Uncorked: Under this heading we collect various wines that we have tasted, and liked, recently. It can be wines that we have had during dinner at home, at wine tastings, press lunches, visits to vineyards, or other occasions.
We describe the wines just with a few short sentences, tasting notes that we hope will give you a short but accurate impression of what we thought of the wine, without delving into finer points tasting notes.
Some inspiration for more wine discoveries! As well as a perspective on what to expect from older wines.
This month:
Mainly reds but first to very interesting whites, including one very surprising white bordeaux. A very eclectic mix of reds, including a gloriously aged (but now too old) Spanish wine, some delicious bordeaux (including the legendary 1982 vintage), a very curious cahors and much more.
Want more inspiration? Read more about what we have tasted, often unusual and always interesting in all Uncorked back issues. Click the link to read more!
White wines
- Château La Louvière Blanc 1993, Pessac-Léognan
Incredibly well preserved wine. I tasted it blind and I guessed a young vintage, like 2010. Amazing. The aromas are typical of a white Bordeaux of high quality with sauvignon blanc as dominant grape. Slightly aromatic character, some “fatness”, complex, and a long taste. Delicious.
- Champagne Taillet Le Grand M
Unusual champagne made with 100% Pinot Meunier, hence the name. Classic champagne with a very good fruit, some green apples, good freshness and some complexity. Eric Taillet is something of a specialist in pinot meunier. Since 2010 he has, inspired by Burgundy, worked to divide his pinot meunier vineyards into five different terroirs. The idea is that these different terroirs should be treated separately and have adapted vinification and ageing. An exciting project.
Red wines
- Parallèle 45, Côtes du Rhône, Jaboulet
Syrah and Grenache from the Rhone Valley, probably the south part, although one is easily misled to believe that they come from the 45th parallel which runs just south of Tain l’Hermitage. This is an easy to drink every day wine, quite unpretentious and fruity. Lacks some structure perhaps. Around 7 euros.
- Mas del Périé Amphore 2013, Cahors
The owner and winemaker at Mas des Périé, Fabien Jouves, is an interesting new star in Cahors. He farms organically and he is squeezing as much aromas and complexity as he can out of malbec. This wine has a fine, elegant and aromatic fruit and a good acidity. There is a certain dryness in the aftertaste which is not a problem when you have the wine with food. There is a finesse about the wine that I like.
- Abadia Retuerta Rivola 1998, Sardón de Duero, Castilla y Leon
This wine is a little bit too old. It has been in our cellar for a while and sometimes you just drink them too late. But it was definitely drinkable and though the fruit was a bit dry there was some typical Spanish smoothness in the taste. Abadia Retuerta is large, spectacular estate, situated close to Valladolid, in a wine region called Sardón de Duero, to the west of the more famous Ribera del Douro. They do not make the Rivola any longer.
- Château Cruzeau 2010, Pessac-Léognan
Good quality Bordeaux with pleasant and typical characteristics, dark berries, tannins and structure. The chateau was bought in 1973 by André Lurton. At the time no wine had been made there since the late 1800s. After renovation and new plantings Château Cruzeau now has almost 100 hectares is the southern part of the Pessac-Léognan appellation. Around 20 euros.
- Château du Domaine de l’Eglise 1982, Pomerol
Elegant and mature Bordeaux. Balanced, smooth and soft but still structured. Interesting to try the hyped vintage of 1982. This Pomerol met all our expectations.
- Château Falfas 2010, Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux
A Bordeaux chateau run biodynamically since 1988. Some dryness in the fruit but otherwise fine and the wine has both elegance and good structure. Around 14 euros.
- Les Sources de Livran 2009, Château Livran, Médoc
Pleasant, classic Bordeaux in the light easy-drinking style. Some aromas of cedar, some structure. Overall a nice drinking experience showing that it is possible to have a good Médoc wine for around 10 euros.
- Domaine des Enfants, L’Enfant Perdu 2010, Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes (Roussillon)
Very good wine with structure and intense and generous fruit. Organic estate. L’Enfant Perdu is the second wine of Domaine des Enfants and is made from Grenache, Carignan, Lladoner Pelut and Syrah. Made with the estate’s youngest vines, between 10 and 50 years old. Half of the wine is aged in oak barrels (300-600 litres) and half in stainless steel tanks. It is a young estate, created only in 2006 with just over 20 hectares. Well worth watching.
- La Tota 2011, Barbera d’Asti, Marchesi Alfieri
La Tota is a typical Barbera wine with good structure and a fresh acidity. Flavourful, with some tobacco and cedar and a good complexity. La Tota comes from a special vineyard of 11 hectares with varying exposures and soils and with Barbera vines of different ages and clones. The grapes from these different parcels are harvested and vinified separately and blended only after the malolactic fermentation. Aged for one year in two year old 225 and 500 litre French oak barrels.
- Château Corbin Michotte 1999, Saint Emilion Grand Cru
Matured but very lively and very well kept Saint Emilion. Great freshness, smooth tannins. Excellent wine from a valued vintage.
Want more inspiration? Read more about what we have tasted, often unusual and always interesting in all Uncorked back issues. Click the link to read more!
