WTN - Even more recent wines

Lots of nice wines recently, with many pinots and rieslings, as these the SO's favourites.

• 2002 McWilliam's Mount Pleasant Wines Sémillon Elizabeth - Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley (2021-02-07)
  There seems to be a considerable amount of spoiled bottles of this, and given I bought and brought this all the way back from Sarawak which I imagine wouldn't have the best attention to proper wine shipping temperatures, I didn't have high expectations. I got lucky with a great bottle of well developed Hunter Valley semillon, no oxidation, just a lovely, nutty, toasty, honeysuckle, slightly waxy, medium bodied, low alcohol wine. Lots of character and a great example of this region and style. Well stored bottles should last quite well, but I think you also have to be a little lucky - this was the last year cork was used on this wine, I think. (A-)
• 2012 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Casteel Reserve - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills (2021-02-06)
  Hazy notes - a nice nose with red fruits and spices, and the medium bodied palate was very pure, with a few tannins and acidity merging with a relatively fruit forward, concentrated wine (showing the vintage). Not up to the standards of the Belle Ponte estate reserve I had earlier this week, but still a very nice pinot that still has more than a few years left. (A-)
• 2010 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Estate Reserve - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton (2021-02-05)
  Hazy notes from a couple of days ago. This was singing after about an hour of air. A truly lovely nose with red fruits and spices, with the best feature being the pure, extremely silky and medium bodied palate. Nice complexity on both the nose and palate and a wonderfully harmonious wine. Much better than the 2011 Murto I had recently. Outstanding. (A)
• 2014 Giesen Chardonnay The Fuder Clayvin Vineyard - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough (2021-01-31)
  I think this is still on the young side. Definite oak notes on the nose - cashews, char - with stonefruits mixed in. Similar on the medium bodied palate, with creamy cashew notes mixed with light butterscotch and stonefruit and citrus fruits and a nice jolt of acidity at the end that keeps it balanced. More time would help integrate the oak, I think. Decanting also helped. (A-)
• 2011 Cantina di Santadi Shardana Valli di Porto Pino IGT - Italy, Sardinia, Valli di Porto Pino IGT (2021-01-27)
  Similar notes as the last time I tried this wine, but the wine seemed to be a little more tame (i.e., slightly less big and bold) as it was in 2019. But still a fruit forward, big wine with some savory elements as well. (B+/A-)
• 2012 Biohof Pratsch Grüner Veltliner Steinberg - Austria, Niederösterreich, Weinviertel (2021-01-24)
  Hazy notes. My first bottle from this producer, and I was very impressed. Great freshness in this wine, but also a creamy note from aging. Medium bodied, complex, wonderfully balanced and very fresh and tasty. Great now, but will last quite a while yet. (A-/A)
• 2016 Maison Darragon Vouvray Haut Des Ruettes - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray (2021-01-24)
  Nice, not stellar demi-sec vouvray. Pear, applesauce, cinnamon and minerals on the nice nose, and rich pears, apricot, apple, straw and pineapple on the off dry to sweet, medium bodied palate. I would like to see a bit more acidity and/or minerality to give it better balance, but otherwise, this was a well made vouvray. Good QPR here. (B+)
• 2011 Privato Pinot Noir - Canada, British Columbia (2021-01-21)
  Light ruby in colour, with some browning and bricking. Cloves, cherries and strawberries on the nice but ripe nose. Ripe on the medium to full bodied palate too, with more cloves, cinnamon, earthy cherries and plums. Still has some slightly course tannins. A little less power and alcohol would be nice, but it was a solid BC pinot, although one that seemed to be trying to be Californian in style. Drink up. (B/B+)
• 2002 Pol Roger Champagne Vintage Brut - France, Champagne (2021-01-17)
  My last bottle, and I think I timed it right, as I think it has started a slow decline - this bottle, at any rate. Medium bodied, lots of brioche and toast flavours, a lovely, fairly rich mix of creamy texture and still present acidity. Elegance and power. (A-/A)
• 2006 Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Nagambie Lakes (2021-01-14)
  This hasn't changed much in two years, although the tannins are slowly subsiding. Medium bodied, lots of blackcurrants with some bay leaf, cedar and a hint of mint on both the nose and palate. One less degree alcohol might be nice here. Still, a solid cab and a great QPR with a long life still ahead. (B+)
• 2004 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2021-01-09)
  This was a relatively lightweight CdP, helped by the age and vintage. Medium bodied flavours of earthy cherries, tar, plums, black licorice and game with a hint of remaining tannins and good acidity. It was a bit cloudy, so be sure to give it time to settle before pouring. Long in the tooth, but certainly not dead yet. (B+/A-)
• 2004 Domaine Philippe Delesvaux Coteaux du Layon Sélection de Grains Nobles - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon (2021-01-04)
  A dark, coppery colour, the full bodied, viscous, concentrated wine was awash with sweet nutty, orange and caramel flavours. A true dessert wine. I think this is at peak now. (A-)
• 2010 Château Gaudrelle Vouvray - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray (2021-01-03)
  I was worried this might be a little past prime, but it didn't really seem to have aged much at all. A rather sweet version, quite rich and thick in texture, with mainly stonefruit and lanolin flavours and botrytis notes. Impressive for a basic Vouvray. (B+/A-)
• NV Varnier-Fanniere Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée St-Denis - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (2021-01-01)
  This sat in the cellar for 6 years. Glad I waited, as this was lovely. Rich, creamy flavours, very Chardonnay, and a long finish. (A-)
• 2014 Markus Molitor Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett (Green Capsule) - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2020-12-28)
  This was a refreshing, balanced style of kabinett with a cavalcade of fruit and mineral flavours and more complexity than your average kabinett. Special in an understated, elegant way. This will last a very long time. Drinking well now, but I would hold, as it is still a pup. (A-/A)
• 2009 Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2021-01-01)
  This was in a rich, ripe mode yesterday, and was drinking more like an Auslese in its creaminess. Tropical and stonefruits were there in force, and while it was slightly low acid, it still worked very well. (A-)
• 2012 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2020-12-28)
  This was more an auslese style, with a rich, sweet, creamy flood of mainly stone fruit and tropical fruits, then reined in by mandarin notes. Lowish in acid, but it works. The finish started in the mid palate, then goes into slow motion, leading to a long, powerful finish. (A-)
• 2010 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Bishop Creek - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton (2020-12-27)
  This bottle was a little better and different than the one tried last year. The fruit was more in the lighter red fruit range - cranberry, raspberry - with a bit of earthy cherry and strawberry too. Lovely spices in abundance too. Medium bodied, great acidity, lovely nose, very tasty now, but should continue to improve. (A-)
• 2012 Kumeu River Chardonnay Hunting Hill - New Zealand, North Island, Auckland, Kumeu (2020-12-24)
  I thought this was showing well now, with secondary butterscotch and popcorn notes on the medium bodied and concentrated wine. Nice finish, and still some acidity that freshened the rich flavours. (A-)
• 2003 Château Coutet - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac (2020-12-24)
  Rich, sweet and creamy, this was a no holds barred Sauternes, but it still somehow seemed balanced. Quite complex too, and should last a while yet. (A)
• 2018 Therapy Chardonnay - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA (2020-12-20)
  Had a couple of glasses of this last night. A nice, balanced chardonnay, with both the oaky notes, richness and butterscotch of old school chardonnays, but also has the acid to balance it out. (B+)
• 2004 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (2020-12-18)
  Hazy notes from last night. Lovely purity in this wine, more of an old school kabinett in that it was barely off dry and quite refreshing, with the fruit mainly in the citrus and stone fruit realm, along with slate notes. (A-)
• 2009 Weingut Stadt Krems Grüner Veltliner Reserve Wachtberg Kremstal - Austria, Niederösterreich, Kremstal (2020-12-16)
  This was very, very concentrated, with an oily texture and classic pea and pepper notes, along with red apple, pear and a hint of minerality. We had it after dinner, which served us well, as it is almost too powerful to match with food. In no danger of decline. A very interesting and somewhat unusual gruner. (A-)
• 2008 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Terrunyo Block Las Terrazas - Chile, Maipo Valley, Pirque (2020-12-09)
  When first opened, the tannins in this wine were the main feature; even at the end of the first night, while the rich blackfruits, earthy notes, dark chocolate, black and green olives and still some oak notes were clearly evident, the tannins were still forceful. On the second night, the balance was better. Tannins were still in evidence, but played a supporting rather than lead role now on the medium to full bodied, powerful, concentrated wine. Still seems quite young, and should get better, but was lovely on the second night. (A-)

[David M. Bueker]

All I can say is that is a heck of a set of wines.

I especially thank you for the Prüm note. Good to have someone else check in!

The Molitor note is great, drink more!

Yes, I've been drinking well lately. There aren't many Molitor wines available where I am, but I try them when I can, with different levels of success.