Quite a full bodied champagne, but still refreshing. Charming and fruit-forward, but with perfectly enough structure to handle all the fruit. Very nice.
Pol Roger 1996 (Bl de Bl?)
Mineral, citrussy; fine mousse, elegant, paradoxically lean yet fruity, wonderful acidity and minerality. Brilliant stuff!
Mount Pleasant Lovedale Sémillon 2005
Lime and minerals, promises tartness from the aromatics yet is actually quite fruity but still elegant and mineral. The acidity was moderately high, but still lower than I expected from what I have read of Aussie Semillons. Unending, mineralwater aftertaste – lovely. I have only tasted a couple Hunter Valley Sémillons before, but I loved them, and this wine further proves that I should try to find more of them.
Blind: Gaja Barbaresco 1994
Very dark colour. I thought the nose was much like a Barolo with a little bit of age from a warm vintage (I guessed 1997): sweet and primary fruit, rusty tones to the fruit which in this case was darker in tone and less bright red than I expected from Nebbiolo. I was confused by the colour, though, as I have never seen such darkness in a Nebbiolo. Lovely wine, beginning to drink well but I wouldn’t mind a bit more secondary nuance to it.
Töövi Pinot Noir Hein Vineyard 2006 Anderson Valley, California
I had tried this when it had just been shipped to Finland, so it was good to taste it again with a few more months time to settle. This time around, it had brighter Pinot characteristics. Upon opening, the oak wasn’t as obvious as last time, but with air, the oak did come forward – yet it never disguised the Pinosity, so I assume that with a couple year’s age, it will come together. It is a fruit-forward style rather than Burgundian, but leaning more towards Oregonian than the sterotypical Californian style.
Jamet Côte-Rôtie 2004
I remember reading a few notes that this was a bit over done for Jamet. On my previous tastes I hadn’t noticed anything like that, but this time around it was a bit sweeter in fruit than I would hope from a classical C-R. Yet it was still delightfully bacony and peachy and lifted, so I liked it. I didn’t notice any of the new oak aromas that some have claimed. Full bodied, refreshing structure, opulent fruit – but despite the sheer opulence I still enjoy it. Nice!
Salomon-Undhof Grüner Veltliner Alte Reben 2005
This was a very charming wine: very classic GV in its aromas of white pepper and green fruit aromas. Full bodied, warmly fruity, but structured enough to be refreshing also. The aftertaste is just lovely with the varietal aroma of pepper and minerality showing strongly. I really enjoyed this wine!
Kerpen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 2006
This was a decent Beerenauslese!
Mineral, slightly botrytised, weighty in fruity yet countered by sufficient acidity, this was a very enjoyable whole, though I think it was eclipsed by the other wines tonight. It did work well with some of the cheeses (I liked the old Gouda, and the Monte Enebro goat’s cheese with it).
