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Biryani @ Salil's

Vernon, CT

Tasted March 8, 2014 by mdefreitas with 396 views

Flight 1 - THE WHITES (4 notes)

White - Off-dry
2001 Dönnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spätlese Germany, Nahe
92 points
Beautiful and youthful; not showing much in terms of secondary flavors, but perhaps shedding some of its sweetness. Bright, juicy and chiseled.
White - Off-dry
1998 Schlossgut Diel Dorsheimer Pittermännchen Riesling Spätlese Germany, Nahe
93 points
My Riesling of the night. Flamboyant yet balanced. This displayed yellow plums, golden delicious apples, peaches and honey with a nice note of minerals on the snappy finish. Ripe but still shimmers on the palate. Delicious and lengthy.
White - Off-dry
1976 Schloss Reinhartshausen Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Riesling Auslese Germany, Rheingau
flawed
These old Schloss Reinhartshausen wines can be magical, but alas this one was not to be. Honey, apricots, slate and peach notes, but the palate was flat and dull. Probably oxidized and a darn shame.
White - Sweet/Dessert
1985 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon
flawed
This displayed honey, minerals, kerosene, peaches and prominent bananas (which I often associate with oxidized wines). There was good acidity here, but I doubt this was a sound bottle, with the kerosene and banana notes. This even took on a weird chemical/plastic note. There seems to be good underlying material here, but this was tough to rate, as I doubt it was representative.

Flight 2 - THE REDS (3 notes)

Red
1978 Torres Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Coronas Reserva Mas La Plana Spain, Catalunya, Penedès
91 points
This seemed like a very sound bottle. The fill level was good and the color showed appropriate signs of age, with a healthy ruby middle. When first opened this seemed a bit musty and reduced. This improved remarkably with air, showing saddle leather, walnuts, cedar and sweet dried cherry notes. Perhaps there was a touch of oxidation, but this was still very enjoyable, and it kept getting better with air. The tannins were fully resolved and this was like liquid silk on the palate. This started to resemble an elegant, mature claret. Perhaps the oak was a bit sweet, but it was just a side note to an otherwise complex drinking experience.
Red
2005 Paolo Bea Montefalco Sagrantino Secco Pagliaro Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino
94 points
This was lovely when first opened, and it kept getting better with air. Dark fruits, like blackberry and plums, grilled herbs, iodine, tar and a just a hint of balsamic. This was rich, yet restrained. Layered on the palate with a cornucopia of dark fruits. Youthful, complex and lengthy. No problems aging this.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2011 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon La Croix Boissée France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon
92 points
Very youthful and very structured, with grippy tannins. A strong green streak (asparagus/green pepper) mixed with lovely florals and crushed stones. No mistaking this for Loire Cab Franc. This needed air and did indeed improve with time, becoming less aggressive and more velvety. Packed with superb raw materials, this shows great potential.
3 people found this helpful Comment
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