Base vintage 2005, 7 years sur lattes, disgorged September 2012. 80% Pinot Meunier, 15% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Noir. Hint of oxidation on the palate, appley fruit on the nose and some toast, relatively soft style, adequate acidity, minerals, good length. Long ageing of Meunier on the lees always takes away some of the distinctive exuberance.
Very rich style, ripe yellow fruit, clean, hint of white pepper, soft style, concentrated, lovely floral topnotes, well-integrated oak, reminiscent of both Pinot Blanc and Grüner Veltliner. aerien, good length.
A whopping 16.8% ABV (the 15% on the label are a slight understatement). Rich golden colour; deep and rich nose, white port-like; big and full but with relatively light flavours, honeyed, lovely balance; good length.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Mature nose, mature claret, nice depth, subtle sweetness to the fruit, herbs, nice warmth from the oak, not powerful or concentrated but some richness from the Merlot, balanced and ripe, good tannins, good length.
Mature but lively appearance; mature nose, deeper soils, cool character, good depth but not particularly distinguished; slender and tannic, fresh and energetic, sweet fruit, good length.
Relatively sweet fruit, soft acidity, slightly drying tannins, vinous, nice weight but not very complex, decent length only. Lacks a bit of definition and depth.
Sweet fruit, modern style, transparent, nice phenolic grip, minerality and freshness, not very distinctive, lacks structure and energy, decent length. 14.5% ABV.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
Classic, concentrated, has depth and length, balance and energy, very complete, clean and pure, fresh style, ripe tannins, superb balance and length. A stunner.
A blend of 85% Carinena and 15% Garnacha, 14.5% ABV. Mature and open nose, herbs and spice; good stuffing on the palate, ripe fruit, leather, nice mineral drive, gentle tannins; good length, hint of liquorice.
NV Françoise Bedel Champagne Dis, "Vin Secret" Extra Brut 90 Points
France, Champagne
Base vintage 2005, 7 years sur lattes, disgorged September 2012. 80% Pinot Meunier, 15% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Noir. Hint of oxidation on the palate, appley fruit on the nose and some toast, relatively soft style, adequate acidity, minerals, good length. Long ageing of Meunier on the lees always takes away some of the distinctive exuberance.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2012 St. Jodern Kellerei Heida Barrique 90 Points
Switzerland, Valais, Visperterminen
Very rich style, ripe yellow fruit, clean, hint of white pepper, soft style, concentrated, lovely floral topnotes, well-integrated oak, reminiscent of both Pinot Blanc and Grüner Veltliner. aerien, good length.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Strappelli Nubile Colli Aprutini IGT 90 Points
Italy, Abruzzi, Colli Aprutini IGT
A whopping 16.8% ABV (the 15% on the label are a slight understatement). Rich golden colour; deep and rich nose, white port-like; big and full but with relatively light flavours, honeyed, lovely balance; good length.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1996 Château Troplong Mondot 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Mature nose, mature claret, nice depth, subtle sweetness to the fruit, herbs, nice warmth from the oak, not powerful or concentrated but some richness from the Merlot, balanced and ripe, good tannins, good length.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2004 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Fontalloro 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Mature but lively appearance; mature nose, deeper soils, cool character, good depth but not particularly distinguished; slender and tannic, fresh and energetic, sweet fruit, good length.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
2004 Château Chasse-Spleen 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc
Relatively sweet fruit, soft acidity, slightly drying tannins, vinous, nice weight but not very complex, decent length only. Lacks a bit of definition and depth.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2003 Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Grandi Annate 87 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montepulciano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Sweet fruit, soft, drying tannins, tea-like finish, quite alcoholic. Not too keen. Not as pretty as the label.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2003 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 89 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT
Sweet fruit, modern style, transparent, nice phenolic grip, minerality and freshness, not very distinctive, lacks structure and energy, decent length. 14.5% ABV.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1998 Braida (Giacomo Bologna) Barbera d'Asti Bricco dell'Uccellone 85 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti
Overripe, past best, drying, the sweet smell of decay, light weight, hint of cold tea, short. Off bottle or is the wine just too old?
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2001 Schiavenza Barolo Vigneto Broglio 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Sweet fruit, firm tannins, hint of tar, slender, classic style, distinctive profile. Good wine, at peak.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1994 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero 89 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
Slightly corked? Otherwise a classic, mature, cedary wine.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2000 Château Figeac 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Very jammy, vegetal, fresh, quite firm tannic grip, seems to lack depth and definition, difficult to assess. Not as good as I remember.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2000 Château d'Aiguilhe 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
Classic, concentrated, has depth and length, balance and energy, very complete, clean and pure, fresh style, ripe tannins, superb balance and length. A stunner.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1997 Feudi di San Gregorio Irpinia Serpico 91 Points
Italy, Campania, Irpinia
Fresh oregano on the nose, intense black tea, sweet fruit on the palate, tannic grip, structured, not too alcoholic (13% ABV), mature, bright finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2003 Trapiche Malbec Single Vineyard Viña Pedro González El Cepillo 92 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
Fabulous fruit and freshness, mineral and layered, spices and perfectly integrated oak, precise, excellent weight and length.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Bodegas Pintia Toro Pintia 92 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Toro
Ripe and glossy fruit, juicy, ripe but grippy tannins, bright and lively, very youthful for age, stylish and fine, lovely length.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
2004 Bodega Numanthia Toro Numanthia 93 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Toro
Has grip and weight, ripe fruit, deep and alcoholic, very concentrated, clean style, lovely flavours and length, fresh and lively for age.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2004 Vergelegen Vergelegen 92 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
Elegant, shapely, just a hint of green, medium weight, classic style, good length.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2001 Cims de Porrera Priorat Classic 91 Points
Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
A blend of 85% Carinena and 15% Garnacha, 14.5% ABV. Mature and open nose, herbs and spice; good stuffing on the palate, ripe fruit, leather, nice mineral drive, gentle tannins; good length, hint of liquorice.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1997 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Campolongo di Torbe 91 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Very powerful, ripe and balsamic, raisins, quite oxidative, sweet and alcoholic, deep, rich, grainy tannins, impressive but lacks charm and joy.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1985 Fonseca Porto Vintage 93 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Rich and ripe, not as exotic in character as e.g. the 1977, deep and warm, rich and elegant, cedary, classic, lovely length.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No