Weekly tasting group RWP #241: DJ's birthday, so a complete surprise.

All wines tasted fully blind.

• 2008 Villiera Cape Winemakers Guild Villiera Meteor 90 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  In the bouquet butter milk, yeasty, apple, citrus and slightly reductive. Same on the palate, some oxidized impressions, mild acidity. some butter and firm bitterness. Good, mature wine.

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• NV Ariston Aspasie Champagne Cepages d'Antan 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  In the bouquet citrus, yeast, minerals, fresh apples, pear and some tropical fruits. On the palate minerals, firm bitterness and acidity. A lot of acidity, some yeasty flavors. Good length and slightly reductive.

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• 2009 Arnaud Ente Bourgogne-Aligoté 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté

  In the bouquet white fruits and some minerals. On the palate mild acidity, some sweetness and oaky impressions. Not really great, but for an aligoté a very acceptable wine.

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• 2009 Didier Dagueneau Les Jardins de Babylone Moelleux 92 Points

  France, Southwest France, Jurançon

  When you expect a dry white this wine offers a very special bouquet with caramel and butterscotch, On the palate a lot of sweetness, but also a lot acidity. Like caramelized pineapple. Specials and beautiful wine.

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• 2007 Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss Alsace Kritt Klevner Quintessence de Pinot Blanc 90 Points

  France, Alsace

  In the bouquet honey, apricots, cane sugar, botrytis, herbs and creaminess. On the palate caramel, sweet melon, honey, low acidity and good orange peel impressions.

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• 1998 Carruades de Lafite

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Tasted fully blind again and I did not even recognize this wine as a high quality Bordeaux. In the bouquet red berries like strawberry and yoghurt, some herbs and bell pepper as well. On the palate red forest fruits, herbs, firm acidity, some sweetness and not very much tannin. A bit short in the finish. I was flabbergasted to see this was a Carruades. Definitely a very good wine, but no score from me this time.

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• 2005 Carruades de Lafite 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Poured fully blind and I did not recognize a Pauillac at all! In the bouquet cherry yoghurt and licorice. On the palate cherries, herbs, good oak and sticky tannin. Certainly a very good and fairly luxurious wine, but this bottle did not really show its parentage/descent/provenance. What is the best word? Definitely a future of another 5+ years. For now 90 – 91.

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• 1993 Château Cantenac Brown 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Beautiful and mature bouquet with good oak cedar and tobacco. On the palate good acidity, chocolate, red berries, chocolate, good acidity and tannin with still a pleasant bite. Overall a beautiful and mature wine. Perfectly ready now. No extreme hurry, but don’t wait much longer.

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• 2000 De Toren Fusion V

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  In the bouquet dark berries, chocolate, some soy and celery. On the palate the wine is still beautiful, but quite developed. Good acidity and still some bite, but also chocolate, coffee and quite mature. Good to drink this bottle now and not in one or two years. Will not improve. No score for today. 89 or 90 would be quite correct.

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• 1987 Opus One 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Beautiful bouquet with dark forest fruits and sweet spices. On the palate a concentrated wine with dark berries, tar, licorice, fine acidity and soft tannin. This bottle was fully mature now. Drink soon!

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• 2005 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V. 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  In the bouquet dark forest fruits, beautiful oak and sweet spices. On the palate dark forest fruits, chocolate, good and fresh acidity and also lush. The tannin is round and soft. Beautiful and mature wine. Will drink lovely over the next 2+ years.

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• 2008 Lucie & Auguste Lignier Clos de la Roche 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

  Not so many notes. In the bouquet good herbs and red berry fruits. On the palate red berries and cherries, some forest floor and autumn impressions, a touch of sweetness and also firm acidity. Complex wine. Young maturity now. 93 - 94

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• 2009 Lucie & Auguste Lignier Clos de la Roche 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

  In the bouquet beautiful herbs, earth and autumn forest. On the palate a juicy wine with good and firm acidity and firm, somewhat drying tannin. Beautiful and elegant wine. I prefer this 2009 above the 2008.

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• 2009 Arnaud Ente Bourgogne-Grand-Ordinaire

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Grand-Ordinaire

  This is a very special wine, especially when you expect it to be a Pinot Noir. But it is a Gamay….. In the bouquet a lot of herbs and Asian spices. On the palate the same spiciness and herbs, firm acidity and overall very special. You love it or hate it. No score from me.

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• 1990 Giacosa Fratelli Barbera d'Alba Busije

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba

  In the bouquet coffee, chocolate, raisins and Madeira impressions. On the palate chocolate, firm acidity. A very mature and still pleasurable wine. No score.

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• 1997 Giacosa Fratelli Barolo Bussia 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  In the bouquet herbs and dark as well as red berry fruits. On the palate coffee and chocolate. Mature, but still very juicy. A pleasant touch of sweetness. Drink now or soon.

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• 2005 Giacosa Fratelli Barolo Bussia 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  In the bouquet dark berries, chocolate and coffee. On the palate the same impressions with good dark berries, chocolate, pleasant acidity, good acidity and slightly drying tannin. Some pleasant sweetness as well.

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• 1978 Barbeito Madeira Boal

  Portugal, Madeira

  In the bouquet tangerine, caramel, mocha and dates. On the palate caramel, a firm amount of alcohol and a mouth full. Great length. No score. (Would be 90+)

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• 1955 Moulin Touchais Anjou Blanc 90 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou

  In the bouquet orange peel and tangerine. On the palate sweet lemon, firm acidity and slightly drying in the finish.

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• 2005 Château de Fargues 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  In the bouquet orange peel and mandarin. On the palate full bodied, a good balance between acidity and sweetness. Beautiful and concentrated wine.

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