Toasted, waxy and lemon aromas. Acid is prominent but lends freshness and a crisp finish without being too dominant. Surprised by how much I liked this, will have to find more!
Peach, lime, very floral and some orange peel to the nose. The palate has good texture and a nice saline character but there is also a bit of alcohol/glycerol overlaid that detracts a bit for me personally.
Almond, woolen, waxy and ginger aromas. Still shows plenty of primary fruit and acid on the palate, there is a touch of roundness to it but it is very fresh overall. Good length to it. Described by Carl as being like "flat, vintage Krug", a pretty nice compliment I think!
Earth, cranberry, light herbs, charcoal and the signs of oak are still there. Palate is all about the savoury fruit and very good texture. Great length with fine acidity extending and stretching the fruit out. Excellent.
Served blind. Licorice, cherry, cocoa and earth. Savoury on the palate, it is very well balanced. Has power behind the fruit but the fine tannins keep it in check and focus. Still has time left but it is drinking just fine now.
Meaty and dusty with a real herbal undertone that adds complexity. Quite restrained on the palate, much more so than a 1996 that I'd had previously. Very good structure to it, should age nicely over the shorter term.
Smoke, meaty, rhubarb, spice and some metal in behind. Very bright acidity on the palate, the palate has rather good balance and it is interesting even without being super complex. Drinking really nicely now but I think it faded a bit with extended time in the glass so it is ready to go.
Cherry, mocha oak, raspberry and some meaty notes. Side by side with the 2001 it is drinking better now, it is more open and generous but I think it is a less interesting wine overall. Very good regardless.
Graphite, prune, cherry, blackberry and raspberry. Has fantastic presence on the palate, there is power and great texture to the mouthfeel. Impressive wine but it needs time to develop further. It is a clear step up from the 1998 served next to it.
Graphite, blackcurrant, cherry and briar - rather expressive and open. Really finely tuned palate with great balance and great length. Really excellent showing and it stood up to the 02 Unico (which was much more closed and imposing for now).
Closed and imposing. The nose isn't especially expressive even after a number of hours in the decanter. Some smoke, some black cherry and some char. The palate has more interest, there is fine fine tannin providing impeccable structure. Even with food this was not in the mood to be approached right now. Hold off and give it time please!
Tar, kirsch and meaty overtones. Warm alcohol on the palate, the tannins are rather bold and grippy and the fruit doesn't keep up. Not something I loved but I didn't hate it either.
Served blind. Lovely lifted nose with raspberry, some earth, smoke and spice. Quite good on the palate, it is medium length with some grip to it as well. Both interesting and tasty.
Served blind. Raisin, cocoa, cigar, mint/pine and cedar. Sweet and concentrated on the palate, there is good lift from the spirit and plenty of life in it. Very good.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Spirit, earth, raspberry and floral notes. Spirity with lots of sweet fruit on the palate. Medium length. It was nice in a small dose but was ready for something else after a short while.
Sultana, spice, caramel and some spirit notes. Considerable viscosity and there is a spike of alcohol that disrupts the palate. It is good but with more balance it could be magical.
Palate cleanser toward the end of the meal. Bright nose with apple, pear, spice and citrus. Cleansing acid does the job perfectly and cuts through the touch rounded fruit. Nicely driven, this should age well.
Toast, pear, lemon and peach. Nice mouthfeel and good length with the acidity stretching the fruit. Both tasty and refreshing, this bottle shows the benefit from even a couple of years of bottle age on Pol NV.
Strawberry, plum, cedar and chocolate nose. Good balance with fine lift and verve. Doesn't have as much depth as I'd like but it is rather tasty to drink.
2007 Raventós i Blanc Cava Reserva Brut (L'Hereu) 89 Points
Spain, Cava
Toasted, waxy and lemon aromas. Acid is prominent but lends freshness and a crisp finish without being too dominant. Surprised by how much I liked this, will have to find more!
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2012 Bodega Maranones Albillo Real Picarana 88 Points
Spain, Madrid, Vinos de Madrid
Peach, lime, very floral and some orange peel to the nose. The palate has good texture and a nice saline character but there is also a bit of alcohol/glycerol overlaid that detracts a bit for me personally.
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1991 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia 91 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Almond, woolen, waxy and ginger aromas. Still shows plenty of primary fruit and acid on the palate, there is a touch of roundness to it but it is very fresh overall. Good length to it. Described by Carl as being like "flat, vintage Krug", a pretty nice compliment I think!
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1989 Bodegas Muga Rioja Prado Enea Gran Reserva 92 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Earth, cranberry, light herbs, charcoal and the signs of oak are still there. Palate is all about the savoury fruit and very good texture. Great length with fine acidity extending and stretching the fruit out. Excellent.
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1990 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5° 91 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
Served blind. Licorice, cherry, cocoa and earth. Savoury on the palate, it is very well balanced. Has power behind the fruit but the fine tannins keep it in check and focus. Still has time left but it is drinking just fine now.
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1997 Fra Fulco Priorat 90 Points
Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
Meaty and dusty with a real herbal undertone that adds complexity. Quite restrained on the palate, much more so than a 1996 that I'd had previously. Very good structure to it, should age nicely over the shorter term.
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2005 Cims de Porrera Priorat Solanes Flawed
Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
Not sure if this bottle was right. Benefit of the doubt given though it was still decent enough to drink.
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1994 Bodegas Valdemar Rioja Conde de Valdemar Gran Reserva 87 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Redcurrant, blackberry and charred notes. Palate is rather spicy and it ends up smothering the fruit. Grips hard and lacks brightness.
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1973 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia 91 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Smoke, meaty, rhubarb, spice and some metal in behind. Very bright acidity on the palate, the palate has rather good balance and it is interesting even without being super complex. Drinking really nicely now but I think it faded a bit with extended time in the glass so it is ready to go.
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1998 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 90 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Cherry, mocha oak, raspberry and some meaty notes. Side by side with the 2001 it is drinking better now, it is more open and generous but I think it is a less interesting wine overall. Very good regardless.
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2001 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 92 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Graphite, prune, cherry, blackberry and raspberry. Has fantastic presence on the palate, there is power and great texture to the mouthfeel. Impressive wine but it needs time to develop further. It is a clear step up from the 1998 served next to it.
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2002 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5° 92 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
Graphite, blackcurrant, cherry and briar - rather expressive and open. Really finely tuned palate with great balance and great length. Really excellent showing and it stood up to the 02 Unico (which was much more closed and imposing for now).
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2002 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único 92 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
Closed and imposing. The nose isn't especially expressive even after a number of hours in the decanter. Some smoke, some black cherry and some char. The palate has more interest, there is fine fine tannin providing impeccable structure. Even with food this was not in the mood to be approached right now. Hold off and give it time please!
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2009 Pardas Penedès Collita Roja 87 Points
Spain, Catalunya, Penedès
Tar, kirsch and meaty overtones. Warm alcohol on the palate, the tannins are rather bold and grippy and the fruit doesn't keep up. Not something I loved but I didn't hate it either.
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2011 De Iuliis Tempranillo 90 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Served blind. Lovely lifted nose with raspberry, some earth, smoke and spice. Quite good on the palate, it is medium length with some grip to it as well. Both interesting and tasty.
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1983 Niepoort Porto Vintage 91 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Served blind. Raisin, cocoa, cigar, mint/pine and cedar. Sweet and concentrated on the palate, there is good lift from the spirit and plenty of life in it. Very good.
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2009 Chestnut Grove Chardonnay Reserve
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Manjimup
Lychee, mango, spice and oak. The acid is so, so prominent. Just out of place at this time of the night and not fair to judge it too harshly.
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1977 Sandeman Porto Vintage Flawed
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Corked.
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1985 Warre Porto Vintage 90 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Blackberry, Christmas cake, citrus and chocolate. Good acid cleanses the concentrated raisins on the palate. Good length and drinking well now.
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NV Rolf Binder/Veritas Old Shed Tawny 88 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Spirit, earth, raspberry and floral notes. Spirity with lots of sweet fruit on the palate. Medium length. It was nice in a small dose but was ready for something else after a short while.
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NV Sánchez Romate Hnos. Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Cardenal Cisneros 89 Points
Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
Sultana, spice, caramel and some spirit notes. Considerable viscosity and there is a spike of alcohol that disrupts the palate. It is good but with more balance it could be magical.
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2006 Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Brut Paradoxe 90 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Palate cleanser toward the end of the meal. Bright nose with apple, pear, spice and citrus. Cleansing acid does the job perfectly and cuts through the touch rounded fruit. Nicely driven, this should age well.
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NV Pol Roger Champagne Brut Réserve 90 Points
France, Champagne
Toast, pear, lemon and peach. Nice mouthfeel and good length with the acidity stretching the fruit. Both tasty and refreshing, this bottle shows the benefit from even a couple of years of bottle age on Pol NV.
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1983 Gould Campbell Porto Vintage 90 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Strawberry, plum, cedar and chocolate nose. Good balance with fine lift and verve. Doesn't have as much depth as I'd like but it is rather tasty to drink.
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