Assembled here are TNs on various wines opened at a small dinner party we had last night.
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1996 Champagne Henriot. The first of three bottles I picked up in Reims on my trip through the region last April with Nicos. Delightful vintage bubbly, very nutty and creamy, complex, smooth, and a long finish. Wish I’d bought more of these!
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2001 Barmes-Buecher Gewurztraminer Wintzenheim. Suprisingly dry, steely, yet complex with loads of lychee fruit and exotic spices, just a tad bitter on the finish (perhaps a slight bit of RS would lessen this). In a nice window now, should still cellar well for a few more years.
Next, a pair of “high end” 2001 Gigondasses tasted side-by-side.
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Chateau St Cosme 2001 Gigondas “Valbelle”. Less rustic than the regular cuvee, almost a bit too refined IMHO. Expressive nose of dark fruit and garrigue, a bit lighter bodied than I was expecting, very smooth, velvty tannins, almost Bordeaux-like mouthfeel. Truth be told, if I tasted this blind I would be hard pressed to peg this as a Gigondas. Still, a very nice wine, not certain it will gain any more complexity with age.
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Domaine Santa Duc 2001 Gigondas “Hautes Garrigues”. Definitely my WOTN. Still young and a bit tannic, with aeration out came a highly complex nose of brambles, garrigue, dark fruit, peppercorn, and red stone fruit. Well balanced, medium bodies, long finish with a hint of either mint or eucalyptus on the finish! Can be served up now if adequately decanted or cellared for years to come.
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Royal DeMaria 2004 Vidal Ice Wine (Niagara Pennisula, Ontario, Canada). From a 200 ml bottle. Back label states RS of 18.9 G / L and 12.8% alc. Perfectly balanced, fruity and sweet without being cloying, good acidity, refreshing and zesty at once. Well done!
Alex