Verkostungsnotiz April 2007: Zwischendurch

 

 

1996 Drouhin, Clos des Mouches, Beaune 1er Cru, Burgundy, France: 89

Optic: Very light garnet, no sediment.
Bouquet: Delicate red fruit, clean.
Taste: Medium body, hint of red fruit, good acidity, very good tannins grip. Medium long finish, persistent tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Good overall match with diverse cheeses. Not a great bottle but excellent for a meal.
Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 89.
From memory. Not blind. Not decanted. Generic stemware. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1997 Confuron, Les Fleurieres, Nuits St. Georges, Burgundy, France: 88

Optic: Medium to light garnet, no sediment, brilliant.
Bouquet: Soft red fruit, some spices.
Taste: Medium body, soft red fruit, not as soft in acidity as I have in memory from other 1997 Burgundies, soft tannins. Medium long finish, soft velvety tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Quite good match with some strong tasting cheeses even from goat.
Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 6 for overall = total score of 88.
From memory. Not blind. Not decanted. Generic stemware. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1990 Corino, Vigna Giachini, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy: 92

Optic: Dark garnet, brilliant, fat tears, low sediment.
Bouquet: Smooth, cool, some cool red fruit with earthy hint.
Taste: Medium body, soft red fruit, crisp acidity, velvety tannins, good balance, good grip. Long finish, velvety tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Solid and mature.
Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92.
From memory. Not blind. Not decanted. Generic stemware. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1999 Torbreck, Run Rig, Barossa Valley, Australia: 91

Optic: Brilliant purple, light rim, floating very fine sediment.
Bouquet: Cool sweet dark fruit, clean, velvety.
Taste: Full body, sweet concentrated dark fruit, strong acidity behind, slightly green persistent tannins. Very long finish, palate impregnating tannins, black pepper.
Overall: Oak bit too intense, not so well integrated. Lots of concentrated dark fruit - surprisingly there is some Viognier in it.
Score: 50 + 5 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 6 for overall = total score of 91.
Not blind. Not decanted. Small ISO standard tasting glass. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1990 Guigal, Hermitage Rouge, Hermitage, Rhône, France: 92

Optic: Ruby, bright, Heavy sediment.
Bouquet: Mature dark red fruit, velvety.
Taste: Medium full body, mature red fruit, solid acidity, soft velvety tannins, good overall balance. Medium long finish, persistent soft tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Nice bottle again. Great performance for a generic Hermitage of this age.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 92.
From memory. Not blind. Not decanted. Tumbler. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1994 Pontet Canet, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France: 90

Optic: Medium ruby, bright, fat tears, heavy tartaric sediment.
Bouquet: Resinous, echo of Greek Retsina.
Taste: Medium body, mature dark fruit, soft tannins, good acidity, good balance, resinous touch. Medium long finish, velvety dark fruity tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Very good match with braised lamb.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 90.
From memory. Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting to separate sediment. Generic stemware. Bottle count reduced by one

 

1998 Mas Igneus, FA 112, Priorat, Spain: 91

Optic: Dark ruby, brilliant, fat tears, no sediment.
Bouquet: Clean dark fruit, soft.
Taste: Medium to full body, clean dark fruit, soft velvety tannins, soft acidity, good balance, international touch. Long finish, soft dark fruity persistent tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Nice bottle, fruit accentuated, Spain?
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 91.
From memory. Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting to separate sediment. Generic stemware. Bottle count reduced by one

 

1997 Triebaumer, Mariental, Blaufränkisch, Burgenland, Austria: No Score

Black core ruby. Hint of sour old socks in the nose. Slim body with isovaleric acidity touch. May be a bad bottle.
Not blind. Not decanted

 

1995 Caparzo, La Casa, Brunello, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy: 90

Optic: Dark garnet.
Bouquet: Austere red fruit, hint of earth.
Taste: Medium body, quite austere, bit resinous, red fruit, rustic acidity, slightly harsh tannins. Medium long finish, bit harsh acid tannins in the finish.
Overall: Good match with Osso Bucco.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 90.
From memory. Not blind. Not decanted. Small ISO standard tasting glass. Bottle count reduced by one

 

1994 Allemand, Chaillot, Cornas, Rhône, France: 89

Optic: Dark garnet, bright.
Bouquet: Black olives, hint of raspberries.
Taste: Medium to slim body, red berries acidity, silky tannins, good balance. Medium long finish, silky red fruity tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Still not fully mature.
Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 89.
From memory. Not blind. Not decanted. Small ISO standard tasting glass. Bottle count reduced by one

 

2001 Heinrich, Salzberg, Burgenland, Austria: 93

Optic: Dark ruby with purple hue, black core, clear, some tartaric sediment.
Bouquet: Dark fruit, clean, velvety, hint of toast.
Taste: Full body but not fat, dark soft fruit, well integrated acidity, velvety tannins with good grip, good balance, heavy oak well integrated. Long finish, persistent warming tannins and dark fruit in the aftertaste.
Overall: Very good indeed and quite satisfying.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 93.
From memory. Not blind. Not decanted. Riedel Vinum Syrahglass.

 

2002 Shafer, Hillside Select, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA: 93

Optic: Brilliant medium purple, very fat tears.
Bouquet: Extremely dense dark red fruit, velvety oaky, clean, hint of cedar, sweet toast.
Taste: Plump body, palate impregnating dark fruity tannins, masked acidity, very international. Very long finish, persistent dark fruity mouth impregnating tannins, slightly imbalanced in the aftertaste.
Overall: Very international.
Score: 50 + 5 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 93.
1000Parker. Single blind. Opened 2,5 hours and decanted 1 hour before tasting. Riedel Wine Syrahglass.

 

2003 Quilceda Creek, Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, USA: 93

Optic: Brilliant light purple, light rim, tints the glass, fat tears.
Bouquet: Roots, earthy, animal hint, resinous, vanilla - after some minutes rather decent, silky with soapy hint.
Taste: Plump to slightly fat body, intense tannins of burning pepper quality, juicy dark fruity, very concentrated. Very long finish, persistent tannins with black pepper touch and sweet dark fruit in the aftertaste.
Overall: Slightly fat.
Score: 50 + 5 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 93.
1000Parker. Single blind. Opened 2,5 hours and decanted 1 hour before tasting. Riedel Wine Syrahglass.

 

2000 La Mission Haut Brion, Pessac Leognan/Graves, Bordeaux, France: 88

Optic: Medium brilliant ruby, light rim, fat tears.
Bouquet: Moldy hint, sweetish black fruit, cedar wood - after a few minutes the moldy notes is rather gone, hint remains.
Taste: Medium body, considerable acidity, acid persistent tannins, slightly unbalanced. Long finish, dull acid notes in the aftertaste.
Overall: Probably a faulty bottle.
Score: 50 + 5 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 5 for overall = total score of 88.
1000Parker. Single blind. Opened 2,5 hours and decanted 1 hour before tasting. Riedel Wine Syrahglass.

 

2003 Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France: 94

Optic: Dark ruby, light rim, fat tears.
Bouquet: Considerable roasted notes, cedar wood, velvety phenolic - after some minutes some green aromas and toast gets fat and obtrusive.
Taste: Medium body, bit harsh tannins, low or masked fruit, austere, in total well balanced. Very long finish, black pepper persistent tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Great wine with a disgusting obtrusive toasty nose.
Score: 50 + 5 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 19 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 94.
1000Parker. Single blind. Opened 2,5 hours and decanted 1 hour before tasting. Riedel Wine Syrahglass.

 

2000 Vieille Julienne, Cuvee Reservee, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: 94

Optic: Medium ruby, light rim, fat tears.
Bouquet: Hint of raspberry, bit austere, silky red fruit, slim, low oak.
Taste: Plump body, red fruit, intense tannins, acidity well masked, good balance. Very long finish, sweet fruity persistent tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Very elegant and good match with food.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 9 for overall = total score of 94.
1000Parker. Single blind. Opened 2,5 hours and decanted 1 hour before tasting. Riedel Wine Syrahglass.

 

2001 Clos du Caillou, Reserve, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: 91

Optic: Light ruby, light rim, fat tears.
Bouquet: Slightly animal phenolic note, dark red juicy fruit, velvety, bit resinous.
Taste: Medium body, slightly sweet red fruit, soft tannins, low acidity. Long finish, sweet fruity bit flat aftertaste.
Overall: Quite young.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 91.
1000Parker. Single blind. Opened 2,5 hours and decanted 1 hour before tasting. Riedel Wine Syrahglass.

 

2003 Chave, Hermitage rouge, Rhone, France: 89

Optic: Medium purple, light rim, fat tears.
Bouquet: Brute dark bitter fruit, spices, silky, extremely young and concentrated.
Taste: Full body, bitter dark fruit, bit tart coarse velvety tannins, well integrated acidity. Very long finish, coarse velvety dark fruity tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Too young to be a pleasure.
Score: 50 + 5 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 6 for overall = total score of 89.
1000Parker. Single blind. Opened 2,5 hours and decanted 1 hour before tasting. Riedel Wine Syrahglass.

 

2004 Artadi, Vina El Pison, Rioja, Spain: 96

Optic: Brilliant medium purple, very fat tears.
Bouquet: Very elegant, delicate red fruit, smooth velvety finesse - some minutes later hint of raspberry soda.
Taste: Medium body, delicate dark red fruit, delicate well integrated acidity, very elegant. Long finish, soft palate impregnating red fruity tannins, delicate bitter aftertaste.
Overall: Great wine with excellent balance.
Score: 50 + 5 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 9 for overall = total score of 96.
Score96. 1000Parker. Single blind. Opened 2,5 hours and decanted 1 hour before tasting. Riedel Wine Syrahglass.

 

2002 Sine Qua Non, Just for the love of it (Syrah), California, USA: 97

Optic: Medium brilliant purple, fat tears.
Bouquet: Cool silky dark fruit, low oak, very elegant.
Taste: Plump body, emphatic acidity and tannins, hint of sweetness, smoky palate impregnating tannins. Very long finish, very persistent red fruity tannins.
Overall: Great bottle.
Score: 50 + 5 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 19 for taste + 9 for overall = total score of 97.
Score97. 1000Parker. Single blind. Opened 2,5 hours and decanted 1 hour before tasting. Riedel Wine Syrahglass.

 

2001 Beaucastel, Hommage Jaques Perrin, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone, France: 94

Optic: Medium ruby, brilliant, light rim, fat tears.
Bouquet: Brett note based on cedar wood, raspberry, phenolic - after some minutes a slightly moldy touch.
Taste: Plump body, sweet red fruity acidity, bit thin in the middle but very persistent in taste. Very long finish, red fruity persistent tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Impressive despite a possible slight bottle problem.
Score: 50 + 5 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 94.
1000Parker. Single blind. Opened 2,5 hours and decanted 1 hour before tasting. Riedel Wine Syrahglass.

 

2004 Quinta do Crasto, Reserva Old Vines, Douro Tinto, Portugal: 91

Optic: Dark purple with violet rim, fat tears, tints the glass.
Bouquet: Vintage Port like dark fruit.
Taste: Full body, sweet dark dense fruit, Vintage Port again, good acidity, velvety tannins. Very long finish, persistent sweet fruity tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: If you like very full wines - this is for you.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 91.
Not blind. Not decanted. Small ISO standard tasting glass Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1990 Corino, Vigna Giachini, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy: 93

Optic: Brilliant medium ruby, nice tears, only a little bit of sediment.
Bouquet: Clean low fruity nose, earthy and mineral notes.
Taste: Medium to slim body, nice low fruit, silky acidity, velvety tannins with good grip, very elegant. Long finish, persistent low fruity tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Great bottle and great match with a meat dish like for example Entrecote.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 93.
Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Small ISO standard tasting glass. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1990 Voerzio, Cerequio, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy: 92

Optic: Brilliant garnet.
Bouquet: Silky red fruit, earthy phenolic.
Taste: Medium body, clean red fruit, good acidity, velvety tannins, good balance. Long finish, persistent tannins in the aftertaste.
Overall: Quite a good bottle.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92.
From memory. Not blind. Not decanted. Small ISO standard tasting glass. Bottle count reduced by one.

 

1994 Leoville Barton, St. Julien, Bordeaux, France: 91

Optic: Medium ruby, some sediment.
Bouquet: Dark fruity, bit phenolic, velvety.
Taste: Medium body, dark red velvety fruit, firm acidity, solid tannins, good balance. Medium long finish, soft tannins with dark fruit in the aftertaste.
Overall: Nice bottle again.
Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 91.
From memory. Not blind. Not decanted. Small ISO standard tasting glass. Bottle count reduced by one

 

2002 Tement, Zieregg, Morillon, Südsteiermark, Austria: 90

Optic: Bright golden yellow, fat tears.
Bouquet: Soft, nutty, bit prominent vanilla.
Taste: Rather full body, slightly fat and bit sweet, ripe yellow fruit, good acidity, soft silky persistent tannins. Long finish, persistent tannins with yellow fruit in the aftertaste.
Overall: This time a tad too fat.
Score: 50 + 3 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 7 for overall = total score of 90.
From memory. Not blind. Not decanted. Riedel Sommelier Burgundyglass.

 

2007-05-01/Schriftführer e.h.