2005 Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca
I have always enjoyed this bottling since being introduced to it at Vinitaly years ago, this was no slouch, with a pristine and clean nose and a lovely lingeringly soft palate, the perfect lunch time wine that never disappoints.
2005 Domaine Sylvie Esmonin Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacque Premier Cru
I have a 6 pack of this bad boy and when I saw it on a wine list I thought it would be fun to try with out having to delve into my cellar. This was chocked full of oak on the bouquet, very good oak, but too much for my liking. This was quite brilliant along the palate where the fireworks seem to really hold a great balance and length. This looked a lot like Dominique Laurent’s 2005 CSJ, which is understandable give that its from the same source and most probably matured in similar oak, I would give the nod to the Esmonin at this stage and cant wait to see them when that oak fully integrated in 10+ years.
2005 Raveneau Valmur Grand Cru Chablis
Gee’s to these guys ever miss the target? This needed a good decanting and then just sat in the glass winking at you. They have a deft touch that you rarely encounter with white wine from anywhere, a true pleasure, one that had to be savoured.
1999 Humbert Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru
Madonna with Meatballs, this was awesome stuff, from the first sip to the last gulp this was a pretty magical ride, everything you love about great Pinot Noir on mass, it kept evolving in the glass and was still hitting us with more, when we finished it. The 1999’s are drink out of their skin at the moment
1995 Les Cailloux Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Centenaire
I have been luck to see this about 3 or 4 times in the last few years and I really love this bottling, it show where CnP was at 14 years back and shows a lot of old world style nuisances and class. This is now fully developed and a real pleasure to drink, I am holding onto a few Janasse VV’s, Marcoux VV, Bonneau RdC and this to see if I was wrong or not.
1977 Gould Campbell Vintage Port
The great way to finish a meal at the swanky Rockpool Bar and Grill in Sydney, I don’t know much about older ports but I really enjoy them every time I have one
1989 Gaja Sperss Barolo
I am half way through a case and this one just got better and better over 2 days, a real depth of amazing tannins here and when I shared it with some non wine geeky friend, their eyes almost popped out. Seriously lovely stuff but I am sad as I will drink very little Gaja in the coming years as the pricing has got to the point of silliness.
2005 Pavelot SLB La Dominode
Gee’s who did better in 2005 than Savigny, this held a lovely roasted and rustic edge on opening, very Savigny for mine, with a silk laded palate that just kept going on and on with a really supple texture. Who said Burg need to be expensive???, I bought several cases of this at $32 bucks
2005 Roger Perrin CnP VV
I first stumbled across this guy with the 2003 from Rare Wines, this is a balls to the walls effort and really looks more new world than old world, this is not for the faint hearted and is really a blast a minute, this got nailed pretty quickly and put many smiles on the faces around the room. Last weekend a 2005 Clos des Papes was sheer brilliance and 2007s are going to have to be on there game to come close to the 2005’s, I went long on 2005s and am really happy now, especially with the crazy money after the 2007’s.
1998 Vietti Barolo Castiglione
We drank the 2004 over lunch a week back and it was good but far from great, this was a pretty wine and it did it job, it just did not have a lot of excitement factor. I bought these years back from a blow out sale at the PLCB, so I suppose they have drunk nicely for the money but the 1998 Barolo’s consistently underwhelm me.
MT