Stuff from the last few days.
N.V. Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Réserve
Green apples and pear over biscuit and yeasty notes with good acidity and bright effervescence making it feel really lively and vibrant. Very nice.
2008 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese "Anrecht"
Still a phenomenal wine and value. Apples, yellow plums and citrus fruits combined with floral and herbal elements, intense minerality and really bright acidity. I need more of this wine.
2007 Michel et Stéphane Ogier Syrah La Rosine
Really lovely with a fabulous Côte-Rôtie-like perfume of white pepper, leather, floral elements and bright red and dark fruits with touches of oak in the background that integrate nicely with air. In the mouth the flavours aren't as developed or detailed with the fruit much more primary and the oak a little more noticeable (without ever being obtrusive), but there's a lightness of touch and a silken finesse that along with its 12.5% alcohol makes this really easy to drink.
2008 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spätlese
Ridiculous stuff. Pretty much everything I could want from a young Mosel wine (and then some); really bright fruit ranging from the tropical to more classic apple flavours combined with some of the most intense and vivid slate and rocky flavours I've ever experienced in a Riesling, with really good acidity keeping it really lively and precise. One of the best '08s I've had from Germany yet.
2007 Domaine Santa Duc Côtes du Rhône Les Quatre Terres
Makes a good first impression with ripe dark fruited flavours over earth and Provencal herbs, but after more than a few sips the density and alcohol here make this quite tiring to drink.
2007 Michel et Stéphane Ogier Syrah La Rosine
Even better than the previous bottle opened a few nights earlier. This was decanted for a few hours beforehand and was even more enjoyable with the same primary fruit and peppery spice but this time also showing such an intense meaty character this time that it's hard not to wonder whether part of this came from Syrah grapes and the rest from a piece of ham. Really great stuff.
2006 Dönnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spätlese
I've had this wine several times since release and it never fails to disappoint. Fantastic again, seamlessly combining yellow fruits, limes, cherries and flowers over a rocky mineral base with really great balance, elegance and length.
1999 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain Vendange Tardive
A knockout from the first sip. Amazing depth and richness here, with yellow plums, baked apples and pineapple fruit dusted with cloves, ginger, honey and caramel, and savoury earthy, smoky elements emerging with more air. Very rich but well balanced with surprising acidity and a finish that just stays with you. Monumental.
