Important Update From the Founder Read message >

Artisans of the Wine Galaxy

Upstairs at the Dolphin Hotel

Tasted July 26, 2022 by chatters with 108 views

Introduction

Another Different Drops tasting - this time with more of a everywhere other than Australia feel.

I decided to do the whites before the reds...and pretty much stuck to that, saving the obvious natural stuff to the end with a splash of fizz as a palate cleanser...

Flight 1 (58 notes)

White
2020 Breuer + Mehrlein + Lunden Riesling Venture Germany, Rheingau
Fresh lime, green apple and mineral notes on the nose. In the mouth a smidge of residual sugar, fruit driven, slightly bitter on the finish...strays to anonymity.
White
2020 Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Riesling Kabinett trocken Germany, Pfalz
Pretty, slightly floral notes, apple. Dry but fruit driven, slight honey (?), apple and marzipan. Mmm
White
2020 Ansgar Clüsserath Trittenheimer Riesling Kabinett Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Wild ferment funkiness dominates apples and oranges. In the mouth it's juicy with medium plus acidity, residual sugar offsets, a little honeyed notes joins the apple and orange here. Nice.
White - Off-dry
2020 Ansgar Clüsserath Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Spätlese Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Again a little bit of wild ferment, apple. Medium plus intensity acidity, the residual sugar make the fruit really 'pop', balance is excellent making it a rather pleasant crunchy apple experience. Medium plus length. Nice.
White
2020 Hiedler Grüner Veltliner Langenloiser Tonmineral Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal
A slightly green, unripe herbaceous notes, grapefruit...savoury, earth and mineral notes underpin this. In the mouth it's juicy and savoury, quite hard, green hued, alcohol warmth lends length and greasy fatness to the mid palate. Hmm.
White
2020 Rudi Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Terrassen Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau
Again a little green note over the aroma of pear and pear skin. Medium plus intensity acidity, savoury, juicy but chewy and hard. Meh.
White
2019 Schloss Gobelsburg Riesling Urgestein Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal
Lime and crystallised lime on the nose. Medium plus intensity acidity, tangy, similar citrus on the palate, steely minerality, bone dry. Nice for what it is.
White
2018 Greywacke Wild Sauvignon New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Wild ferment, cream, gooseberry, pretty though - less obviously either cats pee or passion fruit compote. Juicy, tangy and fresh, slight texture, the fruit slightly muted, slight alcohol warmth on the finish carries things long. Interesting.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2020 Dicey Chenin Blanc New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Bannockburn
Wow, smells like crushed oyster shells and the seaside over lemon. That saline note is on the palate along with a bucket load of residual sugar which lends fatness. Just plain odd.
White
2021 Novum Chardonnay New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
On the nose citrus - lemon backed by a little kumquat, smidge of butter. More of the same on the palate but it feels a little flat. Meh.
White
2019 António Madeira Dão Branco Portugal, Beiras, Dão
It's quite waxy, citric and finishes a little bitter...
White
2020 Luís Seabra Vinhos Douro Xisto Ilimitado Branco Portugal, Douro
Waxy, saline, mineral and citric notes on the nose. medium plus intensity acidity, quite green on the palate but not unripe, tangy, skinny, slight saline notes on the finish. Hmm.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2019 Casal Figueira Vinho Regional Lisboa Antonio Portugal, Lisboa, Vinho Regional Lisboa
Medium minus intensity aromas show as waxy, pear, herbs, muted citrus. Medium plus intensity acidity, juicy, fleshy, textured, green citrus and mid palate breadth. Interesting.
White
2020 Artomaña Txakoli Kiriki Spain, País Vasco, Arabako Txakolina
Citrus and green apple, slight chalky minerality and bees wax. Medium plus intensity acidity, drying apple skin texture, green apple and a smidge of candy floss - note; bone dry - it kind of 'pops' thanks to the acidity. Yum.
White
2021 Mullineux Chenin Blanc Kloof Street Old Vine South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland
A little citrus; lemon, smidge of waxiness...palate a bit meh
White
2019 Mullineux Old Vines White South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland
Wild ferment meatiness, citrus. It's juicy but sour without lots of acidity, touch of waxy texture but a bit meh for me.
White
2018 Living Roots Wine & Company Riesling Dry Riesling Linden Blossom USA, New York, Finger Lakes
Very lime, lime cordial, a fresh, mineral underpin. Much of the same on the palate with medium plus intensity acidity. Simple. <shrugs>
White
2019 Living Roots Wine & Company Pinot Gris USA, New York, Finger Lakes
That fresh, mineral quality is here as well (as the Riesling), it's quite soupy on the palate though, annoyingly. Boo.
White
2018 Lieu Dit Sauvignon Blanc USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
Green capsicum and gooseberry with a little saline underpin. Savoury, that saline note on the palate as well but a little too textured and bitter on the finish - the fruit is sacrificed on this altar. Meh
White
2020 Presqu'ile Chardonnay USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Medium minus intensity aromas show a little lemon over muted stone fruit, slight waxy notes. Not quite right on the palate - it's a bit out of balance for me.
White
2020 Grace Winery Koshu Japan, Chūbu, Yamanashi, Katsunuma
Aromas of grapefruit, lemon...Medium plus intensity acidity, juicy, fleshy, slight alcohol warmth and textured. Okay.
Orange
2020 Heaps Good Wine Company Skin Contact Slovenia, Podravje, Štajerska
Medium minus intensity aromas of struck match, slight lime, citrus. Medium plus intensity acidity has a slight battery acid quality, muted fruit, a little texture. Men
White - Sparkling
2020 Gabernik 23 Rumeni Muskat Pet Nat Slovenia, Podravje, Štajerska
Apples and candy floow, sweet spice, a little almost juniper/botanical note. Bone dry, very slightly sour, textured, flavours are a little muted on the palate, wetly engaging, tangy. Interesting.
White
2020 Papagiannakos Savatiano Vieilles Vignes Greece, Continental Greece, Attica
Wax tending to almost plasticine supported by a little star fruit. Juicy, tangy, plenty of grip, slight alcohol warmth. Meh.
White
2020 Argyros Assyrtiko Estate Greece, Aegean, Cyclades, Santorini
Waxy aromas with almond under citrus, a little minerality. Juicy, massive breadth, alcohol warmth, dense, fairly huge on the palate, tightly textured and concentrated. Woof!
White
2021 Douloufakis Vidiano Dafnios Greece, Crete
Waxy, ripe apples, a little salinity, touch of slightly bitter underpin (not that you can smell bitterness...sigh). Juicy, tangy, tightly textured, very slight bitterness on the finish (told you so)
Red
2020 Domaine Overnoy Poulsard Arbois Pupillin France, Jura, Arbois Pupillin
Smells like a Jura red from Poulsard...Wet red berries raspberry, with a little sour underpin, smidge of volatility, touch of brett...Volatility translates to the palate, sour red fruit is a bit sharp. Not my favourite example.
Red
2020 Domaine Overnoy Pinot Noir Côtes du Jura France, Jura, Côtes du Jura
Lightweight with medium minus intensity aromas, a little earthy red berries, very slightly volatile. Juicy, savoury, slightly sour red berry and cherry, smidge of textured burr. Hmm.
Red
2019 Georges Descombes Brouilly France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Brouilly
Ashy whole bunch with wild black cherry in support. Juicy, savoury, whole bunch, tight texture, but still fruit forward. Yum.
Red
2020 Georges Descombes Régnié France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Régnié
Aromas of cream, black cherry, a little rocky minerality, very slightly gamey underpin. Juicy, savoury, tangy, slight sour cherries shows more red than black, drying texture. Hmm.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2020 Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon
Gamey, funky, savoury cherry, jubey. Juicy, savoury, cherry, talc textured tannins, balanced, long. Lovely.
3 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2019 Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Saumagen Pinot Noir Kabinett Spatburgunder Germany, Pfalz
Savoury, slightly baked black fruits especially cherry, a little Maraschino underpin. Juicy, fleshy, savoury, talc textured tannins but a little fruit light on the palate. Hmm.
Red
2019 Dicey Pinot Noir New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Bannockburn
On the nose caramel oak, sweet spice, black fruit, a little cedar, smidge of alcohol warmth. juicy and fruit forward in a savoury style, breadth, a little tannic burr. Large but balanced and nice.
Red
2020 Presqu'ile Pinot Noir USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Savoury, very slight whole bunch ashiness? A smidge of that Oregon Pinot cherry quality but riper...and it proves a little too ripe on the palate, very nice in a fruit forward way I suppose. Talc textured tannins.
Red
2018 Schloss Gobelsburg Zweigelt Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal
Medium minus intensity aromas of savoury black hued fruit, a little pain d'epice, rocky minerality, savoury, dense, a sense of wetness to the finish, talc textured tannins. Hmm.
Red
2018 Sijnn Low Profile South Africa, Cape South Coast, Swellendam, Malgas
Pretty, jubey, red berry, sweet spice with a black currant underpin. Fruit forward nose. Juicy, talc textured tannins are drying, fruit is a bit more muted. Hmm.
Red
2020 Savage Wines Follow the Line South Africa, Western Cape
savoury, rubbery, black fruit, earthy. Juicy tends to medium plus intensity acidity, tight though silky tannins, black fruit, controlled alcohol Good but not for me.
Red
2019 Savage Wines Are We There Yet? South Africa, Cape South Coast, Swellendam, Malgas
Perfumed, red over black fruit, a little herbaceous underpin and a smidge of black pepper, slight baked and gamey notes. It's a bit soupy on the palate, savoury and concentrated, slightly chalky tannins persist long. A little baked. Nah.
Red
2019 Casal Figueira Vinho Regional Lisboa Vermelho Portugal, Lisboa, Vinho Regional Lisboa
flawed
this bottle nearly finished and showing quite a bit of cork taint so will try and the next one...marking this as FLAW
Red
2018 Luís Seabra Vinhos Douro Xisto Ilimitado Portugal, Douro
Baked black fruit, savoury, concentrated. Juicy, jubey, oaky, caramel and wetly fleshy, plenty of tight tannins...Hmm, it's kind of shouty...but interesting.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2018 António Madeira Dão Colheita Portugal, Beiras, Dão
Slightly dusty spice over fresh wild black fruits, bit of sweet spice in the background. Dense, concentrated, beautiful black fruit compote, balanced, alcohol is well managed, fleshy, long. Lovely.
Red
2019 Casal Figueira Vinho Regional Lisboa Vermelho Portugal, Lisboa, Vinho Regional Lisboa
flawed
Hmm, after the earlier tasting this still had a smidge of cork taint even through from a new bottle. a bit of biscuit, sour red fruits on the nose and palate. Nah. I can only presume it's from a bad batch.
Red
2018 Celler de Capçanes Montsant Lasendal Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Montsant
Leathery, dense, a reductive rubbery note, black hued fruit. Juicy, a little bit of residual sugar to the black fruit, talc textured tannins. Nah.
Red
2020 Descendientes de José Palacios Bierzo Pétalos Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo
Savoury, cherry, slight spiced oak and caramel. Juicy, slightly fruit sweet, the find the oak a little intrusive. Plentiful of talc textual tannins. I can appreciate this but it really isn't for me.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2020 4 Kilos Vi de La Tierra Mallorca Motor Callet Spain, Balearic Islands, Vi de La Tierra Mallorca
Ooh, pr3tty, raspberry, smells fresh and lightweight. Juicy, fleshy, raspberry and rhubarb, fresh but not sour. Soft tannins. Lovely
Red
2021 Olek Bondonio Barbera d'Asti Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti
from 1000ml bottle. Super simple, clean, cherry, savoury. In the mouth it's juicy with medium plus intensity acidity, savoury, cherry, tangy, slightly sour, soft tannins. Nice.
Red
2021 Benotti Rosavica Langhe Nebbiolo Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
Savoury, a little clay, lightweight nebbiolo nose - a smidge of pot pourri, muted wild fruits. Juicy, tangy then a chalky tannic sweep across the palate. Hmm. really needs food.
Red
N.V. Heaps Good Wine Company Non Vintage Red Slovenia, Podravje, Štajerska
Armpits, savoury black fruits, gamey and meaty, More of the same on the palate. Nah.
Red
2019 Heaps Good Wine Company Pinot Noir Slovenia, Podravje, Štajerska
Wild ferment, funky, meaty, savoury, spiced. Juicy acid, tangy, talc textured tannins strays to the chalky. Hmm.
Red
2020 Gabernik 23 Blauer Zweigelt Slovenia, Podravje, Štajerska, Maribor
Gamey, meaty, savoury, black fruits, smells 'dense', more sweaty armpit here as well...perhaps it's just someone in the crowd of tasters milling around...Juicy, slightly sour black fruits accompanied by slightly chalky textured tannins that prove quite drying, slight alcohol warmth.
Red
2020 Gaia Monograph Agiorgitiko/Syrah Greece, Peloponnisos
Baked black fruits, Ribena and brambles, slightly savoury and meaty underpin to these, a little garrigue as well. In the mouth it's surprisingly a little sourly juicy, plentiful drying tannins, the black fruits persist, slight alcohol warmth, Hmm.
Red
2019 Thymiopoulos jeunes vignes de Xinomavro / Young Vines Naoussa Greece, Macedonia, Naoussa
Savoury, meaty, earthy, black hued fruit, a little liquorice, slight wild bramble here as well. Juicy with a slightly sour underpin, medium minus intensity chalky tannins, sour black hued fruits travel long. Not for me but I could see this working in certain circumstances...
Red
2020 Domaine des Tourelles Lebanon, Bekaa Valley
Red hued fruits, smells quite sour, palate is tannic and fairly anonymous. Meh.
Red
2020 Bodega Garzón Tannat Reserva Uruguay, Maldonado
Earthy and plummy, slightly baked fruit, medium plus intensity chewy tannins, plummy fruit, dense, long, chewy, call for the charred cow!
White
2018 Martvilis Marani Krakhuna Georgia, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Martvili
waxy, savoury, spice but with fruit, savoury waxy, bruised apple, sour, textured grip is chalky. Very much of the style.
Rosé
2019 Tedo's Marani Tavkveri Buera Georgia, Kakheti
Funky with a little volatility, apple and bruised apple. In the mouth it's sour with a bit of wood glue, fallen apple and pear both bruised and oxidised, chalky skin bitterness. Meh.
Orange
2020 Pheasant's Tears Mtsvane Tibaani Georgia, Kakheti, Tibaani
Aromas prove waxy with wood glue, a little citrus, sour, wood glue, pretty awful, plenty of chalky tannic grip. Meh.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Laherte Frères Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut France, Champagne
Lemon, a little crisp texture persists long and rather dominates the palate. No thanks.

Closing

Lots of interesting wines, some pleasant and some unpleasant...

© 2003-24 CellarTracker! LLC.

Report a Problem

Close