N.V. Tarlant Champagne La Vigne d'Antan Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
2000 disgorgement and delicious as always with a lovely combination of citrus, pear and apple fruit framed by yeasty and marmalade notes. There's bright effervescence and refreshing acidity beneath, but what really stands out is the texture - it's incredibly gentle and expansive, almost pillow-like with that sense of incredible polish and finesse I find in so many franc de pied bottlings.
2009 Erste & Neue Kellerei Alto Adige Goldmuskateller
Beth and Joe brought this back from their recent trip to Alto Adige - lovely floral and spicy Muscat aromatics leading into a palate that's dry but quite rich, full of floral-tinged citrus flavours lifted by bright acids. Very nice.
1999 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese
Wow. Seamless. Rich peach, apple and red berried fruit combined with talc, floral and mineral notes and developing smoky aspects on a frame that conveys both power, weight and elegance. Everything here is in perfect balance - just flat out fantastic Riesling.
2007 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau
Incredibly primary right now. This is packed with ripe cherries, figs and red berries with accents of earth and herbs around the fruit. Very dense, concentrated and a powerhouse in the mouth with a lot of tannin beneath the intense fruit. There's a touch of heat on the back end (it's 14.5% alcohol, and doesn't hide it) and I wonder just how gracefully this will age.