WTN: Mosel, Cahors, Martin Ray

Reinhold Haart 2001 Mosel Riesling Spätlese, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen. Compared to the 2002 Kab I had a couple of months back, which was delicious enough, this is even more focused, concentrated, and intensely minerally. Vibrant, delicious, and still young.

Domaine Mas del Périé (Fabian Jouves) 2014 Cahors Malbec "Les Escures." Fresh, rustic, slightly funky, dark fruit with a tarry edge ifted by bright acidity and structured by chewy tannins; if all Malbec tasted like this I'd drink it weekly.

Martin Ray 1995 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain Vineyard. Surprisingly fresh, sweet blackberry fruit backed by taut minerality with a little bit of a balsamic edge; showing only a little remaining wood; in the second hour it becomes vaguer and less focused, but paired with food, the savory elements in the midpalate come into the foreground. In a nice place now and showing no sign of collapse.

[David M. Bueker]

Yep, that 2001 vintage is something.

August 2002 was the first time for me in the Mosel and all the shelves were full of 2001.
First producer, at 9.00 a.m., was Reinhold Haart who introduced the line up with a 1971 Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Kabinett that captivated me.