Belated notes on a few wines tasted in passing at Selection Schwander in Zürich in December 2006.
Bernard Remy Champagne brut “Selection Schwander” N.V.
50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir. Tasty, fresh, limey, faint brioche, quite lovely florality, some subtlety even, fairly firm and long. Tastier than any super market Champagne, same price category, a fair QPR. Rating: 87
Gosset Champagne brut “Grand Millésime” 1999
56% Chardonnay, 44% Pinot Noir. Lavender butter, brioche, nice vinosity, good Pinot Noir complexity of lightly dark fruit that could be fresher, livelier and have more cut. Tasty, one to drink young rather than keep, I guess. Rating: 89+?
Domaine Haut-Lirou Mas des Costes 2004
70% Syrah, 30% Grenache. Quite grenachy fruit all the same. Some roasted herbs, a bit spicy. Round and soft, some glycerine, faintly bitter. Quite long and nicely warming. Fairly priced. Rating: 85+?
Capitoni Orcia 2004
80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot. Medium ruby-red with black reflections. Round, warm berry fruit with a bitter note to the tannin, some oak, medium length at best, good body. Nice, if not too complex. Fairly priced. Rating: 87
Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino 2001
No surprise in terms of complexity and depth, nor a particularly weighty vintage. Fairly dense with fruit, good warmth and body, but balanced and fresh enough. A touch of oak, soft nuttiness, coffee and tobacco, faint gunflint note and black Périgord truffle. Rating: 87+?
Baltieri Amarone della Valpolicella Sortilegio 2002
Corvina, 40% Rondinella. Pruney ruby, lighter towards the rim. Raisiny-chocolatey and a bit lactic. Not too full-bodied. A bit simple and short, with some alcoholic heat sticking out. Rating: ~85?
Greetings from Switzerland, David.