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:
Some really good Beaujolais, a delicious white from the Loire made with the unusual grape Romorantin, mature white Bordeaux, really old Rioja, red from Mallorca, still Champagne, fantastic Brunello and finally, the highlight of the month, a 34 year old La Mission Haut Brion.
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 and sparkling
Champagne Fleury, Fleur de l’Europé, Brut Natur
Complex and intense aromas, ripe fruit, full bodied. Great champagne.
Crémant d’Alsace, Domaine Pfister
Excellent dry and full-bodied sparking from the northern part of Alsace and young wine maker Mélanie Pfister.
Domaine des Huards, Cour-Cheverny 2009, Domaine Michel Gendrier
The grape here is Romorantin but it actually feels like a Chenin Blanc. It is quite fat and powerful with aromas of apricots. Fresh acidity and long finish. A superb white for only 10 euros., kändes som en chenin, fin och fet och fyllig, aprikos, grape, frisk och lång, fynd – runt 10 euro, Legrand.
Château de France 2000 Blanc, Pessac-Léognan
Delicious white Bordeaux. Mellow with a certain maturity, discreet oak flavours, a little fat and a hint of oxidation. Superb!
Pierre Solaire 2013 Sélections parcellaires, Dauvergne Ranvier, Côtes du Rhône
The grapes for this floral, full-bodied wine are Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne. It is quite aromatic with a good acidity. A bargain at around 9 euros. Dauvergne Ranvier is a small quality houses run by the talented François Dauvergne and Jean-François Ranvier.
Rosé
Anna’s Secret 2014 Rosato, Maremma Toscana DOC, Val di Toro
An Italian rosé from Tuscany with a Provence-ish light colour. The grape is 100 % Sangiovese. The wine is light in style with some red berries. Rather discreet both on the nose and on the palate.
Red
Cumières Rouge Premier Cru, Daniel Etienne, Coteaux Champenois
Always interesting to drink wines from this rare appellation. Coteaux Champenois is nothing less than still Champagne. This is a very, very light wine from Pinot Noir, but you drink it nevertheless with pleasure.
Viña Monty Bodegas Montecillo Gran Reserva 1975, Rioja
Old but has aged gracefully. The colour is light and brownish. The wine is light in style but with pretty good intensity. Some cedar and liquorice root in the aromas. Dry finish. Good and interesting wine.
Lampante Montefalco Rosso Riserva 2009, Tenuta Castelbuono/Tenute Lunelli
Very typical Sangiovese with delicious cherry fruit, light tannins and quite well structured. Light and elegant in style.
Ses Niñes, Negre de 2013, Celler Tianna Negre, Majorca
A wine from a district you don’t come across very often. The grapes are Manto Negro, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Callet and Merlot. It is an easy drinking wine with good fruit. Maybe a little too soft and vanilla oaky.
Esprit de Séduction Saint Amour 2014, Domaine Pascal Berthier
Pascal Berthier calls himself Artisan Vigneron in order to show that he makes his wines in an artisanal way. This is a fruity and easy going Beaujolais with some structure, the way I like them.
Fleurie 2012 Les Roches, Domaine Lucien Lardy,
A so called natural wine but still a typical Beaujolais. No sulphur, no filtration, fermented with the natural yeast. Ripe fruit and plums. I quite like it.
Brunello di Montalcino 1990, Casteillo Banfi
A superb Brunello with perfect maturity. Smooth and silky.
Château La Mission Haut Brion 1981, Graves
Is there such a thing as a perfect wine? For a Bordeaux-lover like me, this La Mission Haut Brion comes very close. Probably this was the perfect time to drink it, after 34 years (might as well say that when you only have one bottle). Mature but still with typical Bordeaux aromas and no dried fruit. Still fresh, albeit with very soft tannins.
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!
One Response