Highbury, Wellington, New Zealand
Tasted Friday, October 23, 2015 by Marc with 332 views
Cocktail Sandwiches
Goat Cheese Bavarois with Red Pepper Coulis
Rolled Venison with Creamy Mushroom Sauce, Mashed Kumera with Orange Sauce, Fresh Asparagus
Cheeses
Apple "Flowers" with Maple Walnut Ice Cream
1995 Johanneshof 76 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Very developed. Biscuity, aged, very mellow. Walnuts on finish. Faded mousse. Certainly not French in style. This is not yet tired, but it is well past its best.
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1995 Domaine Chandon Marlborough 79 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Much closer to a French style than the 1995 Johanneshof Blanc de Blanc, tasted earlier, but the finish is too sweet and takes one's thoughts away from Champagne. Powerful and fruity finish with candy cane spice and caramel on the finish. Possibly a little out of balance - the acid/sweetness of the fruit comes across as a little cloying. Honey and pine nuts. This would have been far better on release.
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2005 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Spätlese 91 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Lush and honeyed wine with a medium - sweet finish and a rich body. Very mineral and fresh fennel with outstanding focus. Plenty of acid builds definition but currently the wine is still rather primary and will certainly improve with time. Give this 10 more years.
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2005 Framingham Riesling Classic 90 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Looks like a brand new wine. Very dry and light with a sense of power and a depth of flavour that lead me to suspect Clare Valley. Slight talcum nuance adds interest. Excellent balance and great complexity - this is really fine wine that will continue to improve with time in the bottle. Outstanding! 12%
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2005 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
Exotic and juicy Chablis with stunning poise and intensity. Powdery talc aspect adds lift to this bright and alive wine. Still a baby but really beautiful.
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2005 Domaine Laroche Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot 89 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Excellent Chablis with a lot of oak influence. Mineral, smokey, stemmy and buttery on the nose. Creamy texture on the palate. This is excellent, but a little too commercial and oaky for classic Chablis style, in my opinion. As a drink it is very delicious.
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1995 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Spéciale La Tourtine 91 Points
France, Provence, Bandol
Light ruby - some age apparent. On the nose, cedar, bottle age, light bell pepper and a touch of sewer. On the palate, OK structure, gorgeous texture and a point. This is a beautiful, brett stink Bandol that has the proportions and texture of red burgundy but with the feral nature of Mouvedre. Beautiful.
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1995 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
Blackberries, smokey bacon and a gorgeous black olive - tapenade aroma. This is a classy wine with very nice balance, with bacon fat echoing and feels like the essence of syrah, for me. Like the 1990, tasted a few days later, this wine has a seamless texture that is all about refinement and expression of the grape and terroir. Like the 1990, this is a point.
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1995 Henschke Shiraz Mount Edelstone 91 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Sweet and simple nose - some cedar, very ripe, American oak. Rich "old softie" in style. Slightly bright palate. This is excellent, textbook Barossa with a much appreciated sense of lift and lightness. With further air, this became more rich and lifted. Outstanding.
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2005 Leone de Castris Salice Salentino Moscato Pierale 86 Points
Italy, Puglia, Salice Salentino
This wine floored me when I had it as I could not believe that a 10 year old 12% Muscat would still be alive. This fact colours my impression of the wine, but suffice it to say that this is intensely varietal, very juicy and delicious and has excellent presence on the palate. Classy wine making.
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2005 Château Gaudrelle Vouvray Moelleux Réserve Spéciale 87 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Intense Chenin nose of green apples and dried fruit. Very varietal - nervy acid, strong herbal edge and a hint of white pepper. The acid brings the residual sugar completely into line, with the effect of making this wine feels as if it finishes dry. Very good.
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