TN: Another very eclectic mix of wines

[Otto_Forsberg]

@LasseK

Pheasant’s Tears! A Copenhagen darling a few years back

A few years back? I thought you were riding the wave’s crest but I’ve been collecting these for more than a decade now! I’ve actually arranged a Pheasant’s Tears tasting at some point and actually visited the winery a few years back: https://www.wineberserkers.com/t/travelogue-georgia-the-country/154724/11

@David_Bu3ker

That 1992 Chardonnay was an actual surprise!

My thoughts exactly! (ref: the surprising aged wines thread, who missed out the reference)

@Mike_Grammer

Thanks as always for the notes. I myself have quite enjoyed 2014 Bordeaux, both red and white. They have an almost linear purity as well as an early openness that I have taken to. I’ve had the Blanco for Honorio Rubio but not this one. The guy who sold me mine said it was indeed a dead ringer for a VT white, and just didn’t get there for me—this one sounds much more promising.

I’ve loved the 2014’s as well. Some might be lacking a bit in intensity and structure, but the best have been at the level of the best 2008’s - one of the last “classic” vintages I’ve loved. I’ve had some terrific 2009’s, but as a whole, I’ve not been a big fan. 2010 was more like how I wanted 2009 to be. However, 2008, 2011 and 2014 are all somewhat overlooked vintages that have produced some really classically styled wines that have emphasized savory qualities over ripeness.

And while Honorio Rubio might not be a dead ringer for a Viña Tondonia - everybody agreed that it did seem like a similarly styled wine, it definitely wasn’t a Heredia white - it is probably the closest thing a Rioja geek can get to a classically styled (ie. Heredia) Rioja white. Really excellent stuff, marrying the best of the two worlds - classic, oxidatively aged Rioja and modern, clean and fruity white. I’d love to see how these wines perform with a little bit more age.

@Mike_Grammer

Have you revisited any of these in the 1.3 years since the date of tasting? Curious about development, if any.

You might want to check out the math here.

@Nathan_V

Of the 6 bottles I purchased, 3 have been TCA marred in some way, 1 glorious and, 1 fine. Very odd. Like you, I’ve found other vintages to be very impressive.

Alright, it seems we might have a systemic problem here. This wine didn’t seem corked, it was just completely unlike the superb 2012 vintage which made me call out this bottle being off - in addition to one another attendee plus the person who brought the bottle.