Great stuff. Easily the wine of the night; still showing quite youthful in terms of the brightness of the fruit, but also some mellowing in terms of the interplay between the acidity and sweetness. Incredibly dense palate profile, with lots of great mineral chew, the way a proper bottle of riesling ought to have. For Sonnenuhr, this has yet to develop the blue cheese/creamy notes though.
A lovely bottle of syrah, especially at the price point. Dark fruit and plenty of spice as well. Comes across a bit more polished and modern versus a more rustic, backwards profile, but it's not overtly oaky or heavy-handed. Fully black fruit here; nary a hint of red at this stage.
Fine, but not inspiring. Dark fruited with some high-toned notes that feel a little volatile, and then on the palate this is missing flavour, even if it has the right tannic structure. Very stern and dark; may well have guessed 2018 as far as vintage.
Brings to mind the thought that Dönnhoff lasts, but doesn't improve markedly with age, the way many other producers do. This is a solid bottle of wine, to be sure, with the vintage's marked acidity showing on full display, but I don't find the additional complexity I would expect in a wine with this much bottle age. Not going to turn down a glass of this by any stretch, but I think that it could be better.
Have to admit that I didn't really love this; I found it a bit soft and missing weight and depth on the palate. I liked the delicate dried red fruit here, as well as the perfumed notes, but the fruit on the palate clearly felt like it was fading away, especially next to the Thomas wines.
This bottle had quite a bit of fizz, and there was a tart red fruit profile here that made me think a little of the post-modern style. But there's certainly depth and no nattiness here at all. Overall, a tad high-toned for my enjoyment, but I do love the bright red fruit profile.
I think this may not have been a totally representative bottle, but it didn't have overt flaws either. A bit high-toned and showing significantly more mature versus the lovely 2006 alongside. The fruit profile has some modest browning notes as well.
My favourite of the Thomas bottles tonight -- this is brilliant now. There's a bit of ripeness to the red fruit here, but it's not overdone, and it's in fact quite delicate overall. Strawberries and perfume, the way aged Oregon pinot ought to be.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
To be honest, somewhat disappointing given the site on the label. It's a perfectly solid bottle of pinot, but it's missing the oomph to bring it to the next level. A mix of red and black fruit with firm tannins; missing the complexity and layers I expect from a grand cru.
Not sure if this was just old and cardboard funky or if there was a slight bit of TCA here. Regardless, while there was enough fruit to show proof of life, there's still quite a few angular tannins to work through.
2005 Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Le Haut-Lieu Flawed
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Corked.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 95 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Great stuff. Easily the wine of the night; still showing quite youthful in terms of the brightness of the fruit, but also some mellowing in terms of the interplay between the acidity and sweetness. Incredibly dense palate profile, with lots of great mineral chew, the way a proper bottle of riesling ought to have. For Sonnenuhr, this has yet to develop the blue cheese/creamy notes though.
Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2023 Nervi-Conterno Il Rosato 90 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Piemonte DOC
Great stuff for a rosato. Strong tannic backbone, and intense sweet fruit. Very powerful, with good breadth. A serious wine, but also easy to enjoy.
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
2007 Nikolaihof Riesling Steinriesler 88 Points
Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau
More interesting that good. Some chenin-adjacent furry qualities here, with a diffuse profile that is also showing some browning fruit.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
2020 Dumien-Serrette / Nicolas Serrette Cornas "Henri" 90 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
A lovely bottle of syrah, especially at the price point. Dark fruit and plenty of spice as well. Comes across a bit more polished and modern versus a more rustic, backwards profile, but it's not overtly oaky or heavy-handed. Fully black fruit here; nary a hint of red at this stage.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1988 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Showing more oxidized than should be correct. A shame.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2016 Domaine Louis Boillot et Fils Pommard 1er Cru Les Croix Noires 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru
Fine, but not inspiring. Dark fruited with some high-toned notes that feel a little volatile, and then on the palate this is missing flavour, even if it has the right tannic structure. Very stern and dark; may well have guessed 2018 as far as vintage.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2013 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese 90 Points
Germany, Nahe
Brings to mind the thought that Dönnhoff lasts, but doesn't improve markedly with age, the way many other producers do. This is a solid bottle of wine, to be sure, with the vintage's marked acidity showing on full display, but I don't find the additional complexity I would expect in a wine with this much bottle age. Not going to turn down a glass of this by any stretch, but I think that it could be better.
Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
2008 Brick House Pinot Noir Evelyn's 88 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge
Have to admit that I didn't really love this; I found it a bit soft and missing weight and depth on the palate. I liked the delicate dried red fruit here, as well as the perfumed notes, but the fruit on the palate clearly felt like it was fading away, especially next to the Thomas wines.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2012 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 90 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
This bottle had quite a bit of fizz, and there was a tart red fruit profile here that made me think a little of the post-modern style. But there's certainly depth and no nattiness here at all. Overall, a tad high-toned for my enjoyment, but I do love the bright red fruit profile.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
2007 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 88 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
I think this may not have been a totally representative bottle, but it didn't have overt flaws either. A bit high-toned and showing significantly more mature versus the lovely 2006 alongside. The fruit profile has some modest browning notes as well.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 93 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
My favourite of the Thomas bottles tonight -- this is brilliant now. There's a bit of ripeness to the red fruit here, but it's not overdone, and it's in fact quite delicate overall. Strawberries and perfume, the way aged Oregon pinot ought to be.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
2006 Maison Champy Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
To be honest, somewhat disappointing given the site on the label. It's a perfectly solid bottle of pinot, but it's missing the oomph to bring it to the next level. A mix of red and black fruit with firm tannins; missing the complexity and layers I expect from a grand cru.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
1978 Lungarotti Torgiano Rubesco Riserva Vigna Monticchio
Italy, Umbria, Torgiano
Not sure if this was just old and cardboard funky or if there was a slight bit of TCA here. Regardless, while there was enough fruit to show proof of life, there's still quite a few angular tannins to work through.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No