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Nigel's 40th Birthday celebrations
Cornwall
Tasted June 11, 2016 by Cooky474 with 367 views
Flight 1 (1 note)
White - Sparkling
2006 Moët & Chandon Champagne Grand Vintage
89 points
Clear appearance, medium intensity, lemon-green in colour. Clean, pronounced nose showing peaches, bananas and toast. High acidity, fine mousse and medium length. Might have been drunk a touch cold.
Not sure what to make of this champagne, other than to say that I picked the same fruits that the marketing blurb identifies. Not sure bananas in a champagne work for me, but can't argue that it isn't well made, if not necessaritly to my taste.
Not sure what to make of this champagne, other than to say that I picked the same fruits that the marketing blurb identifies. Not sure bananas in a champagne work for me, but can't argue that it isn't well made, if not necessaritly to my taste.
Flight 2 - Margaux for starters plus a rouge Potensac (3 notes)
Red
2002 Château Margaux
94 points
Opened for an hour and decanted for several before serving.
Clear appearance, medium intensity, light ruby in colour. Clean, pronounced nose showing some maturity. Some acidity, superb, fine tannins, medium body. Flavour was not as pronounced as the nose initially led you to believe it would be. Medium-plus length.
Nose of black fruits and violets. Silky smooth in the mouth. Lovely drinking now but last couple of drops still drinkable the following day.
Clear appearance, medium intensity, light ruby in colour. Clean, pronounced nose showing some maturity. Some acidity, superb, fine tannins, medium body. Flavour was not as pronounced as the nose initially led you to believe it would be. Medium-plus length.
Nose of black fruits and violets. Silky smooth in the mouth. Lovely drinking now but last couple of drops still drinkable the following day.
Red
2008 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux
90 points
Opened for an hour and decanted for several before serving.
Clear appearance, medium intensity, light ruby in colour. Clean, pronounced nose showing the beginnings of some maturity. Medium acidity, fine tannins, medium body, medium length.
Nose of red fruits. Silky smooth in the mouth. Lovely drinking now - very elegant/feminine in style. Overshadowed by dint of being served alongside it's older (and posher) brother.
Clear appearance, medium intensity, light ruby in colour. Clean, pronounced nose showing the beginnings of some maturity. Medium acidity, fine tannins, medium body, medium length.
Nose of red fruits. Silky smooth in the mouth. Lovely drinking now - very elegant/feminine in style. Overshadowed by dint of being served alongside it's older (and posher) brother.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
2005 Château Potensac
87 points
Last minute decision to open, so not decanted.
Clear appearance, medium intensity, tawny in colour. Clean, pronounced, nose showing development. Medium acidity, medium body and medium length.
Very simple, but pleasant wine that is definitely in its window of drinking now. Unfortunately it suffered by way of comparison alongside the other wines opened over the course of the evening.
Clear appearance, medium intensity, tawny in colour. Clean, pronounced, nose showing development. Medium acidity, medium body and medium length.
Very simple, but pleasant wine that is definitely in its window of drinking now. Unfortunately it suffered by way of comparison alongside the other wines opened over the course of the evening.
Flight 3 - Australian Shiraz (2 notes)
A couple of Australian Shiraz to show off the diversity and styles of Australian Shiraz. Worked a treat as no-one picked the Clonakilla as a Shiraz after the First Drop had been revealed.
Red
2012 First Drop Shiraz Fat of the Land Greenock
91 points
Opened for an hour and decanted for several before serving.
Clear appearance, opaque, purple in colour. Clean, pronounced, youthful nose of spices and black fruits. Fine tannins, full body, high alcohol and long length.
This is full-throttle Australian Shiraz at its best. Super-charged, and yet still balanced, just not very nuanced. Smooth tannins with amazing length. Not sure how this will age, but is fantastic drinking now if you like this style of wine.
Served alongside 2013 Clonakilla Shiraz-Viognier to show contrasting Australian Shiraz styles. Initially blew everyone away with the sheer intensity of the wine, but ultimately this was preferred by only 1 of the 5. For my money, I'd prefer to have one of the Clonakilla to 2 of these in my cellar.
Clear appearance, opaque, purple in colour. Clean, pronounced, youthful nose of spices and black fruits. Fine tannins, full body, high alcohol and long length.
This is full-throttle Australian Shiraz at its best. Super-charged, and yet still balanced, just not very nuanced. Smooth tannins with amazing length. Not sure how this will age, but is fantastic drinking now if you like this style of wine.
Served alongside 2013 Clonakilla Shiraz-Viognier to show contrasting Australian Shiraz styles. Initially blew everyone away with the sheer intensity of the wine, but ultimately this was preferred by only 1 of the 5. For my money, I'd prefer to have one of the Clonakilla to 2 of these in my cellar.
Red
2013 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier
94 points
Opened for an hour and decanted for several before serving.
Clear appearance, medium-plus intensity, deep-ruby/garnet in colour. Clean, pronounced, youthful nose of spices and red fruits. Medium-plus acidity, fine tannins, medium-plus body, medium-plus alcohol and long length.
This is a beautiful wine. Beautifully balanced, weightless in the mouth with silky smooth tannins. Delightful wine that went on, and on, and on and I shall be sure to keep my remaining bottles for at least 5 years.
Served alongside 2012 First Drop Shiraz Fat of the Land to show contrasting Australian Shiraz styles and was initially completely overshadowed but this was preferred by 4 of the 5.
Clear appearance, medium-plus intensity, deep-ruby/garnet in colour. Clean, pronounced, youthful nose of spices and red fruits. Medium-plus acidity, fine tannins, medium-plus body, medium-plus alcohol and long length.
This is a beautiful wine. Beautifully balanced, weightless in the mouth with silky smooth tannins. Delightful wine that went on, and on, and on and I shall be sure to keep my remaining bottles for at least 5 years.
Served alongside 2012 First Drop Shiraz Fat of the Land to show contrasting Australian Shiraz styles and was initially completely overshadowed but this was preferred by 4 of the 5.
2 people found this helpful
Comment
Flight 4 - The Main Event (1 note)
Picked up from a restaurant in Piedmont where it had lain since purchase on release by the restauranteur. In fantastic condition and a wonderful way to experience a birth-year wine purchased for a mate.
Red
1976 Bertani Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Superiore Amarone
92 points
Opened for an hour and decanted for several before serving.
Clear appearance, medium intensity, translucent ruby/tawny in colour. Clean, pronounced nose showing full maturity with only very faint red fruits on the nose and spices. High acidity, medium-minus body with exceptional length. Would have loved a cheese platter to have served this alongside.
Not at all what I was expecting (having not found this in CT initially) but exceptional wine bought for a friend's 40th birthday.
Clear appearance, medium intensity, translucent ruby/tawny in colour. Clean, pronounced nose showing full maturity with only very faint red fruits on the nose and spices. High acidity, medium-minus body with exceptional length. Would have loved a cheese platter to have served this alongside.
Not at all what I was expecting (having not found this in CT initially) but exceptional wine bought for a friend's 40th birthday.