WTN - Catching Up

I haven't been keen on writing up notes lately, a combination of busyness and lazyness I'm afraid. But I scratch out impressions a day or two later to keep Cellartracker up to date for the wines in my cellar that I've tasted. Hopefully one of these might be useful to someone...

• 2006 Domaine le Sang des Cailloux Vacqueyras Cuvée Azalais - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vacqueyras (5/14/2013)
  Fairly dark in colour, with a lovely gamy, leathery and red fruited nose. Closed at first, but soon the palate starts to mirror the quality of the nose. Smooth in texture, medium bodied, with earthy cherries, game, plum, and pepper and a slight tannins at the end. I love the 'sauvage' nature of this wine - elegant yet rustic. Nice now, but should last a few years. I bought my wine at the same place as David C, so was a little worried, but this bottle showed really well. (A-)
• 2003 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (5/13/2013)
  From a 375. Light yellow in colour, with golden hints. A mixture of honeyed tropical, slight, smoky citrus notes and a hint of petrol. Lovely and long on the creamy, honeyed palate. Quite rich, reflecting the vintage, but nicely balanced. A mix of tropical and stonefruits, with pineapple, mango and pear at the fore. Harmonious and complete, even if still young - this will only get better. Really an outstanding riesling from a top producer and vineyard. (A-/A)
• 2004 Pfaffenheim Tokay Pinot Gris Steinert - France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru AOC (5/12/2013)
  Opened this last night, but there was a strong soapy note that I usually associate with Alsace gewurtz. Just didn't like this strong note, and it got dumped down the sink. Their was a nice rich texture to the wine, it was slightly off dry, and otherwise had normal PG flavours, but the off putting note was just too strong for me. Don't think it was flawed in any way. I'd drink up if you still have some. (C)
• 2001 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva Selección Especial - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (5/12/2013)
  Hazy note from last night. A rich, concentrated wine with a smooth texture and still some American oak on the medium-full bodied palate. Very modern in style. I don't have too many riojas, but enjoyed this last night. (A-)
• 2010 Château de la Roulerie Coteaux du Layon - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon (5/7/2013)
  Had this over a week ago, but remember a delicious sweet chenin with very pure fruit flavours, but little of the funky flavours that chenin can have. Almost like an auslese style. No complexity yet, but it will be hard to wait to see if it ever develops any! (A-)
• 2009 Devil's Lair Chardonnay - Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River (4/7/2013)
  Aussie wine critics seemed to gush over this, so I brought a bottle to a wine dinner last night to see if I wanted to buy any more (it was on sale locally). The short answer is - no thanks. Nice enough, but didn't have the excitement I was expecting or looking for. Some cashew flavours and oak notes on the medium bodied palate. I have to say I'm not a huge New World chardonnay fan, but everyone else agreed this wasn't worth purchasing, even on sale. The 2009 1re cru chablis that followed blew it out of the water. I don't see the home critics effusive praise here. (B/B+)
• 2004 Vergelegen Vergelegen - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch (4/7/2013)
  Didn't take notes last night, but after 4 hours decanting it had a little too many green notes for my liking. A solid wine, but nothing really exciting. Medium bodied, moderate intensity, rather 'meh' last night. (B+)
• 2008 J.K. Carriere Pinot Noir - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (4/7/2013)
  Didn;t take notes, but it was a classic OR pinot, with quite a bit more concentration than normal for a 'village' style wine, but nicely balanced. (B+/A-)
• 2008 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (4/5/2013)
  Didn't take notes, but his bottle was better than the one tasted a year ago, so it does seem to be improving a bit. Still, it's a solid but not really impressive wine with too much oak for my tastes and not enough varietal character. (B)
• 2005 Marc Tempé Pinot Gris Zellenberg Vendanges Tardives - France, Alsace, Alsace AOC (3/30/2013)
  Had this last night, before Easter dinner, didn't take notes, but this was loved by all. Beautiful texture, just off dry, rich but with great balance. Glad I have a few left! Seems ready now, but it should last as well. This really was an outstanding, 'wow' wine. (A-/A)
• 2005 Turkey Flat Shiraz - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (3/29/2013)
  Decanted for four hours. Didn't take notes, but this was a very concentrated wine that really didn't really have a lot of personality. You could taste the old vines, and there was no heat at all, but somehow it really didn't impress me very much. Solid but unspectacular pretty well sums it up for me. (B+)
• 2009 Balthasar Ress Hattenheimer Schützenhaus Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Rheingau (3/26/2013)
  Solid kabinett. Didn't take notes, but it was a light to medium bodied wine and was crisp and clean, with simple but tasty fruit flavours (apple, citrus, pear). (B+)
• 2007 Nederburg Ingenuity - South Africa, Western Cape (3/19/2013)
  Had minimal expectations for this rather bizarre blend of Piedmont and Tuscan varietals (45.5% Sangiovese, 45.5% Barbera, 9% Nebbiolo). Didn't make notes last night, but it was ruby in colour, with a lovely nose and rather complex medium-full bodied palate. Healthy tannins at the end, but they weren't too intrusive. Interesting wine that would be even better with food. Will last for a while yet, I suspect, and improve. (B+/A-)
• 2001 Azelia Barolo San Rocco - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (3/16/2013)
  Decanted for 8 hours, and it still wasn't ready. A big, muscular Barolo, with a whack of tannins at the end. Progressing very well, and should be a great wine in about 10 years. Try to avoid the temptation of opening this! Not rated.
• 2008 Dr. Loosen Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (3/9/2013)
  Very light gold in colour. Fair whack of sulphur at first, but it mainly blows off. Light nose of slate, lime and pear. Medium bodied palate, just off dry. Shows the great cut of the 2008 vintage - nice acid levels. More mineral than fruit driven right now - slate, pineapple, pear, mango and lemon. Very young tasting. (B+)
• 2008 Kruger-Rumpf Münsterer Kapellenberg Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Nahe (3/8/2013)
  Very nice, 'old school' kabinett. A slight spritz when opened, very pale in colour. Sulpur, talc, stones and lime on the light but lovely nose. Great balance on the medium bodied palate, with ripe pineapple, lime, apple, and minerals. Manages to have slightly creamy texture and vivacious acidity. Just off dry. Really quite nice right now, but will last. (A-)
• 2000 Disznókő Tokaji Aszú 4 Puttonyos - Hungary, Hegyalja, Tokaji (2/24/2013)
  Drinking well now. This has developed some complexity, with sauternes-like tobacco and botrytis flavours (orange) the main impression as I recall from last night. Nice integration of powerful fruit and acidity; starts out sweet but ends more off dry. Very nice as a digestif! (A-)
• 2005 Château du Trignon Gigondas - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas (2/24/2013)
  Hazy notes from last night. Took this as a BYOB to dinner last night. This really impressed me - far better than I would have thought. by the end of the night, this was really singing, with classic Rhones flavours (plums, pepper, earthy notes), nice intensity, great balance and a long finish. Drinking well now, maybe even at peak, but will last a few more years no problem. (A-)
• 2008 Man O' War Vineyards Syrah Dreadnought - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Waiheke Island (2/24/2013)
  Hazy notes, Similar impressions to last time. Very tasty, with plums and green olives, and a great velvety texture to it. (A-)
• 2002 Château de Chamboureau Savennières Cuvée d'Avant - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières (2/20/2013)
  Interesting, two people drank this on the same night! Agree with christhewino, this is an amazing wine. Everything you want an aged Savennieres to be. The late harvest adds more weight and a hint of sweetness, enough to make it slightly off dry. There's great power and complexity and a long finish. Classic chenin flavours - wet wool, funky fruit, minerals - and a viscous, full boded palate. I'm a huge fan of Savennieres, and this one hits the spot. Incredible QPR, and very happy to have one left! (A)
• 2000 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Crianza Viña Gravonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (2/18/2013)
  As always, an interesting taste experience. This bottle was high on acidity, with mainly lemon and lime flavours on the light to medium palate. Despite the relative lack of fruit, it did manage to have nice intensity and coat the mouth and throat. Hardly any oxidation. Not the most impressive bottle I've had. (B)
• 2004 St. Urbans-Hof Leiwener Laurentiuslay Riesling Spätlese Feinherb Erste Lage - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2/16/2013)
  Light yellow/golden in colour. Wonderful nose of mainly stone and stonefruit: slate, lime, mango, nectarines and pineapple. Similar notes on the medium bodied, honeyed, pure and very racy palate. Electric acidity compared to a 'normal' spatlese, definitely less sweet, and beautifully balanced. Outstanding wine! Ready now, but should last and improve many years yet . (A-)
• 2006 Matello Pinot Noir Souris - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (2/15/2013)
  A very atypical 2006 from OR, in that it was an acid rather than fruit driven wine. There's fruit too, but not the ripe flavours I've seen in most 2006s. Took a while to become balanced - the fruit increased as the night went on. Mainly cherries and strawberries from what Ii remember. (B/B+)
• 2001 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2/13/2013)
  Hazy notes from 2 nights ago. This was a little cloudy when I decanted it, and it didn't show as well as it usually does. It did improve through the night, with earthy cherry, iron and garrigue, but I do not think it was a perfect bottle. No overt flaws, just not kicking on all cylinders.
• 2005 Domaine La Bouïssiere Gigondas - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas (2/8/2013)
  Decanted for an hour. Medium ruby in colour, with a lovely, earthy nose with cherries, tar and garrigue. The medium-full bodied palate is powerful and pure with nice structure (i.e., healthy but tasty tannins). Cherries, lots of gamy flavours, raspberries and tar. There's a long finish and glycerine texture that coast the mouth and throat. Very tasty now, but it will last, as its still mainly primary. Sorry not to have another bottle. (A-)