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A matter of taste - Singapore
Singapore
Tasted November 22, 2014 by pavel_p with 656 views
Introduction
A very nice line up of wines given this event was free of charge for WA subscribers. Not ideal location, as the event was held in two tents outside and the air condition had a hard time against the tropical sun at noon, and hence a number of the wines were clearly too warm. Also some of the wines might have been just opened as I was one of first to arrive at the event. My main goal was to check in on those young but great Bordeaux vintages (2010/2009 and a few 2005), attend the Dominus master class and try some of the other highly rated wines. Apologies for the very short notes, find these marathon tastings rather demanding...
Flight 1 (34 notes)
White
2012 Château de Fieuzal Blanc
88 points
First wine tasted. Plenty of citrus and acidity, fairly light and simple. This might have been just opened and would have benefited perhaps from more air, but like this did not impress at all.
White
2010 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc
92 points
Followed the 2012 de Fieuzal Blanc. Tried this from two bottles as the first bottle seemed a bit oxidized. Obviously a very different animal to the 2012 Fieuzal: much more concentrated, oily texture, exotic fruit on the nose. The palate seems a bit closed, I guess this needs more time. Very good but not really my kind of white, this was missing the freshness that the 2012 de Fieuzal seemed to have in excess.
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Comment
White
2012 Domaine de la Croix Senaillet Saint Véran Sur la Carrière
87 points
This was less sweet than La Rochelle. More bland, perhaps needs more time. 87+
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Comment
White
2012 Domaine de la Croix Senaillet Saint Véran Les Rochats
87 points
Tried two more whites before moving on to the reds. This had an awkward sweetness on the nose and attack but did not seem particularly aromatic on the mid palate.
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Comment
Red
2002 Château Malescot St. Exupéry
88 points
Still a fair bit of oak, medium drying tannins, slight bitterness, short finish.
Red
2010 Château de Fieuzal
90 points
Unlike18 months ago, this is now fairly closed. Medium plus tannins, medium finish. Needs more air / time. 90+
Red
2009 Château Talbot
89 points
A fair bit of oak, dark fruit and only short to medium finish. Not great for a classified growth in 2009. This will come together but not a great wine. 89+
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Red
2010 Château Giscours
93 points
To my surprise this was the first (and only if I recall correctly) 2010 that was not closed at the tasting. Sweet and generous fruit backed up by a firm structure. Very aromatic and very Margaux. Good length too. Excellent wine.
Red
2009 Château La Fleur-Pétrus
94 points
Big, dark fruit, aromatic and fragrant, medium plus tannins, oak, long finish. Excellent but needs more time to come together. 94+?
Red
2009 Domaine de Chevalier
95 points
Forest floor on the nose, fine texture and tightly knit on the palate, medium to long finish. This is a great 2009 and perhaps the best Bordeaux at the tasting. 94-95
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Comments (2)
Red
2005 Château Potensac
90 points
Not as concentrated as the 05 Montrose and all those 09/10s at the tasting but nicely balanced, oak is well integrated, medium tannins, short to medium finish. Nice.
Red
2008 Château Léoville Poyferré
93 points
Beautiful, complex nose with plenty of forest floor ad banyard, lacks a bit concentration on the palate but well balanced. This should go really well with steak right now, or give it a couple more years if drinking on its own.
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Red
2009 Château Poujeaux
92 points
This is drinking better now than I recall from last year. Generous fruit, fairly balanced already, medium tannins. Nice.
Red
2011 Penfolds Bin 389
90 points
Coming from the Bordeaux, one notes how much sweeter the fruit is here. Also less structured though. Medium finish.
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Comments (1)
Red
2008 Penfolds Grange
96 points
Wow -best wine of the tasting! Wonderful nose with herbs, sweet berries and other dark fruit, earth, fine but tight texture, long finish. This is outstanding. 96-97
Red
2010 Château Meyney
92 points
Nice freshness, some herbs, medium plus tannins.
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Red
2010 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse
90 points
This was more closed than the Meyney. Also goo balance of fruit and acidity here. 90+
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Comments (1)
White - Off-dry
2010 Malat Grüner Veltliner Das Beste vom Auslese
90 points
There was this interesting stand with Austrian and German whites, and hence decided to go back to tasting a couple of those white after having tried a fair bit of red. This had a fairly sweet nose and a slightly oily texture without being very expressive. Nice but could do with a bit more freshness.
White
2012 Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Smaragd Setzberg
91 points
Much fresher than the Malat Gruener Veltliner. White fruit and minerals. Nice!
White
2010 Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Smaragd Singerriedel
93 points
Longer than the Hirtzberger 2012 Smaragd Setzberg. Great balance of substance and freshness. One of the best whites at the tasting.
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Red
Red
2011 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva
92 points
Better balance than the 2009, the 15% alcohol is well integrated and does not show.
Red
2009 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor
92 points
More herbal notes than the Almaviva, this has clearly more Cab Sauvignon. Like this better than the 2008 recently, as it does not seem overripe and over the top
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Comments (1)
Red
2010 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor
92 points
Not too different from the 2009 Don Melchor. More herbal notes than the Almaviva, this has clearly more Cab Sauvignon. Like this better than the 2008 recently, as it does not seem overripe and over the top
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Comment
Red
2009 Torbreck RunRig
94 points
Great nose, roasted mea, herbs, big dark fruit as expected covering any tannins, long finish. Too big for my taste but excellent nevertheless.
Red
2010 Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera
93 points
Barnyard and animal notes on the nose, red fruit, drying, medium plus tannins, medium plus finish.
Red
2007 Elvio Cogno Barolo Riserva Vigna Elena
93 points
Flowers, animal notes, red fruit, drying, medium plus tannins, medium plus finish.
Red
Red
2007 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Maria Adelaide
91 points
The hotter 2007 vintage is evident with very ripe fruit and tar notes on the palate. Not a big fan.
Red
2004 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Vignolo
92 points
Some slightly oxidized notes. Surprisingly soft on the palate with integrated tannins
Red
2006 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe
92 points
Harder and more tannic than the 2004 Riserva. Needs time.
Red
2007 Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabajà
90 points
Easy drinking but not particularly interesting. Last wine tasted a this event.
Closing
Overall the 2010 Bordeaux were closed as expected (with the exception of the very nice Giscours).While I found the 09 Domaine de Chevalier already beautiful, most of the 2009 clearly need more time to find their balance as there is too much primary fruit and oak at this point in time. The most impressive wine was however the 2008 Grange. My first Grange and what a wine!