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Epic bubbles (blinded)
Zorg's place, Umeå, Sweden
Tasted January 24, 2015 by StefanAkiko with 732 views
Introduction
First a warm-up flight with a great lecture by Vintomas. Then completely blind flights where we all needed to answer two Q's before unveiling.
Q1: Is this a Champagne? YES/NO
Q2: Score it 50-100p
A great practice in trusting your senses, humility and let-go. Masterfully led by Hjalle.
Flight 1 - Warming up! (3 notes)
A great lecture by Vintomas and some fabulous wines to support his examples and comparisons.
White - Sparkling
2009 Blanc de Bleu Chardonnay Cuvée Mousseux
65 points
Poor plonk with make-up. (Non-blind)
Light blue, very appealing colour from a drop of blueberry juice.
Fruity but not quite hygienically sound nose.
Simplistic taste and a coarse mineral character of too much mud. The fruit has a distinctly artificial aspect and feels mushy.
As this was not a cheap wine, I think that the producer needs to stand in the shame corner for a while.
Light blue, very appealing colour from a drop of blueberry juice.
Fruity but not quite hygienically sound nose.
Simplistic taste and a coarse mineral character of too much mud. The fruit has a distinctly artificial aspect and feels mushy.
As this was not a cheap wine, I think that the producer needs to stand in the shame corner for a while.
White - Sparkling
1988 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut
93 points
Non-blind.
This is really delicious, but I don't see where the hype is coming from. (One guy gave it 100p before tasting it.)
Rich, deep, long and with an exceptional balance. Lacking complexity and added dimensions to merit a higher score. Admittedly, I was a bit underwhelmed.
Has the quality of both maturity and freshness holding hands.
One of the furthest-away-wines from meriting its QPR.
* To the many people who were involved in the chain of events that led to this btl finally being served in Umeå: THANKYOU ALL! You know who you are. *
This is really delicious, but I don't see where the hype is coming from. (One guy gave it 100p before tasting it.)
Rich, deep, long and with an exceptional balance. Lacking complexity and added dimensions to merit a higher score. Admittedly, I was a bit underwhelmed.
Has the quality of both maturity and freshness holding hands.
One of the furthest-away-wines from meriting its QPR.
* To the many people who were involved in the chain of events that led to this btl finally being served in Umeå: THANKYOU ALL! You know who you are. *
White - Sparkling
1982 J J Renaud Vouvray Pétillant Blanc de Blancs
93 points
(Non-blind) Rich, full-bodied, with perfect barrel treatment and a very accurate and multi-faceted aroma palette that is up in my alley: yellow fruits, wax, pumpkin and dried leaves in the fall. Acids are just perfect for my taste, and the balance here is outstanding. Finishes a bit short for a higher score.
This btl is at the later half of its drinking plateau. Me like!
This btl is at the later half of its drinking plateau. Me like!
Flight 2 - Blinded Flight One (7 notes)
The SA wine, Graham Beck, fooled most of us as it's a well disguised "Champagneois" wine. And it also did very well on the general score board.
White - Sparkling
2005 Juvé y Camps Cava La Capella
84 points
Detergent, small, appley, juniper wood, nuanced.
Creamy, deep, "simple but complex". Young. Very young. Balanced. Delicious. Earthy finish. Arrak pralines.
(100% Xarello.)
Creamy, deep, "simple but complex". Young. Very young. Balanced. Delicious. Earthy finish. Arrak pralines.
(100% Xarello.)
White - Sparkling
2009 Graham Beck "Premier Cuvee" Brut Blanc de Blancs
89 points
Grande, oaky, young, flowery with soft soap (the old fashioned kind made from pine resin). Quite inspiring nose.
Fabulous acids, small bitterness. Complex and fantastic. Ends with grilled fishbones. Yum!
(The grand majority of tasters labeled this "Champagne".)
Fabulous acids, small bitterness. Complex and fantastic. Ends with grilled fishbones. Yum!
(The grand majority of tasters labeled this "Champagne".)
White - Sparkling
2005 Roederer Estate L'Ermitage Brut
87 points
Soap bubbles, autolysis (the unclean version) that renders the nose a big question mark for me.
Much better on the palate. Balanced. Acid-driven (far too high levels for my taste).
Much better on the palate. Balanced. Acid-driven (far too high levels for my taste).
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Comments (2)
White - Sparkling
2004 House of Arras Blanc de Blancs
90 points
Small nose. Some petrochem, nuances of raw herring and cold milk in there.
Palate is rich and distinguished with juniper wood.
Slightly unusual, but rather appealing.
Palate is rich and distinguished with juniper wood.
Slightly unusual, but rather appealing.
White - Sparkling
2002 Loxarel Cava Brut Nature Gran Reserva “109”
92 points
Blinded: 80p, possibly F
After learning that it was supposed to be this way and a reassessment: think that 92p is just about right.
Unclear wine that looks like Weissbier and an ongoing biological process.
Reluctantly smelled and tasted: unusual, quite interesting.
After learning about it: Quite complex and rather delicious, but BUTT UGLY.
After learning that it was supposed to be this way and a reassessment: think that 92p is just about right.
Unclear wine that looks like Weissbier and an ongoing biological process.
Reluctantly smelled and tasted: unusual, quite interesting.
After learning about it: Quite complex and rather delicious, but BUTT UGLY.
White - Sparkling
2000 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
85 points
Smells like it were made using American oak. Grande nose with some stale aromas indicating some age.
Rich, intense, long but rather straight-forward and non-complex. No problem to drink this as a quaffer.
Rich, intense, long but rather straight-forward and non-complex. No problem to drink this as a quaffer.
White - Sparkling
2009 Hunter's Miru Miru
81 points
A rather odd bird, this one: Small aromas towards minced meat and some unique oddities I couldn't put my finger on during the very short time frame. Dulcivit (vitamin pills for kids.)
In the mouth, this is so acidic I couldn't force myself to a second sip. Completely not my taste. Not at all in balance.
In the mouth, this is so acidic I couldn't force myself to a second sip. Completely not my taste. Not at all in balance.
Flight 3 - Blinded Flight Two (7 notes)
Terribly disappointing with the Kripta. Really looking forward to drinking it in pristine condition.
White - Sparkling
2011 Weingut Robert Weil Riesling Extra Brut
71 points
Large simple nose that is flowery and spicy with sweetness.
Tastes like a failed plonky bubbly. Muscat aromas on mud.
Tastes like a failed plonky bubbly. Muscat aromas on mud.
White - Sparkling
2008 Camille Savès Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé
96 points
This wine pulled all of my strings: Aroma palette of tobacco and many refined aromas. Compared to the first 14 wines, nothing is even near this level of refinement and complexity. WOW!
Creamy with the PERFECT balance. Acids, fruit, aromas, intensity, refinement, restraint... All the good things are here. Some age, but still young, so the best is yet to come.
Right up my bowling alley.
Creamy with the PERFECT balance. Acids, fruit, aromas, intensity, refinement, restraint... All the good things are here. Some age, but still young, so the best is yet to come.
Right up my bowling alley.
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Comment
White - Sparkling
N.V. House of Arras Brut Elite
90 points
Very small nose with a small oaky nuttiness.
On the palate, this is a very fine, elegant, slim, distinguished wine. Aromas have a light touch of wild strawberries (smultron) and spring flowers. Youthful, has steely sharp acids with edges. Elegance in a light acid driven wine.
On the palate, this is a very fine, elegant, slim, distinguished wine. Aromas have a light touch of wild strawberries (smultron) and spring flowers. Youthful, has steely sharp acids with edges. Elegance in a light acid driven wine.
White - Sparkling
2007 Agustí Torelló Mata Cava Kripta Brut Nature Gran Reserva
flawed
Corked btl: with musty, moldy, rotten cardboard and fuktskadad sommarstuga aromas.
F**k!
Had so much looked forward to this wine.
F**k!
Had so much looked forward to this wine.
White - Sparkling
2006 Llopart Cava Brut Ex-Vite Gran Reserva
70 points
Very small, unrefined nose.
Flat and uninteresting. Young with a clear potential for improvement. Small petrochem and what feels a bit like mouldy grapes or grilled rosemary.
Flat and uninteresting. Young with a clear potential for improvement. Small petrochem and what feels a bit like mouldy grapes or grilled rosemary.
White - Sparkling
2007 Domaine Carneros Le Rêve
91 points
A petite, fruity nose that still manages to raise interest for its palate.
Palate has a dainty, creamy mouthfeel. Rich with balancing acids and some refinement. Very young. Citrus: yuzu.
Palate has a dainty, creamy mouthfeel. Rich with balancing acids and some refinement. Very young. Citrus: yuzu.
White - Sparkling
2006 Lilbert-Fils Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Millésimé Cramant
84 points
Fat, young nose with some petrochem.
Palate is restrained and actually surprisingly small, given the rich nose. Well made, very delicious and balanced even if simple. Pure. Has a wee bit of umpa umpa in the finish, nudging my score from 81 to 84 on the score card.
Palate is restrained and actually surprisingly small, given the rich nose. Well made, very delicious and balanced even if simple. Pure. Has a wee bit of umpa umpa in the finish, nudging my score from 81 to 84 on the score card.
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Comment
Flight 4 - Blinded Flight Three (6 notes)
Dom P underperformed according to its price tag and fame. But, according to the experiences around the table, this is what DP usually performs in blinded tastings.
White - Sparkling
2010 Hunter's Miru Miru
91 points
Earthy, aromatic aromas with elegance.
A small palate that is refined, sensitive and fine-tuned. Long, interesting with a rather fine, superb earthiness. Would go very well with food. But could use a some years in the cellar first.
A small palate that is refined, sensitive and fine-tuned. Long, interesting with a rather fine, superb earthiness. Would go very well with food. But could use a some years in the cellar first.
White - Sparkling
2011 Ridgeview Bloomsbury
79 points
Unproportionately perfumed, just like the hormonal young girls or very elderly ladies can be.
Nothing refined to be found here.
Nothing refined to be found here.
White - Sparkling
2005 Schramsberg Vineyards J. Schram
93 points
*WOTN*
Autolysis, round, broad, young nose.
First gulp: "Wow! This is made with umpa-umpa!" Even if the acids claw in on my tongue, I really like this. There is just so much going on in here. Citrus circus, balanced like a yoga master and: umpa-umpa-umpa!
Autolysis, round, broad, young nose.
First gulp: "Wow! This is made with umpa-umpa!" Even if the acids claw in on my tongue, I really like this. There is just so much going on in here. Citrus circus, balanced like a yoga master and: umpa-umpa-umpa!
1 person found this helpful
Comments (4)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Caves Bernard-Massard Cuvée de l'Ecusson Brut
82 points
Tired, vinous aromas on the nose.
Too thin and acidic for my taste. This wine does nothing for me tonight. Nothing wrong and the acid lovers enjoyed it more than I did.
Too thin and acidic for my taste. This wine does nothing for me tonight. Nothing wrong and the acid lovers enjoyed it more than I did.
White - Sparkling
1985 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon
89 points
Discreet, with a small aroma palette.
Hints of early maturity. Delicious but rather light.
Hints of early maturity. Delicious but rather light.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Segura Viudas Cava Brut Reserva Heredad
flawed
One of the most corked wines I ever had in my whole life.
Utterly disgusting!
Utterly disgusting!
Flight 5 - Sweet wines and Cheese (2 notes)
***still looking for my notes on these***
White - Fortified
2011 Cantine Florio Marsala Superiore Dolce Vecchioflorio
This was surprisingly delicious.
I can't seem to find my notes on this one.
Added only to complete the TN's from the epic eve.
I can't seem to find my notes on this one.
Added only to complete the TN's from the epic eve.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2009 Chateau Dereszla Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos
I only remember it was delicious, can't seem to find my notes on this one. Added only to complete the TN's from the epic eve.
Flight 6 - After burners (3 notes)
Several of us needed tannins after this tasting. And our host also served some of the Imperial Palace imo-shouchu *yummy*.
Red
2009 Château Barréjat Madiran Tradition
91 points
A mare is hiding a steed in this wine. After the acidic onslaught from the bubblies, I could finally feel that I was home. Tannins! Restrained acids! Brett! I clearly prefer red wines with a backbone to acid orgies.
Red
2011 Bodega Tamari Malbec AR
86 points
Cold butter with lingonberry jam. Rich, fat, coarse red wine that was a treat after over 20 bubbly wines. I really prefer the red ones.
White
1991 Mats&Stefan Fikonvinet *figs*
95 points
*Homemade beauty*
This 20-odd-year-old dry fig-wine has clearly been down into the grave and come back. At least once. Like a VERY interesting Sherry. Ultra dry and with enough intriguing aromas to possibly wake the dead. Burnt toast. Oxidized aspects galore. Burnt hair. Strange rubbery aromas. Aromas of machinery and a very rainy summers day.
Has a particularily strong personality!
Best thing: There is more!
(Some raised concerns regarding possible health issues with drinking this.)
This 20-odd-year-old dry fig-wine has clearly been down into the grave and come back. At least once. Like a VERY interesting Sherry. Ultra dry and with enough intriguing aromas to possibly wake the dead. Burnt toast. Oxidized aspects galore. Burnt hair. Strange rubbery aromas. Aromas of machinery and a very rainy summers day.
Has a particularily strong personality!
Best thing: There is more!
(Some raised concerns regarding possible health issues with drinking this.)
1 person found this helpful
Comments (7)
Closing
This tasting resulted in one of the worst hangovers I've ever had in my lifge and a nose bleed that lasted for almost two months. I'm not an acid lover, but the Carneros and I could still make very fine friends!
I had hoped that Cava would show off some of its greatness, but two flaws and one "unusual" btl made that unthinkable.
Winners out of 21 blind-tasted bubbly wines: