Verkostungsnotiz März 2006: Zwischendurch

 

 

 

2003 Cornelissen, Contadino 1 ("natural" made wine, cuvée of white and red local varieties like Carricante, Inzolia, Cattaratto, Nerello Mascalese, Alicante and Nerello Cappuccio), Rosso del Contadino, Sicily, Italy:
Optic: In the beginning like a dark rosé, then fast browning with some air. Rather turbid with the fine lees left in the wine, small bubbles in the rim
Bouquet: First impression acetic acid (vinegar), second and third the same. Decanted the wine to try some airing. With air the nose gets somewhat more masked but the acetic acid is still dominant, clearly a faulty wine even if made "natural"
Taste: Very thin body, spiky acidity with vinegar touch, touch of yeast and some moldy aftertaste with lingering acetic acidity in the throat
Overall: Spoiled wine.
Score: No Score.
Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Small ISO standard tasting glass. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1999 Casa Vinicola, Nicolello, Barolo, Piedmont:
Optic: Light garnet with a hint of garnet, light rim, fat tears.
Bouquet: Dark oaky nose with a mineral hint.
Taste: Medium to slim body, strong acidity, low fruit, persistent hard velvety tannins. Medium finish, mouth impregnating tannins, sour bitter acidity in the aftertaste.
Overall: Versatile with food if a bit hard.
Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 88.
Not blind. Not decanted. Small ISO standard tasting glass

 

1998 Chateau du Cèdre, Le Cèdre, Cahors, Sud-Ouest, France:
Optic: Dark ruby, clear, fat tears, some tartaric and phenolic sediment.
Bouquet: Dark berries, velvety, earthy note.
Taste: Medium full body, dark fruit, velvety tannins, good acidity, bit rustic. Long finish, persistent velvety tannins.
Overall: Satisfying.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 91.
Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Small ISO standard tasting glass. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1999 Tardieu-Laurent, Costières de Nimes (Syrah, Carignan, and Grenache), Languedoc-Roussillon, France:
Optic: Medium purple, clear, fat tears, coarse tartaric and phenolic sediment.
Bouquet: Fine toasty dark fruity nose, spicy and smoky undertones.
Taste: Medium to full body, good fruity acidity, in the middle a bit thin, silky tannins, good balance. Medium long finish, nice soft persistent tannins, some acidity in the aftertaste.
Overall: Well made but not overly complex wine.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 90.
Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Small ISO standard tasting glass. Bottle count reduced by one

 

1998 Quinault L'Enclos, St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France:
Optic: Medium purple, brilliant, nice tears, some red tainted coarse tartaric sediment.
Bouquet: Whiff of barnyard, overly ripe sweet dark berries, some spicy toast.
Taste: Full to medium body, dark sweet bit concentrated fruit, some acidity, dark chocolate touch. Long finish with a complex aftertaste after spices, dark fruit and persistent smoky tannins.
Overall: Satisfying.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 9 for overall = total score of 94.
Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Riedel Vinum Syrahglass. Bottle count reduced by one

 

1998 Antinori, Tignanello, Tuscany, Italy:
Optic: Medium clear ruby, not much of sediment.
Bouquet: Slightly dusty nose, nice clean red fruit.
Taste: Medium body, good balance, ripe fruit. Medium to long finish.
Overall: Quite a fine bottle of wine.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 91.
From memory. Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Riedel Vinum Syrahglass. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1999 Johann Heinrich, Elegy (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot), Burgenland, Austria:
Optic: Medium ruby, bright, no sediment.
Bouquet: Hint of paprica spice, dark red fruit.
Taste: Medium to medium slim body, again a hint of paprica, dark red fruit, bit thin in the middle. Medium finish.
Overall: Bit curious to drink a Bordeaux cuvée from Austria, but not bad.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 6 for overall = total score of 88.
From memory. Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Riedel Vinum Syrahglass.

 

1990 Guigal, Hermitage Rouge, Hermitage, Rhône, France:
Optic: Dark garnet, bright, heavy sediment, tartartic crystals all over the inside of the decanter.
Bouquet: Good Whiff of barnyard and cess pool, pure red fruit behind.
Taste: Medium body, good acidity, fine mature red fruit, silky tannins, good balance. Medium to long finish, silky tannins.
Overall: Mature red Hermitage giving a lot of pleasure.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 93.
From memory. Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Riedel Vinum Syrahglass. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1998 Clavel, Copa Santa (70% Syrah/30% Mourvedre), Méjanelle, Languedoc, France:
Optic: Medium purple, clear, dense tears, good amount of tartaric and phenolic sediment.
Bouquet: Cool nose after dark berries, bit earthy, hint of barnyard.
Taste: Full to medium full body, good acidity, bitter sweet dark fruit, smoky tannins. Long aftertaste, sweet dark fruit, persistent smoky tannins, slightly hot in the finish.
Overall: Nice wine, bit hot but not fat.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 92.
Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Small ISO standard tasting glass. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1992 Les Cailloux, Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge, Rhone, France:
Optic: Medium garnet, light rim, bright, fat tears, heavy load of baked tartaric sediment.
Bouquet: Hint of barnyard, mature sweet red fruit in the nose. Not without complexity - could very well be a nice Burgundy.
Taste: Medium full body, very soft sweet red fruit, silky acidity, soft sweet tannins, good balance. Medium long finish, very softly mouth impregnating but persistent tannins, sweet fruity acidity in the aftertaste.
Overall: Great wine for such a poor vintage.
Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 91.
Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Riedel Vinum Syrahglass. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1990 Clerico, Ciabot Mentin Ginestra, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy:
Optic: Medium garnet, brilliant, dense tears.
Bouquet: Some nice hint of barnyard, earth and minerals, white pepper - really nice nose.
Taste: Medium body, mature soft red fruit, fresh but nice acidity, fine smoky tannins, good balance. Very long finish with persistent tannins of slightly burning quality.
Overall: Again an excellent bottle.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 94.
Not blind. Not decanted. Riedel Vinum Syrahglass. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1998 Les Cailloux, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France:
Optic: Dark garnet, brilliant, dense tears, baked sediment on the side of the bottle.
Bouquet: Slightly animal nose, dark fruit, spices.
Taste: Full to medium full body, again a bit of animal touch, nice dark red fruit, soft acidity, soft and slightly sweet tannins. Long finish, velvety tannins.
Overall: Great classic Chateauneuf du Pape. Will get even better with some more age.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92.
Not blind. Not decanted. Riedel Vinum Syrahglass. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

2003 Triebaumer, Mariental, Blaufränkisch, Burgenland, Austria:
Optic: Dark brilliant purple, fat tears, tints heavily the glass.
Bouquet: Velvety dark fruit, cool moss.
Taste: Medium to medium full body, intense dark fruit, soft acidity, velvety tannins, good balance. Long finish, velvety persistent tannins.
Overall: Very impressive again.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 92.
From memory. Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Spiegelau Syrahglass

 

2001 Fritsch, Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir), Donauland, Austria:
Optic: Light purple, brilliant, fat tears.
Bouquet: Soft red fruity nose, else not very expressive.
Taste: Medium to medium light body, soft red fruit, sweet-sour silky acidity with melting character, very soft tannins. Medium finish, soft tannins.
Overall: Not great but certainly versatile with food.
Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 6 for overall = total score of 87.
From memory. Not blind. Not decanted. Spiegelau Syrahglass

 

2003 Palari, Faro (Nerello Mascalese/Nero Cappuccio/Nocera), Sicily, Italy:
Optic: Light garnet with a touch of orange, very brilliant, fat tears.
Bouquet: Decent red fruit, sweet velvety tannins, bit of herbs and spices.
Taste: Medium body, soft red fruit, bright acidity, smoky silky tannins, good balance, kind of refreshing. Long finish, nice acidity and persistent silky tannins. Hint of orange in the aftertaste.
Overall: Quite excellent bottle. Would easily take this for a very good Burgundy 2003.
Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92.
Not blind. Not decanted. Small ISO standard tasting glass. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

2003 Quinta do Vale Dona Maria, Douro Tinto (Bastardo, Sousao, Rufete, Tinta Amarela and 24 other local varieties), Portugal:
Optic: Dark bright purple, dense tears, tints slightly the glass.
Bouquet: Dark fruity nose, clean, bit cool.
Taste: Medium full body, clean dark fruit, good acidity, velvety tannins, good balance. Medium long finish, slightly austere tannins.
Overall: Satisfying even if not great, good value. Despite 14° alc vol not hot.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92.
From memory. Not blind. Not decanted. G&Co kind of Syrahglass.

 

2003 Quinta do Vale Dona Maria, CV (Curriculum Vitae: Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Nacional and 26 other local varieties), Douro, Portugal:
Optic: Very dark and dense purple, thick tears, tints heavily the glass.
Bouquet: Dark fruity nose, concentrated, bit cool.
Taste: Full body, dense dark fruit, hidden acidity, bit oaky very persistent velvety tannins, bit hot. Long finish, very persistent dark fruity tannins.
Overall: A trace too concentrated for my taste - one glass is enough. With 15,5° alc vol quite hot.
Score: 50 + 5 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 92.
From memory. Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Served a bit too cool. G&Co kind of Syrahglass.

 

2003 Quinta do Vale Meao, Vinho Tinto (Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Nacional), Douro, Portugal:
Optic: Dark bright purple, dense tears, tints slightly the glass, heavy sediment baked on the side of the bottle.
Bouquet: Dark fruity nose, velvety.
Taste: Full to medium full body, clean dark fruit, good acidity, velvety tannins, very good balance. Long finish, velvety persistent tannins, nice clean fruit in the aftertaste.
Overall: Great bottle.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 93.
From memory. Not blind. Not decanted. Served a bit too cool. G&Co kind of Syrahglass.

 

2000 Colinot, Les Mazelots (90% Pinot Noir, 10% Romain), Irancy, France:
Optic: Very light brilliant garnet with ruby touch, light rim, nice tears.
Bouquet: Restrained dark red fruit, slightly dusty.
Taste: Medium to light body, fresh and slightly bitter acidity, some red fruit, coarse velvety tannins. Medium long finish, slightly bitter tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Versatile with food, bit rustic Nuit St. George type of wine.
Score: 50 + 2 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 87.
Not blind. Not decanted. Small ISO standard tasting glass

 

2006-04-01/Schriftführer e.h.