2005 Jean-Michel Alquier Faugères Les Bastides d'Alquier - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Faugères (12/26/2015)
I was a fan of Alquier's Maison Jaune and Bastides cuvées in the 90s and up to the 2001 vintage for their almost Côte Rôtie fruit and elegance combined with Mediterranean generosity. However this '05 disappoints me because the fruit has become thicker, the acidity less fresh and the Mediterranean elements of chocolate and liquorice together with alcoholic burn on the finish (14.5%) much more dominant. Is this a function of the vintage or a change in style at the estate? Good but should be much more.
2005 Von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (12/28/2015)
I wonder if this wine - AP 4 - is not a downgraded Auslese. The sweetness was quite marked and it was fuller than I was expecting and was short on the usual Grünhaus airy elegance. Having said that, there was plenty of attractive white fruit and flower fragrance, good fruit, honey, lively moreish acidity and minerals. It was too sweet now, IMO, for even foie gras zakouskis. A few more years probably needed to bring complexity and proper focus.
2005 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (12/28/2015)
This - AP 13 - followed the Abtsberg Spl '05 and showed less sweetness and more grace. Attractive citrus fruit, slate minerals and lively mouthwatering acidity was all there but was still a tad simplistic a bit in the manner of a sip of very nice lime juice. Again I think more time is needed to bring out the potential which should be there. At present I am reserved about the performance of these '05s.
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