- Location
- Bangkok
Now do I like that label or do I hate it. I'm not entirely sure.
Weekend drinking 11-13th Sept
- Thread starter Richard_Brooks
- Start date
Now do I like that label or do I hate it. I'm not entirely sure.
- Location
- U.K.
In other news, least favourite label in the wine world is awarded to Laurent Ponsot...
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- Location
- West Yorkshire
This lot last night with a curry box from Aktar Islam:
The Pol, with a couple of years bottle age, was superb for aperitif with some poppadoms. Lanson Rosé was fairly young and initially seemed a bit clunky after the class of the Pol, but was much improved by the aloo samosa and onion pakora which rounded the edges off it. The Speigel Pinot Gris was a stunning match to the various vegetarian dishes and also the fish main, the spices just enhanced the aromaticity of the wine and vice versa. The slight sweetness of the Palazzo Della Torre worked really well with the kid kofta and for me was at the ideal age (2014) with still plenty of fruit but nicely mellowed.
The Pol, with a couple of years bottle age, was superb for aperitif with some poppadoms. Lanson Rosé was fairly young and initially seemed a bit clunky after the class of the Pol, but was much improved by the aloo samosa and onion pakora which rounded the edges off it. The Speigel Pinot Gris was a stunning match to the various vegetarian dishes and also the fish main, the spices just enhanced the aromaticity of the wine and vice versa. The slight sweetness of the Palazzo Della Torre worked really well with the kid kofta and for me was at the ideal age (2014) with still plenty of fruit but nicely mellowed.
- Location
- London and Connecticut
I've been through a case of the PYCM Saint Aubin La Pucelle 2013 Jim - fortunately none have stunk of sulphur although early bottles were as tight as camel's nostrils in a sandstorm. Recently, it's been just lovely. Just one bottle left.
I’m sure it’s me Richard, I’ve tried a number of his wines over the years and I seem to be in a minority of one on here in being immune to their undoubted charms. I recognise the winemaking style immediately and find the “struck match” or “reductive winemaking” overpowering with, well SO2 I’m afraid. I don’t find this on Bernard Moreau’s wines so my money goes there when I need to stock up my minuscule stocks of white Burgundy. I am very far from being any sort of Burgundy expert so I’m happy to concede my ignorance and poor taste due to the overwhelmingly positive reviews his wines get on here from aficionados like your good self. Vive la difference!
- Location
- London
I find that one gets more or less the full PYCM experience from the lesser wines; not quite the whole lot but the assertion is as meaningful here as it is with Fourrier. To me SO2 is just as much part of the white burgundy experience as it is of German Riesling, and I miss it when it is not there in younger wines.
- Location
- UK
Jim
I'm with you. Try as I might, I can't see what the fuss is about. But no matter - we're all different
I'm with you. Try as I might, I can't see what the fuss is about. But no matter - we're all different
- Location
- London
They do not in general show well in proximity to the very best examples of white burgundy, which doesn't mean at all that they are not good wines.
- Location
- Bath
Yes in my experience they do when allowed enough time to express themselves.
- Location
- Bath
Tried a Francois Feuillet Chambolle Musigny 2014 last night - double decanted but this wine wasn't having it - very surly, the vaguest hint of dark fruit on the nose and what I imagine engine oil might taste like on the palate. So re-corked to try tonight. A glass of Foundry Grenache Blanc 2018 - quite a fat and spritzy wine. Very simple and okay. Ended up opening a Levet 2005 Maestria Cote Rotie which was so so - a big bruiser of a wine without any really pleasing notes that didn't develop at all through the evening. Think I should have chosen beer last night.
- Location
- London
We opened a 2007 Te Mata Bullnose Syrah last night, some reviews made me think it may have been kept too long, but happily those fears were not bourne out. The colour was bright and jewel like with only a little fading at the rim. There was juicy black currant fruit with some rusty ferrous notes and a touch of soft leather, maybe it could have had a touch more acidity, but it was a lovely elegant bottle that was drinking well.
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Those Levet 2005s are taking forever, Nigel; I've sworn off mine for the foreseeable years. It may well mean they eventually turn into someone special, in which case we can kick ourselves again for the ones we opened too early. The 06s have been enjoyable for years, in contrast.
2005 Pinot Gris, Rangen de Thann, Zind Humbrecht last night which went very well alongside an Aktar Islam / Opheem curry box (thank you Andrew for alerting me to them). I thought it was probably foolish to have wine at all, and that it would merely be the least offensive combination, but it did actually perform the trick of matching in a way that enhanced. We didn't finish the bottle, which is often the way with Z-H. No matter: it'll survive in the fridge I expect.
Tonight a dinner party in the village, only the second sociable meal we've had since lockdown. The hostess is a fan of port, so it'll be a rare excuse for that; specifics to be decided.
2005 Pinot Gris, Rangen de Thann, Zind Humbrecht last night which went very well alongside an Aktar Islam / Opheem curry box (thank you Andrew for alerting me to them). I thought it was probably foolish to have wine at all, and that it would merely be the least offensive combination, but it did actually perform the trick of matching in a way that enhanced. We didn't finish the bottle, which is often the way with Z-H. No matter: it'll survive in the fridge I expect.
Tonight a dinner party in the village, only the second sociable meal we've had since lockdown. The hostess is a fan of port, so it'll be a rare excuse for that; specifics to be decided.
- Location
- Bath
Indeed the 06 Peroline has been drinking well for years. That curry sounds nice - must order a box.
- Location
- Scotland
Friday night's wines -
Meerlust Rubicon 2016. 49% Cabernet Sauvignon; 28% Merlot; 20% Cabernet Franc; 3% Petit Verdot. Double decanted a couple of hours prior to tasting. Inky black colour with red showing at the edge on a good swirl. Wow - quite a formidable nose of ripe blackcurrant and blackberry. Some leather and spice there too. Full, intense black fruit on the palate with some spicy toast and tobacco leaf. Plump tannins giving a good backbone followed by a slightly acidic finish. Could easily do with another 5-10 years.
Riesling Zotzenberg Grand Cru Vendanges Tardives 2007, Domaine Rietsch, Alsace. 50cl bottle. Golden yellow colour. Slightly restrained nose of confit fruits, mandarin and passion fruit. More manderin in the mouth. Not as rich as expected but showing lovely balance and lightness. More candied fruit coming through and finishes with a very clean citrus note. This went well with cheese but would also be a lovely aperitif, which I'll try tomorrow with the rest of the bottle.
Meerlust Rubicon 2016. 49% Cabernet Sauvignon; 28% Merlot; 20% Cabernet Franc; 3% Petit Verdot. Double decanted a couple of hours prior to tasting. Inky black colour with red showing at the edge on a good swirl. Wow - quite a formidable nose of ripe blackcurrant and blackberry. Some leather and spice there too. Full, intense black fruit on the palate with some spicy toast and tobacco leaf. Plump tannins giving a good backbone followed by a slightly acidic finish. Could easily do with another 5-10 years.
Riesling Zotzenberg Grand Cru Vendanges Tardives 2007, Domaine Rietsch, Alsace. 50cl bottle. Golden yellow colour. Slightly restrained nose of confit fruits, mandarin and passion fruit. More manderin in the mouth. Not as rich as expected but showing lovely balance and lightness. More candied fruit coming through and finishes with a very clean citrus note. This went well with cheese but would also be a lovely aperitif, which I'll try tomorrow with the rest of the bottle.
- Location
- Berkshire
Thanks Andrew, but also Jon for the reminder that spurred me into action. First curry box en-route to us.
- Location
- Berkshire
- Location
- Bath
Had one last year which very elegant and restrained. Also ordered a curry box!A root day, Chez PUseful warning re the 14 Feuillet, for which thanks.
- Location
- London
After some average to poor to faulty wines last night needed something half decent so was a risk to open the 2015 Rhys Horseshoe Chardonnay since a few weeks back I did t really take to the 2012 as just too much overt oak.
Apparently they changed the regime and stopped ageing in barrel all the way until bottling and moved to steel tanks after a year. Still can taste the oak and it’s clearly got some malo but so much better. Very much in a burgundy style with great fruit and that touch of Cali with bags of depth and flavour. Very good indeed.
Apparently they changed the regime and stopped ageing in barrel all the way until bottling and moved to steel tanks after a year. Still can taste the oak and it’s clearly got some malo but so much better. Very much in a burgundy style with great fruit and that touch of Cali with bags of depth and flavour. Very good indeed.
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- Location
- London
Oooo I didn't realise Blees.Ferber did a sparkling, very impressed with their others as vfm options.
- Location
- Singapore
Triangles de Guffens is a blend of Chardonnay from Mâcon, Semillion from Bordeaux and Viognier from Rhone. I didn’t get as much Chardonnay as the others and thought that the Viognier was the dominant grape. Fun wine and definitely eclipses its lowly VDF stature.
Ganevat was fun and easy going as well, very pale colour with a spritzy character and lots of strawberries. From bought grapes in Beaujolais interestingly enough.
I liked the Arpepe a lot more than the others, started off with an alcoholic nose but blossomed into something that resembled a pinot. Very high acid that is drying.
The two Spanish reds were very natural and made from indigenous grapes. A bit too funky for me but one of them was very interesting with its huge salinity given it’s made next to the sea on the Canary Islands. Again very high acid here.
By tasting these I also got to know what I value in the red wines that I like - structure, which was missing across all the reds. Definitely time and place still though for these.
Ganevat was fun and easy going as well, very pale colour with a spritzy character and lots of strawberries. From bought grapes in Beaujolais interestingly enough.
I liked the Arpepe a lot more than the others, started off with an alcoholic nose but blossomed into something that resembled a pinot. Very high acid that is drying.
The two Spanish reds were very natural and made from indigenous grapes. A bit too funky for me but one of them was very interesting with its huge salinity given it’s made next to the sea on the Canary Islands. Again very high acid here.
By tasting these I also got to know what I value in the red wines that I like - structure, which was missing across all the reds. Definitely time and place still though for these.
- Location
- Berkshire
Lovely stuff. Properly Puligny, fresh, crisp, floral and packed with energy, zip and line. Should go well with the wild sea bass...
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- Location
- London
V very nice and also fortunate Simon. Russian roulette at this address, with three or four chambers loaded.
My white tonight is similarly risky: Marc Colin En Remilly 14. It’s alive! Diam cork btw. Tasty, lime juicy, crowd pleaser. Decent but spanked by the amazing PYCM version.
- Location
- Bordeaux
Perfectly decent, relatively restrained Claret from the Entre-Deux-Mers today. From the organic section of the big Auchun. €7.
After a lovely family afternoon at the beach with other households of the children’s schoolmates.
After a lovely family afternoon at the beach with other households of the children’s schoolmates.
- Location
- London
The best vintage of cartology I’ve tasted. Quite rich nose of aniseed, toast and tropical fruits. The palate is so precise it makes you shudder. The acidity is pitch perfect and the concentration on the mid-palate is astonishing. There’s a honeyed beeswaxy thing on the finish alongside searing grapefruit acidity. But it’s all in balance. Seamless. Back up the truck.
- Location
- Staffordshire
2000 Ducru Beaucaillou tonight. This is in a good place at the moment, beautifully scented, showing all of the classic claret notes, black currant, cedar, tobacco, a hint of liquorice. Mid weight, great balance, a magnum would have been better than a bottle.