- 2020 Roebuck Estates Reserve - United Kingdom, England, Sussex, West Sussex
Good effort in replicating champagne that reminded me of the House of Arras that i tasted a couple of weeks ago, but the slightly coarser bubbles and forced sweetness gave it away. (90 pts.) - 2023 Leeuwin Estate Sauvignon Blanc Art Series - Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Easy guess as SB due to the overt grassiness and grapefruit notes but I was in the minority that thought that this was a Loire! Very good effort that actually reminded me of Cotat albeit more tropical. (91 pts.) - 2022 Tenuta Sant’Antonio Soave Vecchie Vigne - Italy, Veneto, Soave
Quite all over the place with nail polish remover and oxidative notes, my best guess was a cross between a Rioja white and a natural Loire like Joly. Couldn’t get past the nail polish remover note. (84 pts.) - 2017 Wine & Soul Douro Pintas - Portugal, Douro
Incredibly inky with a dark purple hue that I went to South American crap but did settle down with time in the decanter. Way too much mocha notes for my liking, definitely prefer Portuguese whites over reds. (87 pts.) - 2006 Ramey Syrah Shanel Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
My contribution. Funny thing is that most including myself were in northern Rhone for this given that it was double-blind, I guessed as a modern maker like Jaboulet that I did not care for from the mid-00s. Wood and tannic structure will outlast the fruit here I feel, but the fruit did become more expressive with air. (89 pts.) - 2008 Quinta Sardonia QS - Spain, Castilla y León, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León
Another modern wine that I did not care for, so much mocha and coffee notes. Vulgar is an apt descriptor. (80 pts.) - 2023 Cantina Terre Del Barolo Verduno Pelaverga Arnaldo Rivera SuiCristalli - Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Verduno Pelaverga
Transparent red fruit but with biting tannins, went for approachable Nebbiolo but obviously wouldn’t have gotten Pelaverga. Among the sea of heavy reds this was very enjoyable. (91 pts.) - 2005 Domaine Michel Lafarge Bourgogne - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne
Brought for a friend. Initially devoid of fruit but became more expressive with air that balanced out the drying tannins. Quite telling that this was finished before the Maison Champy Charmes Chambertin that was terrible. (91 pts.) - 2017 Pierre Gaillard Côte-Rôtie Rose Pourpre - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Thought this was a modern, over-oaked Burgundy but this showed why I hate oaked, de-stemmed Syrah. Too candied and anonymous, preferred the more traditional Chatagnier from the same vintage. (88 pts.) - 2010 Maison Champy Charmes-Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Overripe confected sweet fruit, no surprise that the '05 Lafarge Bourgogne was preferred by most by the invisible hand. Abysmal GC. (85 pts.) - 2005 Château Gruaud Larose - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Clear cut Bordeaux left-bank but with Parkerized black fruit, but I thought this showed good restraint so guessed '08. Definitely missing the old-school Cordier character. (90 pts.) - 2017 Aurélien Chatagnier St. Joseph - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
My extra. As usual for this producer, a little darker and more glossy but more traditional compared to the ultra-modern Gaillard because of the whole bunch inclusion (that showed with slight greenness). Crunchy and fresh northern Rhone in my wheelhouse. (91 pts.) - 2016 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Arana Gran Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Unfortunately dominated by American oak so all I could discern was vanilla. Undrinkable to me at this stage but others enjoyed it. (80 pts.) - 1995 Château Labégorce - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Corked. NR (flawed) - 2020 Domaine du Château de Marsannay Marsannay - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay
Agree with the cough syrup new-world vibes, terrible representation of Burgundy. (75 pts.) - 2017 Georg Breuer Rüdesheimer Berg Roseneck Riesling - Germany, Rheingau
Brought an extra white to share. Some reduction on opening but with time the deft winemaking showed with intensity and purity of fruit. Impressive concentration without being heavy. (92 pts.)
1 Like
Intrigued by the Pelaverga, as that particular label seems like a concerted attempt to lift this co-op from supermarket fayre, to something that can start to aspire to what Produttori del Barbaresco have achieved. It’ll be a long journey for them, but I’m hoping it’s a serious attempt.
The Soave also of interest. We didn’t visit them when we were in the area, as there was an unusually high tasting fee (indeed few charge in that area) and there were 4 of us which made it feel all the more pricey. They seem to have confidence in themselves.
ouch! on the Rioja. Likewise I prefer significant age on them, though there are a few I enjoy younger as well.
1 Like
Thanks for your input Ian especially as you know Italian wines much better than I do! Like you I haven’t been impressed by Terre del Barolo previously but the Pelaverga was very much to my liking (but the Soave less so…).
My palate has gravitated away from the more modern Riojas like LRA and Muga because they need a lot of time to shed the oak, I only have LdH in my cellar now!
1 Like