Apples and peaches on the nose and palate. Very restrained but completely open. Just a fantastic bottle, and I'm happy to have been able to catch it at this moment right now.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Initially a very charming red-fruited nose that just lures you in with that classic cheerful 2007 character. But aha! A trap! You've been caught in a barrel of oak, and you can't get out. What the hell man, all this oak on the palate is totes uncool.
A very austere Bordeaux, with a nose that doesn't show much at all. The palate is mostly leather -- this has definitely dried out, and there's a prominent medicinal quality to it too.
From half bottle. There's a lot of dried fruit on the nose, and a bit of leather too. Definitely though, you can tell this isn't one of those usual old French wines. The palate is still quite big with the fruit, and the tannins are still prominent. Needs a lot of air to come around.
This didn't have any green on it, though there was that distinctive and annoying chemical smell. Is it pyrazine? I've been out of a lab too long to remember if that's what it smelled like. Anyway, there wasn't too much on the palate, but it wasn't offensive either. Non-offensive, though, is probably the greatest praise I could give this bottle.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
I think, and I say this only because this was not served blind to me, that I'd be able to identify this as a Burgundy despite its offensive Sharpie marker and coffee notes, because underneath that, there is some Burgundian DNA (in the form of a bit of red fruit and mushroom). The palate is uninteresting with not much to say except the same weird un-pinot flavours. A bit astringent and empty, this isn't showing much except the oak. This is just a weird bottle, and I really can't make heads or tails of it, except to say that it's pretty mediocre. On the other hand, I might just be too young to understand Burgundy.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
On the rich side of a Puligny, this had a lot of citrus fruit going for it, and sadly, I felt it came off a bit flabby. Lacked mineral and acidic cut. On the other hand, there was still decent character and it hadn't gotten so over the top to become awful.
Just the right amount of brett for me (I'm pretty sensitive, but can bear a little bit). On the other hand, the palate is a bit round, juicy, and sweet, without much other character, which makes this wine seem a bit dumb.
A sinewy and steely Champagne with quite an austere character, although this fleshed out a bit with some air to show a bit more fruit. A bit of hazelnut as well. This came off slightly bitter, which really bothered me for some reason...
This is a turning "wine". If you put it near your nose, your head turns away. If you swallow it, your stomach turns. I hear points are assigned arbitrarily these days by the big critics. I will endeavour to do the same here. I give this 100 points, minus one point for every year Caymus has been in existence. Then I take away 10 points for the ugly label, which made me turn my eyes away. The Wagners are laughing all the way to the bank.
Almost a rose in colour, this has a fragrant, floral aroma that you can't stop from rising out of the glass. Maddeningly pretty. The palate is slightly austere and astringent still, but give it a bit of time and these will turn out swimmingly. Clean-cut and very mineral. Just fantastic.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru
I love Roulot, and this doesn't disappoint at all. Classic Roulot cut -- angular but crisp, clean, and clear. A good amount of fruit that doesn't ever become too much, there's lovely racy acidity that binds the whole package together.
#05-13, 8.5% abv. I gotta stop pulling my 2012 Kabinetts. I was supposed to age them. Oh well, they're still lip-smackingly delicious with heaps of fresh tropical fruit and acidity, with some steely mineral cut behind everything to keep things really interesting. Excellently made, I will definitely need to reload on this one.
Clearly identifiable as sauvignon blanc from the cat pee note, this is sauvignon blanc like I've never had before. The nose has tons of tropical fruit -- guava, pineapple, passionfruit -- which carry over the the palate, but at the same time, this is bone dry and insanely acidic (keep your Rolaids handy!). Incredible concentration that just beats you over the head over and over again. Wow. Despite being 14% abv, this shows absolutely no heat at all.
There's a Nirvana song called Smells Like Port Spirit. Wait no, there isn't. But this just smells like rum, and tastes like it too (albeit mixed with some pretty damn tasty fig juice). The alcohol is a bit over-prominent here.
2002 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #9 93 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Apples and peaches on the nose and palate. Very restrained but completely open. Just a fantastic bottle, and I'm happy to have been able to catch it at this moment right now.
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2007 Domaine Denis Mortet Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru 85 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Initially a very charming red-fruited nose that just lures you in with that classic cheerful 2007 character. But aha! A trap! You've been caught in a barrel of oak, and you can't get out. What the hell man, all this oak on the palate is totes uncool.
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1996 Château Lafon-Rochet 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
A very austere Bordeaux, with a nose that doesn't show much at all. The palate is mostly leather -- this has definitely dried out, and there's a prominent medicinal quality to it too.
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1964 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Viña Real Reserva Especial 90 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
From half bottle. There's a lot of dried fruit on the nose, and a bit of leather too. Definitely though, you can tell this isn't one of those usual old French wines. The palate is still quite big with the fruit, and the tannins are still prominent. Needs a lot of air to come around.
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2004 Comte Armand Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux 85 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru
This didn't have any green on it, though there was that distinctive and annoying chemical smell. Is it pyrazine? I've been out of a lab too long to remember if that's what it smelled like. Anyway, there wasn't too much on the palate, but it wasn't offensive either. Non-offensive, though, is probably the greatest praise I could give this bottle.
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2010 Maison Ilan Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Corbeaux 80 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
I think, and I say this only because this was not served blind to me, that I'd be able to identify this as a Burgundy despite its offensive Sharpie marker and coffee notes, because underneath that, there is some Burgundian DNA (in the form of a bit of red fruit and mushroom). The palate is uninteresting with not much to say except the same weird un-pinot flavours. A bit astringent and empty, this isn't showing much except the oak. This is just a weird bottle, and I really can't make heads or tails of it, except to say that it's pretty mediocre. On the other hand, I might just be too young to understand Burgundy.
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2004 Agharta Wines Black Label 70 Points
USA, California, North Coast
Black currant juice. Sweet, barely any acid, and clearly discernible alcohol. Gross.
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2007 Arnaud Ente Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
On the rich side of a Puligny, this had a lot of citrus fruit going for it, and sadly, I felt it came off a bit flabby. Lacked mineral and acidic cut. On the other hand, there was still decent character and it hadn't gotten so over the top to become awful.
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1996 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Just the right amount of brett for me (I'm pretty sensitive, but can bear a little bit). On the other hand, the palate is a bit round, juicy, and sweet, without much other character, which makes this wine seem a bit dumb.
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1995 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Blanc des Millénaires 88 Points
France, Champagne
A sinewy and steely Champagne with quite an austere character, although this fleshed out a bit with some air to show a bit more fruit. A bit of hazelnut as well. This came off slightly bitter, which really bothered me for some reason...
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2012 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary 50 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
This is a turning "wine". If you put it near your nose, your head turns away. If you swallow it, your stomach turns. I hear points are assigned arbitrarily these days by the big critics. I will endeavour to do the same here. I give this 100 points, minus one point for every year Caymus has been in existence. Then I take away 10 points for the ugly label, which made me turn my eyes away. The Wagners are laughing all the way to the bank.
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1985 Domaine Mussy Pommard 85 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard
Funky and dirty in the way that old Burg is, but you have to be a bit of a necrophiliac to like this.
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2008 Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay 1er Cru Clos du Château des Ducs 95 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru
Almost a rose in colour, this has a fragrant, floral aroma that you can't stop from rising out of the glass. Maddeningly pretty. The palate is slightly austere and astringent still, but give it a bit of time and these will turn out swimmingly. Clean-cut and very mineral. Just fantastic.
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2011 Domaine Roulot Meursault 1er Cru Clos des Bouchères 95 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru
I love Roulot, and this doesn't disappoint at all. Classic Roulot cut -- angular but crisp, clean, and clear. A good amount of fruit that doesn't ever become too much, there's lovely racy acidity that binds the whole package together.
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2003 Bodegas Felix Callejo Ribera del Duero Selección de Viñedos de la Familia 80 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
A bit too much fruit, and much too big for my taste. Very ripe and alcohol-heavy. Clumsy and brutish.
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2012 A.J. Adam Hofberg Riesling Kabinett 93 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
#05-13, 8.5% abv. I gotta stop pulling my 2012 Kabinetts. I was supposed to age them. Oh well, they're still lip-smackingly delicious with heaps of fresh tropical fruit and acidity, with some steely mineral cut behind everything to keep things really interesting. Excellently made, I will definitely need to reload on this one.
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1988 Serafin Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
Animal dung and funk on the nose -- very powerfully so. The palate is a bit acidic and astringent, and mostly dead.
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2012 Edmond Vatan Sancerre Clos la Néore 93 Points
France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre
Clearly identifiable as sauvignon blanc from the cat pee note, this is sauvignon blanc like I've never had before. The nose has tons of tropical fruit -- guava, pineapple, passionfruit -- which carry over the the palate, but at the same time, this is bone dry and insanely acidic (keep your Rolaids handy!). Incredible concentration that just beats you over the head over and over again. Wow. Despite being 14% abv, this shows absolutely no heat at all.
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1985 Warre Porto Vintage 85 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
There's a Nirvana song called Smells Like Port Spirit. Wait no, there isn't. But this just smells like rum, and tastes like it too (albeit mixed with some pretty damn tasty fig juice). The alcohol is a bit over-prominent here.
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2007 F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd 'M' 80 Points
Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau
Big. Overbig. Sweetness and alcohol displaying prominently, showing a greasy texture and not much else. Besides big.
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