France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru
(12/28/2024)
Fully ripe, accessible but not in a dull way. Lots of red fruit, the nose is super expressive, there's strawberry leaf and grass cuttings in there. On the palate - open, generous - but again, not in a dull way, there's an almost new world Pinot Noir finish to this, it stops short of jammy, but only just. Really nice stuff, not too serious, but worthy of your attention.
I once read that, in Japan, restaurants which serve Fugu (the deadly puffer fish) need to walk a line. If too many people die from eating it, your restaurant will suffer, but if no-one *ever* dies, people will think it's not real Fugu. Similarly, mature Musar must have *some* filthy characteristics, but not too much. This performed perfectly in that dimension, fully engaging, with that Musar hydrostatic skeleton, and a medium to long finish. Enjoyed going back to this over three days, but didn't rush to open another.
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
(12/28/2024)
14.5% abv. Purple garnet colour. Plum, red fruits on the nose. Surprising acidity on the palate, with the tannins somewhat put in their place. Some length here, but it's not serving up the cedar and cigar box components I was expecting. If it doesn't grow on me will leave to tomorrow to finish to see if some air and time wake it up.
From a single bottle I picked up a couple of years ago. 13.5% abv. Purple / garnet colour. Threw off a lot of sediment. Lovely core to it, strong acid and nice tannic structure, clearly syrah, could imagine N Rhone, just perhaps the slight sweetness on the finish says "New World", but that could be autosuggestion. Still a hint of white pepper here. This is very attractive - pleased to have tried.
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
(12/29/2024)
Day 2. An entirely different proposition - suspect that air and time have done their work, but also I'm in a more appreciative mood. There's a lovely mouthfeel (I mentioned 14.5%...) and a kind of cherry, plummy finish. Lovely tannins that are clear but don't overwhelm - like exposed beams in a nicely designed kitchen. Definitely more right bank than left, blind I might even think Tuscan. Either way - no rush to finish these, and if I open one in the next year or two will definitely prepare it with a few hours decanting time.
2009 Louis Jadot Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Clos de la Croix de Pierre
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru
(12/28/2024)
Fully ripe, accessible but not in a dull way. Lots of red fruit, the nose is super expressive, there's strawberry leaf and grass cuttings in there. On the palate - open, generous - but again, not in a dull way, there's an almost new world Pinot Noir finish to this, it stops short of jammy, but only just. Really nice stuff, not too serious, but worthy of your attention.
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1999 Chateau Musar
Lebanon, Bekaa Valley
(12/28/2024)
I once read that, in Japan, restaurants which serve Fugu (the deadly puffer fish) need to walk a line. If too many people die from eating it, your restaurant will suffer, but if no-one *ever* dies, people will think it's not real Fugu. Similarly, mature Musar must have *some* filthy characteristics, but not too much. This performed perfectly in that dimension, fully engaging, with that Musar hydrostatic skeleton, and a medium to long finish. Enjoyed going back to this over three days, but didn't rush to open another.
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2017 Wessels Family Restless River Cabernet Sauvignon Main Road & Dignity
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
(12/28/2024)
14.5% abv. Purple garnet colour. Plum, red fruits on the nose. Surprising acidity on the palate, with the tannins somewhat put in their place. Some length here, but it's not serving up the cedar and cigar box components I was expecting. If it doesn't grow on me will leave to tomorrow to finish to see if some air and time wake it up.
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2015 Mullineux Syrah
South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland
(12/29/2024)
From a single bottle I picked up a couple of years ago. 13.5% abv. Purple / garnet colour. Threw off a lot of sediment. Lovely core to it, strong acid and nice tannic structure, clearly syrah, could imagine N Rhone, just perhaps the slight sweetness on the finish says "New World", but that could be autosuggestion. Still a hint of white pepper here. This is very attractive - pleased to have tried.
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2017 Wessels Family Restless River Cabernet Sauvignon Main Road & Dignity
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
(12/29/2024)
Day 2. An entirely different proposition - suspect that air and time have done their work, but also I'm in a more appreciative mood. There's a lovely mouthfeel (I mentioned 14.5%...) and a kind of cherry, plummy finish. Lovely tannins that are clear but don't overwhelm - like exposed beams in a nicely designed kitchen. Definitely more right bank than left, blind I might even think Tuscan. Either way - no rush to finish these, and if I open one in the next year or two will definitely prepare it with a few hours decanting time.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No