Clarence's Birthday 2014
Extra Space
Tasted Saturday, November 15, 2014 by Derek Darth Taster with 334 views
Introduction
A wonderfully diverse mix of Bordeaux grape varietals, plus a nice elegant Pinotage, and a 1969 sweet Loire Chenin Blanc to cap off the birthday celebration.
2011 Kanonkop Pinotage 90 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Tasted blind. Aired in decanter for about 1.5 hours before drinking.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, purple colour. LLegs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of smokey toasted oak. Youthful.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium alcohol, medium+ tannins, medium+ body. Pronounced flavour intensity, with flavours of smokey toasted oak dominating. With more air, one does get a bit more grasp of the underlying flavours of dark cherry, and a slight mineral tone. Medium+ finish.
This had me guessing a New World Pinot Noir with heavy oak influence. Very good quality Pinotage, that has no acetone/burnt rubber flavours, and reflects Pinot Noir elegance, once you get past the dominant oak. Doesn't feel like 14.5% alcohol also.
This will be much better in another 3-4 years with integration of the oak.
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2002 Dominus Estate 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Slow-oxed in bottle for about 1.5 hours before drinking.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purplish ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of blackberries and blackcurrant, with hints of chocolate. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol, fine high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours ripe blackberries, blackcurrant, cassis, licorice, and spice. Long finish.
Very good quality. Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This is a more restrained kind of Napa style rather than a fruit bomb. However, at this point in time, I feel it is still quite tightly wound up. I would have preferred to have enjoyed this bottle with a longer air time in a decanter. Otherwise, hold onto this for another 5 years before re-exploring.
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1999 Primo Palatum Cahors Classica 90 Points
France, Southwest France, Cahors
Tasted blind. Slow-oxed in bottle for about 1.5 hours before drinking.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of leather, dark plums, and chalk. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol, coarse rustic medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet dark plums, sour cherries, leather, and chalk. Medium+ finish.
Spot on guess. Very good quality Malbec from Cahors. Well I guess the coarse rustic tannins have to be accepted as part of the style of the region. Can still hold well for another 4-5 years, but not expecting this to improve by any much more.
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2012 Viña Cerrón Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Rabia 87 Points
Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla
Tasted blind. Slow-oxed in bottle for about 1.5 hours before drinking.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purple colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of green stems/leaves, blackberries, blackcurrant. Youthful.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol, fine high tannins, full body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of green stems/leaves, balsamic, blackcurrant, and blackberries. Medium finish.
This had me guessing an under-ripe/young vine New World possibly South American Cabernet Sauvignon. Acceptable quality. Can tell that something big and serious is trying to be made here, but the under-ripeness which Petit Verdot is prone to really needs to be managed.
My first time trying a 100% Petit Verdot. Organically cultivated vines.
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1986 Château de Marbuzet 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe
Tasted after about 2+ hours of air in bottle already.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour. Legs. Sediments toward end of the bottle.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of tea leaves, tobacco, and earth. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol, medium tannins, medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of tobacco, cigar box, graphite, earth, and some blackberry barely hanging on. Medium finish.
Good quality. Drink up. Fruit is dying. From the pre-1994 years, when Marbuzet wines were blended with the lesser cuvées of Cos d'Estournel and it served as a 2nd wine to the latter.
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1969 Moulin Touchais Anjou Reserve du Fondateur 93 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou
Excellent fill level. Mushy cork but came out intact. Pop and poured.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, beautiful golden colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of honey and apricots. Developing (can't believe I'm saying this for a 1969 wine).
On the palate, sweet, medium+ acidity, medium (13%) alcohol, full body. Pronounced flavour intensity, with flavours of white Port, apricots, honey, pineapple, citrus lime, and minerality. No botrytis here. Long finish. Not so expressive on the nose, but wonderfully complex palate. Surprisingly higher alcohol than expected for a sweet wine.
Outstanding quality. A unique and difficult wine to rate. I give an additional point just for the age. Could last another 8-10 years as long as it is stored properly.
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