Over the past two days I’ve opened the following bottles -
1998 Geantet-Pansiot Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Le Poissenot - surprisingly, a wine very much in evolutionary mode, redolent of well-meshed freshly roasted beetroot, hung game, spicy new oak, ripe fleshy black cherries and first-rate sappy notes. Still lively and fresh in the mouth with crunchy fruit reflecting exactly what’s found in the bouquet, this relatively robust, medium-bodied pinot noir delivers a reasonably bold statement from perky mineral-tinged acidity and fine-grained but not insubstantial tannins. Its classy fullness is followed by a classic burgundian peacock-tail finish. A very fine wine indeed. Has always been a great effort for the vintage. Drink now-2018+. 92 points. 13% A/V
Opened my first ever Tukey Flat N/V Sparkling Shiraz (Barossa Valley, 12.7% A/V and disgorged November 2007). As with all the serious red fizzes I’ve tried over recent times, this has tremendously deep purple colour, ernormous streams of fine bubbles followed by an impressive bouquet full of blue- and black- berries, a little sweet earth and hints of spice and subservient oak. The palate equally good with rich, slightly sweet, mouthfilling dark berried flavours, attractive swirling mousse, holding an excellent line through the mouth with cuddly tannins providing a solid foundation, although the finish is marginally short. Otherwise hard to fault. 90 points.
Gehrig Brothers 1985 Vintage Port. This inexpensive Rutherglen (Victoria, Australia) fortified shiraz displays hefty ripe sweet cherry and plummy Christmas cake fruit amidst flicks of licorice and sweet regional earth with some quite significant fine brandy spirit evident on both the bouquet and in the finish. It is about midway through its drinking window and has the potential to last for at a decade, possibly two. It was well-liked by all at the table and continues to drink well from the bottle the next day. I thought it was deserving of a solid silver medal or about 90 points.