Important Update From the Founder Read message >

David's 50th

Canberra, Australia

Tasted April 25, 2007 by CamWheeler with 547 views

Flight 1 (4 notes)

White - Off-dry
1998 Von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spätlese Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
91 points
Soft florals, tinge of smoke, kiwi fruit and some background sulphur that blew off with time. The palate is a refreshing combination of clean acid with just a hint of fruit sweetness. Nice length and delicately textured, this is lovely drinking now, but will improve over the next 10+ years.
White - Off-dry
1998 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese #6 Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
92 points
Slightly more developed in colour than the Maximin. The nose shows honey, toast, a little bit of peach and mango and with a touch of kerosene and lanolin to it. Awesome balance, poise and length to the palate. Intense fruit flavour lends a pleasing mouth-feel to the wine without being broad. Drinking superbly at the moment and should continue to do so over the next 5 years.
White
1995 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
87 points
Honeyed nose, with lemon and sesame over the top of some slightly oxidative characters. The good weight on the palate is spoiled by some heat and some more oxidative characters. Improved slightly to the final score with food, but drink now based on this bottle.
White
1997 Blain-Gagnard Bâtard-Montrachet France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
93 points
Golden colour. Nutty and honeyed aromas, with a touch of basil, butterscotch and restrained quality oak. Delicious, balanced palate with excellent texture and length. Opened up and took on more weight and length with air, I think this lovely wine will be best drunk over the next 5-10 years.

Flight 2 (3 notes)

Red
1993 G. Vachet-Rousseau Mazis-Chambertin France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru
90 points
A great nose of blood, violets, milk chocolate and strawberry. The nose is open and lovely, but the palate shows signs of not being ready yet with drying tannins and simple primary flavours. I feel that the structure is good enough that this has the potential to improve in the next 4-5 years.
Red
1986 Château Léoville Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
94 points
Smells like class. Decanted for three hours. Cedar, spice, pencil shavings, violets, cassis and blackberry. The depth and primary flavour on the palate is surprising for a 21 year old wine. Brilliant length and structure. Still slightly austere on the palate, but has the structure and fruit to go the distance and achieve its wonderful potential.
Red
1995 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
95 points
The nose is expressive immediately on opening and seemed similar after three hours decant. Pepper, floral, charred meat, chinese five spice and restrained oak. The palate exhibits great concentration and layers of intense flavour while not being overwhelming. Great length and enjoyable to drink even at this early stage of its life.

Flight 3 (2 notes)

White - Sweet/Dessert
1988 Château Rieussec France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
88 points
Dark golden colour, darker than the '83 I opened a couple of weekends afterward. Rich nose of caramel, spice, apple and coconut. Medium level of sweetness on the palate with a core of acid that is only just enough to keep the focus. I enjoyed drinking it and thought it quite tasty, if slightly simple.
White - Fortified
N.V. Chambers Rosewood Muscadelle (Tokay) Rare Australia, Victoria, North East, Rutherglen
98 points
A wine for deep contemplation. The nose is stunningly complex - deep coffee, toffee, raisin, floral notes, truffles, Christmas cake, rum, chocolate and tea leaves. So viscous that it clings to the side of the glass with every swirl. This amazing viscosity carries across to the palate where the wine rolls around, covering your mouth with incredible, powerful, complex flavour that stays in your mouth for what seems like forever after swallowing. Memorising and incredible.

Flight 4 (1 note)

White - Sweet/Dessert
1988 Hugel Gewurztraminer Sélection de Grains Nobles France, Alsace
93 points
Great colour, a very light shimmering gold. Nose shows honey, nutty, and pineapple aromas, it is still very floral and fresh. The palate is medium bodied with a full mouth-feel and just hints at richness, with the sweetness balanced by fresh, acidity that disposes of any notion of broadness and focuses the wine into a long, dry and clean finish. Showed no signs of overt alcohol despite it sitting at 15%. Still so young at 19 years, this will live on for some time!
© 2003-24 CellarTracker! LLC.

Report a Problem

Close