Started with a couple of culls to test/clear out possibly old/past prime bottles from the cellar. The 2006 Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling was very impressive, showing fresh, pale fruit over a mineral base with gentle floral accents. There's just enough rs in here to keep it from feeling austere, and great balance.
1996 Trimbach Gewurztraminer Cuvée des Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre went down the sink. Still showed some Gewurz spice and an unusual developed meatiness, but came across incredibly disjointed and unbalanced with candied and plastic-like notes, so we moved on to better things.
David's already posted on the 1994 Horton Norton, but I'll just add that it was excellent with mature red fruits framed by leathery and meaty notes on a polished, medium weight frame. Reminded me of an older Cordier Bordeaux, and was the shocker of the evening for going above and beyond all expectations.
Onto the main event and the first of three incredible wines - the 2004 Domaine Truchot-Martin Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes Vieilles Vignes was freaking amazing. Certainly a touch green, but still showing a remarkable perfume of leathery, floral, savoury and green herbal elements, and a palate presence that's hard to adequately describe - pure cherries, strawberries and that distinctive Truchot earthy funk conveyed with such seamlessness and a lightness of touch, and yet having such presence and persistence.
Whereas the Truchot was all elegance and finesse, the 2009 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese was all about intensity and power. An electric, incredibly intense wine with a spectrum of Riesling fruit ranging from tarter citrus fruits to riper peaches; vivid stony minerality; floral and herbal elements and powerful acidity that keeps it incredibly fresh and vibrant while cutting through the richness and sugar. Obviously very primary and young, but utterly compelling and I'm glad I have a few more to follow over the next few years.
We closed with the 2001 Dönnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Auslese, which as David said was stunning; complex, layered, more understated and gentle than the Muller; just wow.
Not too a bad way to start the weekend.
