Birthday Celebration 2014

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Tasted Monday, July 14, 2014 by Derek Darth Taster with 539 views

Introduction

Generous wine flowing on a wonderful night.

Flight 1 (8 Notes)

1994 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único 94 Points

Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

Generous contribution from Clarence for my birthday. 1 hour in decanter and drank over 3 hours. Here are my honest tasting notes:
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of dusty sour red cherries and plums. Developing.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium+ alcohol (13.5%), silky medium tannins, medium body. Medium flavor intensity, with flavours of dusty sour red cherries, plums, and some graphite. Medium- finish was a bit of a letdown. Fruits gained some sweetness with more air and as it warmed up a little bit more.
Judging from all the other reviews on CT, I gather that this is still way too early in the drinking window. If I had a time machine I would definitely want to be having a sip of this in 2024 to see if it really delivers what it is touted to.
Very good quality. My points are for its superb elegance and balance, and of course pedigree.

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2001 Penfolds Grange 98 Points

Australia, South Australia

Generous contribution from Tim for my birthday. Popped and poured.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, dark ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with a lovely complex bouquet of chocolate oak, mocha coffee, summer flowers, and lots of dark fruits - blackberry, blackcurrant, blueberries, plums. Fruit-forwardness of an Aussie wine, but so controlled and totally not in-your-face. Developing.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), smooth textured medium+ tannins, full body. Pronounced flavor intensity, with flavours of chocolate oak, mocha coffee, blackberry, blackcurrant, blueberries, plums, mild spice. Long finish. Fruit is all there and very obvious, but somehow never seems to jump up at you. Very restrained - cool, calm, and collected.
Outstanding quality. Can drink now. Will continue to improve and hold for another 10+ years. Haha and James Halliday proclaims: "this wine would live forever."

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1996 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

Popped and poured. Should really have put this one in the decanter. I shall refrain from rating this one.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with initial aromas of green bell peppers, cedar, blackcurrant leaf. Gradually opened up to blackcurrant, menthol and tobacco later on. Developing.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol, chewy medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavor intensity, with flavours of blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, menthol mint, graphite, tobacco. A glimpse of cassis emerged towards the end of the bottle. Medium+ finish.
Looking back, yes we finished this guy too fast. On a night with Vega Sicilia Unico, Penfolds Grange, Chateau Pavies etc, not enough attention had been paid to this GPL.

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1976 Faustino Rioja Faustino I Gran Reserva 97 Points

Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

Really wasn't expecting much from this bottle. However, it performed way beyond these low expectations.
Last bit of the cork crumbled on the way out. Luckily only a few small bits got into the wine. Popped and poured.
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, beautifully bright garnet colour. Very fine thin legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with a lovely bouquet of sweet malt sugar candy, bright red fruit, soy sauce, and a hint of savoury mushrooms. Developed.
On the palate, dry, amazing bright medium+ acidity, low alcohol, almost non-existent tannins, light body. Medium+ flavor intensity, with flavours of sweet malt sugar candy, bright red fruit, soy sauce. Medium+ finish.
The sweetness and lightness on the palate was very enjoyable.
Outstanding quality 38 year old traditional Rioja. Drink now and enjoy.
80% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and Mazuelo (Carignan) 10%.

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1978 Château Pavie 91 Points

France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

Popped and poured. Davyd had the first sip. By the time everyone else got to it was probably about 15-30 mins later already.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of herbaceous green bell peppers, earth, and some black fruit. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium- acidity, medium- alcohol, melting medium- tannins, medium+ body. Medium flavor intensity, with flavours of herbaceous green bell peppers, earth, and black cherries. Intermittent revelations of dark plums and blackcurrant. Medium finish.
This wine was like an old man on his deathbed fading in and out of consciousness. My other gripe is too much of the vegetal herbaceousness.
Good quality. Commendable effort for surviving 36 years. Drink up now. Don't keep this any longer.

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2008 Domaine Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot Minervois Les Fontanilles 90 Points

France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois

Tasted blind. Slow-oxed in bottle for about an hour before drinking.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of toasted oak, mix of black and red fruits, licorice, and pepper. Developing.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium+ alcohol, fine medium+ tannins, medium body. Medium flavor intensity, with flavours of toasted oak, raspberry, cherry, blueberry, licorice, and pepper. Medium+ finish.
Was thinking this was some sort of Rhone or Spanish Grenache.
Good quality. Can drink now, and will probably only improve slightly over the next 2-3 years.
Grenache with a bit of Syrah, Carignan, and Cinsault.

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2001 Château Pavie 93 Points

France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

Popped and poured. Last minute addition to compare with the 1978 Pavie.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, dark ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of toasted vanilla oak, milk chocolate, black cherries, blackberry, and plums. Hint of green bell pepper with more air. Developing.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol, velvety soft medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavor intensity, with flavours of ripe dark fruit - black cherries, blackberry, and plums. Long finish.
Interestingly though, the fruits seemed to recede after a while and the green herbaceousness started showing more. ?Wet September in 2001.
Very good quality. Can drink now. Suitable for further ageing. Interesting to see how this turns out in another 5-8 years.

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2001 Domaine Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Clos du Bourg 92 Points

France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

Popped and poured.
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, yellow lemon colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of honey, honeysuckle flowers, chrysanthemum, wet stone minerality, lemon, lime, and melon. Some very slight oxidative element. Developed.
On the palate, medium-dry sweetness balanced with medium+ acidity, medium alcohol, medium+ body. Medium+ flavor intensity, with flavours of honey, honeysuckle flowers, chrysanthemum, wet stone minerality, lemon, lime, and melon. Enjoyable drinking with elegance and beautiful balance, but lacks a greater complexity.
Very good quality. Drink up now, I think this may not improve with further age.
Apparently for 2001, the Huet demi-sec is the most successful style for the vintage.

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