Not sure I've had a 93 champagne before. Deep yellow colour - oxidative nose continues the story. On the palate, surprisingly fresh but my gosh there's some depth there too. Not super bubbly but it's definitely champagne. With time this became deeper, more complex. This is just fab.
Hmm - third time I've drunk this, and second time with Bromley turbot. Best of the three? Real energy and complexity - this is just fab. Hits the spot. Do I prefer it to the Dom Ruinart? No but...I could convince myself I do.
Another bottle from the Gavroche auction. I've had mixed experiences but tonight it's hit after hit. A bit shorter than the preceding bottle but entirely correct and no annoying groweriness. If only one could rely on this being the case.
First of a trio of SA Chenins, chosen to convince our host that white grapes other than Chardonnay exist. This is lovely, big mouth feel, it has a precision to it but also fills the mouth, as its 14% abv suggests it might. Will the other, significantly higher priced wines be a step up? Let's see...
Hmm - my notes suggest this is the second time I've tasted this alongside the Delany. Same result. This is super - tightly focused, linear, dare I say it almost PYCM-like with some flintiness and reduction. I went back and forth between this and the following wine as my wine of the flight.
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, Bottelary
Oh so complete - if the Mullineux was like PYCM does Chenin, this was more of a logical progression from the Delany, complete, complex, so rich in the mouth but also precisely drawn. This is proper wine.
Hmm i always struggle with tasting notes for stickies, but I made a resolution this year so here goes. Still somewhat fresh - the nose is the thing, but the palate doesn't follow too far behind. Lovely broad fruits, stone fruits and maybe a hint of honey at the back - no bitterness at all though, this showed well.
Well once again our host shows that he managed to choose the best wines from the mixed auction lot we shared...this was great, just a hint of oxidative character but light and energetic and just the thing to see us off into the warm summer evening.
1993 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs
France, Champagne
Not sure I've had a 93 champagne before. Deep yellow colour - oxidative nose continues the story. On the palate, surprisingly fresh but my gosh there's some depth there too. Not super bubbly but it's definitely champagne. With time this became deeper, more complex. This is just fab.
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2009 Franck Pascal Champagne Quinte Essence
France, Champagne
Hmm - third time I've drunk this, and second time with Bromley turbot. Best of the three? Real energy and complexity - this is just fab. Hits the spot. Do I prefer it to the Dom Ruinart? No but...I could convince myself I do.
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NV Franck Pascal Champagne Reliance Brut Nature
France, Champagne
Another bottle from the Gavroche auction. I've had mixed experiences but tonight it's hit after hit. A bit shorter than the preceding bottle but entirely correct and no annoying groweriness. If only one could rely on this being the case.
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2021 Botanica Chenin Blanc Mary Delany Collection
South Africa, Olifants River, Citrusdal
First of a trio of SA Chenins, chosen to convince our host that white grapes other than Chardonnay exist. This is lovely, big mouth feel, it has a precision to it but also fills the mouth, as its 14% abv suggests it might. Will the other, significantly higher priced wines be a step up? Let's see...
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2021 Mullineux Chenin Blanc Schist
South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland
Hmm - my notes suggest this is the second time I've tasted this alongside the Delany. Same result. This is super - tightly focused, linear, dare I say it almost PYCM-like with some flintiness and reduction. I went back and forth between this and the following wine as my wine of the flight.
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2021 Kaapzicht Estate Chenin Blanc The 1947
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, Bottelary
Oh so complete - if the Mullineux was like PYCM does Chenin, this was more of a logical progression from the Delany, complete, complex, so rich in the mouth but also precisely drawn. This is proper wine.
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1996 Château Climens
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
Hmm i always struggle with tasting notes for stickies, but I made a resolution this year so here goes. Still somewhat fresh - the nose is the thing, but the palate doesn't follow too far behind. Lovely broad fruits, stone fruits and maybe a hint of honey at the back - no bitterness at all though, this showed well.
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NV Dehours Champagne Terre de Meunier Extra Brut
France, Champagne
Well once again our host shows that he managed to choose the best wines from the mixed auction lot we shared...this was great, just a hint of oxidative character but light and energetic and just the thing to see us off into the warm summer evening.
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