheless. Lime, ripe peaches and a hint of slate. Rich, sweet and palate coating. Lovely wine, but I was looking for a bit more focus.

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• 2001 Weingut Reinhold Haart Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese 95 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Given the great Rieslings opened this night, I was a bit surprised that this was the "Riesling of the Night" for me. A glorious wine with power, precision and filigree acidity. Not as ripe and fruity as I usually associate with this vineyard. Beautiful minerality and majestic breadth. Long and precise.

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• 2001 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese 91 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  This was an auction bottling. Quite a bit of spritz on this wine, more so than a Mosel wine might typically have, however, it did not detract. Some dried tropical fruits hint at some age, but some lively citrus notes keeps this energetic. I think I was in the minority of those tasting the wine, in that I enjoyed the odd spritz that kept this wine lifted and bright. Good minerality and ample length.

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Served with a paella.

• 2006 Copain Pinot Noir "En Bas" Kiser 85 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  Sweet ripe fruit with rhubarb, strawberry and citrus peel flavors. The fruit is a bit to confectionery for me and I wonder if this would have been better in its youth.

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• 2002 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses 93 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon

  Lovely wine that screams of old-school Loire Cab Franc. Tobacco, tar, violets, herbs and earth. Complex, layered and very well delineated. A bit stalky in a good way (not overtly green)... just enough to add complexity. Snappy acidity keeps this lively.

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• 1970 Berberana Rioja Carta de Oro Reserva 86 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Autumnal in character, with dried leaves and (very) dried fruits. Leather and earth showing quite a bit, with the fruit very definitely in the background. A bit drying on the finish with a hint of oxidation. Probably past its prime.

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• 1964 Bodegas Bilbainas Tempranillo Rioja Viña Zaco 94 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Wow, this really showed well for it's age. While the fruit was definitely showing a mature character, this did not seem tired in the least. There was great freshness, lift and brightness to the this wine. Wonderful complexity with an elegant and silky texture.

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• 1974 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Flawed

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  This was a bit of a roller coaster wine. Seeming fine when first opened, then tired and oxidative with some decanting, then a bit of life came through on day 2, but then really faded after day 3. An interesting wine, but not completely enjoyable. Not sure if this was a representative bottle.

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Served with a bolo de mel.

• NV Barbeito Madeira Malvazia 30 Years Old (Lote Especial) 94 Points

  Portugal, Madeira

  Another masterful showing, displaying a great combination of power and impact, without being overly sweet. Lacy and refined with ridiculous length. Tangy and so full of energy.

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• 1856 Leacock Madeira Bual 93 Points

  Portugal, Madeira

  This was a re-taste from a bottle opened a few months ago. Still fresh, with classic dried fruits, burnt sugar and citrus notes... but combined with a very unconventional herbal/spearmint streak. Very good length and complexity, but not the blockbuster I was expecting. Interesting wine.

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• NV Leacock Madeira "A" (undated) 91 Points

  Portugal, Madeira

  This was a re-taste from a bottle opened (about) a year ago. A wine for true lovers of a dry style of Madeira. Searing dry with scraping acids. Lots of nut-skin bitterness, with citrus pith and a slight saline note. This was wonderful, but should perhaps be served as an aperitif rather than an after-dinner wine.

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• NV Valdespino Moscatel Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Toneles 98 Points

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  The wine of the night, and there were some heavy hitting Madeiras it had to compete with. This quite sweet and thick like motor oil, oozing with figs, caramel, dates and toffee flavors. This sounds quite heavy, but the acids were electric and provided an almost lemony citrus quality on the finish. Surprisingly well balanced for such a "heavy" wine. A real treat.

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