- 2005 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Spätlese * - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2020-06-08)
Hazy notes from a few days ago. I saw this was leaking very slowly, so was nervous. A lovely wine, with the flavours integrating well and there's a burst of nice botrytis which adds to the whole. Fruits are on the stonefruit spectrum (apricots, nectarines) and there's a great balance though not much overt acidity: it's part of the gestalt. Drinking well now, but it will last for many years. (A-) - 2015 Henry of Pelham Riesling Icewine - Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Escarpment VQA (2020-06-05)
Didn't take notes, but this drank very well last night. The fruit flavours - a mixture of stone fruit and tropical fruit - were nicely integrated, and the wine was well balanced: certainly on the sweet side, but with enough acidity to ensure a fresh finish (for an icewine). Ready now but should last at least several years. (A-) - 2000 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Gravonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (2020-06-05)
My seventh and final bottle. I lucked out, no oxidation at all in this bottle. The wine is still evolving, and it was hard to discern the type of fruit flavours on show here: it was more about the creamy, pure, balanced texture of the wine. There were nutty notes, almost a la Burgundy, and even a touch of the Musar blanc type flavours too. Ready now - if you get a solid bottle - but it should last a while yet too. Always an intriguing, singular wine. (A-/A) - 2005 Domaine de l'Ecu Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Expression de Granit - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine (2020-05-31)
I stumbled upon this in the cellar; it wasn't in the inventory. It sat too long, I think. There were some fruit left, but more minerals than fruit, and there was oxidation as well. Drinkable and different, but those who don't like oxidation wouldn't be as happy. No rating. Drink up. - 2013 De Martino Muscat Viejas Tinajas - Chile, Itata Valley (2020-05-26)
My third and last bottle. I had put this aside, thinking it beyond hope, and tried to ignore it: today I figured I'd 'get rid of it', but made sure I had a backup bottle. The first bottle I tried was interesting, the second rather vile.This one is dazzling. Golden orange in colour. A very intriguing nose of minerals, orange, lime, pineapple, oxidation and pears. Medium bodied, with a saline, salivating palate. Tannins from the skins are evident, and there is only a hint of oxidation, just enough to add interest. I don't drink a great deal of orange wines, and wasn't expecting this to last this long or be this good now. But there might be more than normal bottle variation here at work, as often happens with this style. But this was a brilliant bottle, reminiscent of a Musar blanc. (A) - 2010 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (2020-05-22)
This is a big cab blend, with lots of black fruits and some dark chocolate. Drinking well now, but better on the second night, as the tannins subsided and the texture became more velvety. This is a very big wine, and a good wine in its style, but I've slowly become less and less keen on this type of wine (listed at 15%, and it definitely feels at least that). - NV Domaine des Baumard Crémant de Loire Carte Turquoise - France, Loire Valley, Crémant de Loire (2020-05-18)
Like others from the Vancouver area, this was stripped of flavour, and I think it was cooked at some point of its journey here. Flawed. NR (flawed) - NV Gonzalez-Byass Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Palo Cortado Apostoles - Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry (2020-05-18)
Hazy notes from a few days ago. Light brown in colour, lots of rancio, caramel and raison notes on the nose. The oxidation and acidity are also met a brief sweetness, so there's an interesting bitter/sweet thing going on; but its dry (and somewhat salty) overall. Interesting version of a Palo Cortado. (B+/A-) - 2011 Nikolaihof Riesling Federspiel Vom Stein - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau (2020-05-16)
Had this last night. It had a very nice, classic riesling nose of mainly citrus fruits, herbs and a mineral note. Mainly citrus again on the medium bodied, elegant palate, with some nectarine, talc and minerality as well. Very thirst quenching and bright: a great acid/fruit balance for this dry wine. This is drinking very well now, but should last too. (A-) - 2006 Peter Lehmann Riesling Wigan - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley (2020-05-15)
Lots of citrus on the very nice nose, and these are echoed on the palate, with grapefruit, lime, lemon and a bit of pear and pineapple as well. There is a slight honey note that lurks and runs from the front palate to the finish. Lovely acidity still is the star here: very refreshing. This is beautiful now, but should last quite a while under the screwcap. (A-) - 2004 Domaine de Ferrand Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2020-05-13)
My second and thankfully last bottle. Very ripe fruit, including prune, on the nose. Like my first bottle, it is also overblown on the full bodied palate too, with still healthy tannins. This might have been cooked at some point, as other people in my region had similar issues. Not rated.