Quite reticent and tightly wound initially, but opens with air to reveal pure Syrah fruit tinged with lavender, smoky, meaty and peppery accents. There's a slight tannic bitterness on the back end that eases with time, and the whole is very well balanced with a sense of finesse and elegance to the flavours. Looking forward to seeing how this develops in the cellar.
2005 Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot
Incredibly young but so compelling, layered and complex right now, and an amazing wine to sit down with and explore over a few hours. This is a kaleidoscope, constantly moving back and forth between bright, pure Syrah fruit, wilder meaty and bloody flavours and other stony, smoky, saline and floral elements. There's superb structure, balance and finesse here, and I can only imagine what this will turn into with some time. Went out and bought the last few that T&V had straight after.
2001 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile
Two bottles in the past 2 weeks, both corked. BAH!
2001 Müller-Catoir Haardter Mandelring Scheurebe Spätlese
Another bottle that started out slightly greenish, but improved significantly with time as the fruit flavours deepened and moved into the ripe mango/pink grapefruit spectrum. Still drinking very nicely with plenty of sweetness, bright acids and great balance.
2006 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Spätlese Goldkapsel
All the density and power of a big Auslese (hardly a surprise for an '06) conveyed with the clarity, freshness and energy of a light Kabinett. This is superb; a seamless package of vivid red fruited flavours, peaches, honey and florality with a strong underpinning of stone and really bright acidity underneath. I really should buy more of the residually sweet S-F wines.
2005 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese
Spectacular. This is remarkably accessible with the sulfur blowing off quite quickly, and underneath are layers of ripe, luscious Mosel fruit, florality and gentle honeyed notes with an underpinning of slate. It's quite sweet and primary right now but so well balanced with superb acidity, incredible clarity and freshness to the flavours and a sense of real refreshment that makes it remarkably easy to drink. Not sure if I'll be able to keep my hands off other 05 Prums if they're all this good.
2002 Prager Riesling Smaragd Klaus
Comes across fully mature with a light golden hue, a burnished, smoky tinge to the fruit and a roasted beet-like savouriness. This doesn't have the cut or energy that other vintages have shown though, and it's a bit disappointing.
2007 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah In the Rocks
Too ripe and over the top for my liking. There's a pleasant scent of roasted meats accented by floral elements, but underneath is a core of immensely ripe, dense blueberry and black cherry fruit that comes across stewed and lacking freshness. The alcohol on the back end doesn't make it particularly easy to enjoy more than a glass either.
2010 Marcel Lapierre Morgon
This is a tonic after a glass of that monstrously ripe Reynvaan. Waves of pure, exuberant red berried fruit, floral elements and savoury earthiness conveyed with remarkable freshness and clarity. Beautifully balanced and all too easy to drink. Glad I have a bunch.