Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese 1999 8,5% AP 3 567 142 15 00
Thanks to Antti for bringing this. Light, undeveloped colour. The nose was very, very ripe with almost tropical flavours. It still had some nice strawberry, lime and stone dust scents also. The palate had huge fruit, nice sweetness, true but very ripe Riesling aromas, but rather low acidity. It was balanced as it had some other type of grip, but I really would prefer more acid. Still very nice.
I made two new converts to the glory that is ESJ! Antti and Stephen both seemed to like these wines very much.
ESJ Durell Syrah 1998 was nice and bloody and true Syrah, rather European in style. It had a touch of VA and vinegar but nothing that would detract from the earthy style. Nice!
ESJ Les Côtes Sauvages 1996 was nicely developed, with an earthy yet sweet bouquet. Soft, nicely aged palate with lovely structure for an S. Rhone blend. Very nice!
Then for another dinner of a bloody chunk of meat I opened Couly-Dutheil Chinon La Baronnie Madeleine 2001 which has always been a favourite cheaper red here. True Chinon scents of wet earth/tobacco, cassis; juicy fruit and lovely structure. Not a heavy wine, but it still has much flavour and is very moreish. A little noticable structure so might benefit from a few more years sleep even though it is great fun now.
And one more dinner, this time of mussles prepared in some very tasty way: white wine and herbs and something more also for sure (I wasn't the cook, so I have no idea what exactly). We drunk a Drouet Fils Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine La Sancive Sur Lie 2006 with the food. It was surprisingly ripe! I was expecting a wine with the minerals to the fore and then citrus and only underneath these some fruit. But no: this was very fruit-forward and rather too low on minerals. It is balanced and very refreshing and moreish and quite fun.
But I am sorry this is the only Muscadet available here. I think that the top Muscadets are only a fraction more expensive than this, so I see little point in drinking these fair but not trascendental Muscadets - except for the fact that we don't have the top producers available here.
-O-