Fine Wine Diary

30/05/2015 (TNB)

Riesling Kaefferkopf 2012 (Martin Schaetzel) Restrained nose and a touch hard on the palate currently but with great persistence. A touch of fennel and a hint of restrained riesling petrollyness to come. I like this, but it's not quite ready. Bare even.
Clos Milan 2007 (Henri Milan) A lovely, lifted, bright wine. A chateauneuf blend of Grenache with some Syrah and a little Mourvedre. A load of currently slightly tough yet ripe tannins surround attrative cherry fruit. Very good indeed. A good

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 30/05/2015 Return to top

24/05/2015 (TNB)

Erdener Treppchen Spalese 2011 (Meulenhof) Lots of residual CO2, generous body and residual sweetness for a Spatlese, and after being open for a day the concentration and quality of the fruit really showed. Very good indeed. Bottled under screwcap by the way. even (terroir shows).
Chautagne Rouge "Vignes du Seigneur" 2013 (Jacques Maillet) Savoie red, light but bright colour, 12% alcohol. Lovely lifted nose and crunchy red fruits, lovely tannins and scrumtious acidity. This is just completely gluggable and I love it - but there is nice concentration too. I'm not sure how this cuvee relates to the various varietal bottlings I see written up. Good

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 24/05/2015 Return to top

23/05/2015 (TNB)

Chinon Les Cinq Elements 2013 (Domaine de L'R) Really good, leafy Cabernet Franc fruit and succulent tannins. Very well made and drinkable but not in the final analysis that complex.
Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Zinnkoepfle 2012 (Leon Boesch) Lovely, dense fruit with lots of weight, made in an off-dry style that gives it a (perfectly well balanced) sweet edge now. That will probably not be evident in a year or two when it will be at peak. Very good indeed. even
Riesling Les Ecaillers 2011 (Leon Beyer) Concentrated, unmistakable Riesling. I find it a touch over the top: it has that petrolly intensity in a young wine that reminds me of Brian Crozer years ago describing it as a fault. It's good, but not quite my style.
Gewurztraminer Cuvee Reserve 2012 (Martin Schaetzel) Quite nicely restrained wine, on the dry side and very drinkable. Bare
Chateau La Tour St Bonnet 1982 Would it have been better a decade or so ago? Probably, but it is a generous vintage and this is pretty enjoyable, mature Bourgeois Claret. Scrapes partly on interest.
Chateau Gressier Grand Poujeaux 1970 Another one past its best before date, but from a rather meaner vintage this too was alive and enjoyable if you like older wine. Top

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 23/05/2015 Return to top

10/05/2015 (TNB)

Gewurztraminer Les Folastries 2011 (Josmeyer) Dry and fragrant, all the pleasure of the variety but restrained and balanced. Fantastically drinkable. Top
Riesling Altenberg de Bergbieten Cuvee Henriette 2012 (Mochel) Off-dry, spicy riesling with a strong aniseed component and some nice mineralty. Stylish wine that would benefit from a few years. A good
Pinot Gris Kessler 2011 (Dirler-Cade) To me, this seemed a little flabby - perhaps not technically out of balance, but it did seem a little flat and one-dimensional. Possibly it needs a little time. Bare

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 10/05/2015 Return to top

Wine group at my place 03/05/2015 (TNB)

As usual, time cooking meant my attention to the wines was lacking a bit. Readymeals next year guys.

Champagne Vieilles Vignes de Cramant 2002 (Larmandier-Bernier) Very lively and youthful, delicious, dry balance =.
Muscat Grand Cru Kirchberg 2010(Kientzler) A flight of three wines to explore the potential of top Alsace dry muscats. This one has nice, sophisticated fruit and is pretty dry: people took a while to identify the grape, which is a good sign I feel. Straight down the middle.
Muscat Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergbieten 2010 (Mochel) This, from the same vintage had increased depth and complexity. Really rather good. Scraping a bare even.
Muscat Grand Cru Saering 2008 (Dirler-Cade) This was a curious wine, intriguingly complex on the nose yet failing to deliver on the palate. Dry but a little hollow. I suspect this is a good wine caught at a bad time or possibly a deviant bottle. Let's say for now.
Riesling Cuvee Frederic Emile 1990 (Trimbach) Wears its years very lightly, clearly riesling but without any of the excessive petrollyness. Precise, lovely and long.
Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl 1990 (Zind-Humbrecht) Also completely fresh and attractive, seeming younger than its age. Nice wine if without the stature of the previous Riesling.
Pommard 1er Cru Rugiens 1987 (Lejeune) Should perhaps have been drunk a while ago, yet it does have a lovely fragrance. 1987 was high in acidity so it has a youthful air although the fruit density does not have any of the bubblegum vividness I recall from tasting this years ago. But it has quite an appeal. Bare if one empathises with it.
Barolo 1988 (Vajra) Something undefinably wrong here - this is just not performing as one might expect.
Barolo Bricco Boschis 1989 (Cavallotto) Rather lovely mature Barolo - I think I must have had this for 15 years or so and it shows the merits of cellaring. Lovely, pure fruit. As with most Barolo, it had benefited from being decanted a few hours earlier. Good
Chateau Canon 1985 Very nice middle of the road Claret from a fine property in a great vintage.
Lynch Bages 1985 Nothing like the last bottle I had of this which was a big wine and top quality in a somewhat unsubtle way typical of the property. This seemed oddly faded: rapid decline or an anomalous bottle - it's hard to say.
Cornas 1991 (N. Verset) Opened as a bonus to compensate for two dodgy wines. When I've had this before it was great, but I think I forgot to taste this one. Thank heavens it's not my last bottle! On the basis of previous tasting,
Coteaux du Layon NV (Saurigny) Naturally made Chenin, this is all brown sugar and rich fruit. It reminds me of Rutherglen Muscat almost! As with so much natural wine, it is fascinating, has lots of lovey fruit and an interesting character, but one has doubts where it is going. Top
Graham's 1977 Always a nice port, this bottle forward and enjoyable. Bare

Tasting notes added to Fine Wine Diary 03/05/2015 Return to top

Misc 03/05/2015 (TNB)

A couple of Alsace and a Jura

Riesling Belzbrunnen 2010 (Dirler-Cade) Attractive mid-range Alsace riesling, dry (by Alsace standards) and spicy. I like it a lot although it did deteriorate badly overnight in an unusual way, which is slightly worrying. Possibly a bare
Arbois Pupillin Cote de Feule 2009 (Hughes Beguet) I like this sort of thing generally but while this has a reasonably attractive, bright nose, it is rather rustic and not terribly enjoyable.
Riesling Spiegel 2008 (Dirler-Cade) Very stylish, dry and intense. Developing well. I'm quite interested in this estate. Possibly