Embarrassingly, I didn't get the lot number on this, so I'm not sure about the "vintage" or disgorgement. This has a lovely chalky feel to it, with insanely high acidity (green and golden apples). I quipped that this probably has -2g/L dosage. Yes, it's that dry and acidic. I do prefer my Champagnes a bit rounder, but the dense mineral and acid on this one really did do it for me.
USA, California, Central Coast, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
Barely pink -- if anything, I'd say this was an advanced white wine than a rose. There's a bubble-gum juiciness to the nose. Slightly sweet on the palate, with a dash of pepper for added interest. I found this to be a pretty textbook rose. Would have liked a bit more funk or mineral for added interest.
Italy, Emilia-Romagna, Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce DOC
Violets, purple fruit, and just smells like fresh fruit juice. Yum. Super lively on the palate with a pronounced strawberry/rhubarb flavour. I almost get a little bit of pineapple too (weird). Lots of acidity, which seems almost out of place, since I was basically expecting some sweet fruit juice based on the nose. Super fun to drink, this really needs some greasy food to do it justice.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges
A bit herbal and stemmy on the nose, but not off-putting in any way. The palate has a lot of sweeter fruit character, but the tannins come off a bit harsh and rustic (eh, young Nuits, what do you expect?). Very fruit-driven and juicy, and totally open for business now (apart from those pesky tannins that may or may not come around).
Served blind. From the colour, it was clear that this was a red-skinned grape with white juice. Intense floral aromatics on the nose had me thinking Jura varietal, but the incredibly lush red fruit had me thinking new world. So at the end of the day, playing the player a little bit, I guessed new world Jura varietal. Pinot did cross my mind, but I thought this was much too fruit-forward and aromatic to be so.
Well, they certainly don't make 'em like this anymore! 12.5% abv in 1998. Can you imagine? The nose has an intense meat and green olive character, coupled with some slight mint notes as well. The palate explodes with ripe fruit, but none of it is cloying or jammy. There's an incredible amount of acidity and fully resolved tannins. Drinking superbly well now.
Really gotta stop opening young Rioja. Heh. This comes off with a very reticent nose, not showing very much except a hint of oak and vanilla, and a larger dose of leather. Whoa, this is leathery. The palate has the same qualities about it. It's quite demure, but with a charming floral tone that ought to get bigger in magnitude with more air/age. There's a lot of fruit in the background as well that I imagine will just need more time to come around. This bottle did look like a late release -- the label was pristine.
NV Emmanuel Brochet Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Le Mont Benoit 90 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Embarrassingly, I didn't get the lot number on this, so I'm not sure about the "vintage" or disgorgement. This has a lovely chalky feel to it, with insanely high acidity (green and golden apples). I quipped that this probably has -2g/L dosage. Yes, it's that dry and acidic. I do prefer my Champagnes a bit rounder, but the dense mineral and acid on this one really did do it for me.
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2014 Liquid Farm Mourvèdre Rosé Vogelzang Vineyard 85 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
Barely pink -- if anything, I'd say this was an advanced white wine than a rose. There's a bubble-gum juiciness to the nose. Slightly sweet on the palate, with a dash of pepper for added interest. I found this to be a pretty textbook rose. Would have liked a bit more funk or mineral for added interest.
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2013 Vigneto Saetti Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce Rosso Viola 90 Points
Italy, Emilia-Romagna, Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce DOC
Violets, purple fruit, and just smells like fresh fruit juice. Yum. Super lively on the palate with a pronounced strawberry/rhubarb flavour. I almost get a little bit of pineapple too (weird). Lots of acidity, which seems almost out of place, since I was basically expecting some sweet fruit juice based on the nose. Super fun to drink, this really needs some greasy food to do it justice.
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2000 Domaine Robert Arnoux / Arnoux-Lachaux Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Poisets Flawed
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges
Cooked.
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2007 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos des Fourches 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits-Saint-Georges
A bit herbal and stemmy on the nose, but not off-putting in any way. The palate has a lot of sweeter fruit character, but the tannins come off a bit harsh and rustic (eh, young Nuits, what do you expect?). Very fruit-driven and juicy, and totally open for business now (apart from those pesky tannins that may or may not come around).
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2012 Coche-Dury Auxey-Duresses Rouge 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Auxey-Duresses
Served blind. From the colour, it was clear that this was a red-skinned grape with white juice. Intense floral aromatics on the nose had me thinking Jura varietal, but the incredibly lush red fruit had me thinking new world. So at the end of the day, playing the player a little bit, I guessed new world Jura varietal. Pinot did cross my mind, but I thought this was much too fruit-forward and aromatic to be so.
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1998 Guy Bernard Côte-Rôtie 95 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Well, they certainly don't make 'em like this anymore! 12.5% abv in 1998. Can you imagine? The nose has an intense meat and green olive character, coupled with some slight mint notes as well. The palate explodes with ripe fruit, but none of it is cloying or jammy. There's an incredible amount of acidity and fully resolved tannins. Drinking superbly well now.
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1982 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Gran Reserva 90 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Really gotta stop opening young Rioja. Heh. This comes off with a very reticent nose, not showing very much except a hint of oak and vanilla, and a larger dose of leather. Whoa, this is leathery. The palate has the same qualities about it. It's quite demure, but with a charming floral tone that ought to get bigger in magnitude with more air/age. There's a lot of fruit in the background as well that I imagine will just need more time to come around. This bottle did look like a late release -- the label was pristine.
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