Life is Short, Drink Up!

This ad-hoc posting is a collection of various wines tasted tasted during the past months. As you would notice from the wines, I am a strong advocate of tasting all varietals from all regions no matter how big the brand name or limited the quantity. Wine is not just an alcoholic product...far from it ...I believe wine will become a record of the terroir and state of condition of Mother Earth through time. This is especially true given the rapid state of degeneration of the ecosphere. In time to come, all wines will taste overripe (what Parker likes) as temps soar...maybe we could get 2! harvests in a year. So here is WADA's bit to document earth's climatic history...

Welcome Blind Tasting @ Extraspace

Had just shifted into my new locker and incidentally William and gang were having their first ever blind session at the living room @ Extraspace.

2001 M Chapoutier La Bernardine, CDP (RP87)
WADA rated 85pts

Wow! This is the first time I have picked up such strong cracked white pepper. It smells of pig's organ soup too! Very burgundian on the palate with soft elegant cherries. Delightful and intriguing. This is impossible to guess.

2000 Domaine Meo Camuzet, Vosne Romanee (ST85)

WADA rated 81pts

A walk in a sparsely populated forest overgrown with wild mushrooms. Brambly. No doubt about it , this is a textbook burg with good nose and elegant body but loses itself nearing the end which reveals the weaknesses of this vintage. This is good drinking now.

2001 Domaine Amiot Guy et Fils, 1er Chassagne-Monrachet Clos St Jean

WADA rated 80pts

Extremely lighthearted in approach. I had guessed Savigny Les Beaune given its style but noted Chassagne-Mont pinots are very similar as well. Soft cherries with some teasing hints of cedar. Bitter herbs on the finish.

2005 Lafon Rochet, St Estephe 4th Growth (RP90, JR16, WS90)

WADA rated ???
This bottle had been opened since UGC, meaning about a week plus sitting in William's fridge. The amazing thing is that it still holds up at least for the first 5 mins in the glass. Tropical bananas galore on the nose...make that bananas that has been baking under a hot sun. However, the palate shows telltale signs of aging....pretty flat with just some residual acid left. There is no way I can give a fair rating given its been left oxidizing for so long but I would love to re-taste this soon. All said, this is another testament to the legendary 05 vintage.

M & M battle of the 05 Volnays

Tasted 2 of MM's (not Minister Mentor) volnays on separate occasions with the following results.

2005 Mischief & Mayhem, VV, Volnay (WS91)

WADA rated 82+pts

Dense red cherries. Amzingly complex and difficult to dissect...just too robust. Green and herbaceous...am amazed by the complexity of this village. Both Paul and I agree...this is puncing above its weightclass.

2005 Mischief & Mayhem, 1er Clos des Chenes, Volnay

WADA rated 74pts

Medium red. Minty eucalyptus with coffee-toffee oak. Brambly crayola with good cherry acid. Gummy tannins but has some question marks on the finish and alcohol imbalance.

Bubble Bubble Toil & Trouble

2004 Petaluma Croser, Adelaide Hills
WADA rated 81+pts
A bubbly mixture of Pinot Chardonnay concocted by prolific aussie winemaker - Brian Croser. Pale gold. Basic and nice peach and white fruits on the nose. Plenty of juicy peaches on the fore with a very enjoyable satisfying length. A non-pretentious “champagne” that anyone would like. This shouts Drink Me!

NV Gosset Grand Rose, Brut Champagne (WS83-90, RP90, ST91)
WADA rated 74+pts
Very stingy on the nose. It does give off a little unripe strawberry skins. Nice pinkish red and definitely very good on the bubbles (small, round and longlasting) and length. Slight yeastiness but not blowing neither me nor DBF away.

NV Tattinger Grand Reserve, Champagne
WADA rated 70pts
Had this at John’s after dinner party @ Café Del Mar. Yeasty and tastes like squeezed essence of lemons that have been baking under the sun….v griping lemony acidity. Bubbles are easily lost.

And A Spattering of Other Stuff...

2001 Paloumey, Cru Bourgeios, Haut Medoc
WADA rated 81pts
Garnet with brownish hue. This is ageing fast. Smells of a pot of cooked fruits with rabbit stew that has lots of mushrooms and truffles. Whiffs of milk choc as well. The nose is surprisingly complex and opulent. However, it is bordering vinegarish …probably you have to drink now. Alcohol and acidity still holding on ok but dimmering. Strong legs though. Mid palate of cooked fruits (plums and prunes) with Chinese herbs. It is pretty rich stuff with good density and richenss…this reminds me of the Virgin de Valandraud I had. The finish is short to medium and the lack of it penalizes this otherwise good effort.

1999 Louis Lequin Santenay Les Charmes
WADA rated 80pts
Diluted blood red with brownish tint. Truffles and earth with savory soupy nuances. Sweet cherries that are still bright given its age. Drops off a lil sharply at 1/3 of its finish. Soft tannins.