Been invited to taste test a new range of South African wines from Franscheok Valley that Denise wants to bring in. Here goes...
The Whites
2006 Nemesia
WADA rated 80pts
Kind of closed up with singular grapey-ness. Detected some osthmanthus and orange peels on the fore and mid with bright and decent pleasant finish. The label doesn't tell much but I think it is chardonay with some chenin and viognier, which is supposed to give it a lifted nose but did not do so in this effort. However, this was the best of the lot among the whites.
2006 Serruria Chardonnay
WADA rated 77pts
Butter mixed with nail varnish and finishing with bitter pith.
2007 L'Ormarins Chardonnay
WADA rated 78+pts
A much sweeter pearish nose framed by citrus. Some osthmanthus action. This is okay.
The Reds
2005 Merlot
WADA rated 83+pts
My favourite of the bunch with suprisingly "Left Bank" aromatics of dried fallen leaves, earth and slightly "dao you" dark soy nuances. Lucious and thick for a merlot with teeth coating tannins. Very rooty and potrays more left bank strenght than right bank opulence. Interesting for a South African.
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
WADA rated 81pts
Wet soil and twigs. Dusty black cherries with quite old world approach.
2005 Syrah
WADA rated 83pts
Although some green steminess detected, there is underlying a robust nose of dried raisins tainted with "dao you"dark soy. In fact, up to now, it reminds me very much of touriga nacional. Elegant floral violets and sweet cassis fills the mouth with interesting bitter roots on the finish. Another good effort.
The Verdict
Pretty decent so far. The Reds tend towards old world but with South African robustness. The whites are okay for everyday drinking. If prices are below $40 for the reds and $30 for the whites, I would give these wines serious consideration.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Vinum Annual Sale @ Caveau
A selected tasting of the wines available for tasting at the sale.
1982 Ducru Beaucaillou, St Julien, 2nd Growth (RP94)
WADA rated 85pts
Brownish dirty blood. Dried prunes, lacquer rounded by dried earth and herbs. This is still not at its deathbed but smells like its in the final leg of its journey. However, the palate still triggers a small explosion of red fruits framed by nice oak, dry soil, dried english spices. Elegant and smooth tannins albeit the tiredness of age showing. Could have gotten a higher score if more complexity on the nose.
1999 Leoville Poyferre, St Julien, 2nd Growth (RP89)
WADA rated 85+pts
Dark red. Robust nose of leather that is suspectingly savory. Violets at the back. Exceptionally savory prunes that has a good packaging of mouthfeel, fruits and glycerin. Lean but still sexy and busty. This is your desperate housewives material.
2003 Bass Phillip Belrose Pinot Noir
WADA rated 81pts
Diluted blood red. Very sweet bouquet of raspberry pie, raisiny nectar and a pinch of earth. Definitely new world in approach. This is all about the sweet strawberries but with just a hint of bitter herbs. Also reminds me of grape skins soaking in glycerin solution.
2003 Vignobles Brunier, Vieux Mas des Chateanuef-du-Pape
WADA rated 75pts
Lightish red. Basically very sweetish but did detect traces of sichuan preserved cabbage. However, the palate is just plain artificial sweetner sweet! Too fake without enough acid to balance.
2003 Clos du Caillou, Cote du Rhone, Bouquet des Garrigues
WADA rated 76+pts
Lightish red. This reminds me of sweetish berry flavoured jujube candy. Very singular but I wouldn't say focused. Dainty, simple and sweetish. Similar to the Brunier but much more real.
2001 Quinault En'clos, St-Emilion Grand Cru
WADA rated 74 ??? pts
Nice red. I basically got a lot of wood on this. I though the palate was also overdone by the oak. However, it could be that my palate had been killed by the very sweet CDPs above.
1996 Pibran, Pauillac (RP89)
WADA rated 82+pts
Garnet with diluted blood red. At first slightly off, the nose got better with lots of stewed fruits seasoned with ajinomoto and some lifted spice. Bright yet old cherries on the palate. A pleasant suprise.
2005 Triennes Merlot, Provence
WADA rated 77pts
Good dark red. Lifted perfumery flowers on the nose. Simple cherries amd red fruits.
2005 Oremus, Tokaji Furmint Dry Mandolas
WADA rated 77pts
Citrus and flowers. This is like a mineral and flowery dry riesling.
2000 Oremus, Aszu 5 Puttonyos Tokaji
WADA rated 81pts
Lovely chrysanthemum yellow. Raisiny sultanas coated in nai varnish. This is a marmalade of orange and walnuts. Finishes considerably long, nice and clean.
1982 Ducru Beaucaillou, St Julien, 2nd Growth (RP94)
WADA rated 85pts
Brownish dirty blood. Dried prunes, lacquer rounded by dried earth and herbs. This is still not at its deathbed but smells like its in the final leg of its journey. However, the palate still triggers a small explosion of red fruits framed by nice oak, dry soil, dried english spices. Elegant and smooth tannins albeit the tiredness of age showing. Could have gotten a higher score if more complexity on the nose.
1999 Leoville Poyferre, St Julien, 2nd Growth (RP89)
WADA rated 85+pts
Dark red. Robust nose of leather that is suspectingly savory. Violets at the back. Exceptionally savory prunes that has a good packaging of mouthfeel, fruits and glycerin. Lean but still sexy and busty. This is your desperate housewives material.
2003 Bass Phillip Belrose Pinot Noir
WADA rated 81pts
Diluted blood red. Very sweet bouquet of raspberry pie, raisiny nectar and a pinch of earth. Definitely new world in approach. This is all about the sweet strawberries but with just a hint of bitter herbs. Also reminds me of grape skins soaking in glycerin solution.
2003 Vignobles Brunier, Vieux Mas des Chateanuef-du-Pape
WADA rated 75pts
Lightish red. Basically very sweetish but did detect traces of sichuan preserved cabbage. However, the palate is just plain artificial sweetner sweet! Too fake without enough acid to balance.
2003 Clos du Caillou, Cote du Rhone, Bouquet des Garrigues
WADA rated 76+pts
Lightish red. This reminds me of sweetish berry flavoured jujube candy. Very singular but I wouldn't say focused. Dainty, simple and sweetish. Similar to the Brunier but much more real.
2001 Quinault En'clos, St-Emilion Grand Cru
WADA rated 74 ??? pts
Nice red. I basically got a lot of wood on this. I though the palate was also overdone by the oak. However, it could be that my palate had been killed by the very sweet CDPs above.
1996 Pibran, Pauillac (RP89)
WADA rated 82+pts
Garnet with diluted blood red. At first slightly off, the nose got better with lots of stewed fruits seasoned with ajinomoto and some lifted spice. Bright yet old cherries on the palate. A pleasant suprise.
2005 Triennes Merlot, Provence
WADA rated 77pts
Good dark red. Lifted perfumery flowers on the nose. Simple cherries amd red fruits.
2005 Oremus, Tokaji Furmint Dry Mandolas
WADA rated 77pts
Citrus and flowers. This is like a mineral and flowery dry riesling.
2000 Oremus, Aszu 5 Puttonyos Tokaji
WADA rated 81pts
Lovely chrysanthemum yellow. Raisiny sultanas coated in nai varnish. This is a marmalade of orange and walnuts. Finishes considerably long, nice and clean.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Monstrous 6'O Clock Club Tasting @ Equinox
These are the rest of the wines tasted at the public tasting area.
2006 De Trafford Chenin Blanc, South Africa
WADA rated 82pts
Nice perfumes of peaches and nectarines. Big, luscious, fresh and rounded with a creaminess on the body.
2006 Gunderloch Riesling Trocken, Germany
WADA rated 77+pts
Grassy with some floral lychees. Decent citric acid grip.
2006 Gunderloch Riesling Jean Baptiste, Germany
WADA rated 76pts
Whiffs of honeysuckle pineapples. Faint effort of round sweet peaches. Pretty normal stuff.
2006 Gunderloch Spatlese, Germany
WADA rated 81pts
Good nose of sweet XO durians, apricots and honey notes. Quaffable stuff but erring on the side of being almost overcloying. Needs just a bit more acidity.
2005 Gunderloch Auslese, Germany
WADA rated 86+pts
Unique smells of FAB washing powder. A very balanced effort (more so than their Spatlese). The yummy apricots and peaches go a long way with the help of nectarine-based acid structure. Good length and finishes pleasantly sweet.
2006 Bouchard Pere & Fils, Cote de Beaune, Puligny Montrachet
WADA rated 81pts
Creamy, nutty and buttery for days. This is both big on the nose and palate. Mainly white fruits but some alcohol imbalance detected.
2005 Bouchard Pere & Fils, Cote de Beaune, Mersault
WADA rated 79pts
Light white fruits but not very ripe though. Some acidity, some sweetness, some mineral and some bitter pith. This just doesn’t seem to amount to anything.
NV Henriot Brut Rose, Champagne
WADA rated 84pts
A beautiful pink drink. Clean crisp roses laid on a bed of small strawberries. Pleasing finish and was just marvelous with the curry samosas served.
2003 Domaine Zind Humbretch Herrenweg de Turckheim Pinot Gris, Alsace
WADA rated 70pts
Detected some sprite laden with bitter minerality. Tad bit too exotically unpleasant for me.
2003 Domaine Zind Humbretch Wintzenheim Gerwurtraminer, Alsace
WADA rated 75pts
Smells like canned lychees and taste like canned lychees. Simple and yummy if you are not looking for a serious relationship.
2005 Bouchard Pere & Fils, 1er Cote de Beaune du Chateau Rouge
WADA rated 82+pts
Beautiful bright red. Perfumed smells of cologne. Good intensity and richness of dark red fruits. Has pretty big structure for a burg not to mention a beaune.
2005 Bouchard Pere & Fils, Chambolle Musigny
WADA rated 81pts
Light red. Vegetal rot with earthy tones. Has structure and small sweet ripe cherries dominating. Lacks some fresh acidity. Finishes on bitter roots.
2002 Bouchard Pere & Fils, Cote de Nuits, Vosne Romanee Du Chateau
WADA rated 83+pts
Elegantly spiced with scorched earth dustiness. Good bright cherries, good acidity, good tannins, good spiciness and bitter roots at the finish.
2004 Bouchard Pere & Fils, Cote de Beaune GV de L’enfant Jesus
WADA rated 83pts
Bright red with beautiful brownish tinge. “Ass” and bright red fruits on the nose. A communion of candied fruits, sweet cherries and bitterness on a good structure and finish.
2002 Alois Kracher Zweigelt TBA Nouvelle Vague No.1, Austria
WADA rated 84pts
Golden brown. Beautiful dried raisins, apricots, honey syrup framed by nice fresh acidity.
2006 De Trafford Chenin Blanc, South Africa
WADA rated 82pts
Nice perfumes of peaches and nectarines. Big, luscious, fresh and rounded with a creaminess on the body.
2006 Gunderloch Riesling Trocken, Germany
WADA rated 77+pts
Grassy with some floral lychees. Decent citric acid grip.
2006 Gunderloch Riesling Jean Baptiste, Germany
WADA rated 76pts
Whiffs of honeysuckle pineapples. Faint effort of round sweet peaches. Pretty normal stuff.
2006 Gunderloch Spatlese, Germany
WADA rated 81pts
Good nose of sweet XO durians, apricots and honey notes. Quaffable stuff but erring on the side of being almost overcloying. Needs just a bit more acidity.
2005 Gunderloch Auslese, Germany
WADA rated 86+pts
Unique smells of FAB washing powder. A very balanced effort (more so than their Spatlese). The yummy apricots and peaches go a long way with the help of nectarine-based acid structure. Good length and finishes pleasantly sweet.
2006 Bouchard Pere & Fils, Cote de Beaune, Puligny Montrachet
WADA rated 81pts
Creamy, nutty and buttery for days. This is both big on the nose and palate. Mainly white fruits but some alcohol imbalance detected.
2005 Bouchard Pere & Fils, Cote de Beaune, Mersault
WADA rated 79pts
Light white fruits but not very ripe though. Some acidity, some sweetness, some mineral and some bitter pith. This just doesn’t seem to amount to anything.
NV Henriot Brut Rose, Champagne
WADA rated 84pts
A beautiful pink drink. Clean crisp roses laid on a bed of small strawberries. Pleasing finish and was just marvelous with the curry samosas served.
2003 Domaine Zind Humbretch Herrenweg de Turckheim Pinot Gris, Alsace
WADA rated 70pts
Detected some sprite laden with bitter minerality. Tad bit too exotically unpleasant for me.
2003 Domaine Zind Humbretch Wintzenheim Gerwurtraminer, Alsace
WADA rated 75pts
Smells like canned lychees and taste like canned lychees. Simple and yummy if you are not looking for a serious relationship.
2005 Bouchard Pere & Fils, 1er Cote de Beaune du Chateau Rouge
WADA rated 82+pts
Beautiful bright red. Perfumed smells of cologne. Good intensity and richness of dark red fruits. Has pretty big structure for a burg not to mention a beaune.
2005 Bouchard Pere & Fils, Chambolle Musigny
WADA rated 81pts
Light red. Vegetal rot with earthy tones. Has structure and small sweet ripe cherries dominating. Lacks some fresh acidity. Finishes on bitter roots.
2002 Bouchard Pere & Fils, Cote de Nuits, Vosne Romanee Du Chateau
WADA rated 83+pts
Elegantly spiced with scorched earth dustiness. Good bright cherries, good acidity, good tannins, good spiciness and bitter roots at the finish.
2004 Bouchard Pere & Fils, Cote de Beaune GV de L’enfant Jesus
WADA rated 83pts
Bright red with beautiful brownish tinge. “Ass” and bright red fruits on the nose. A communion of candied fruits, sweet cherries and bitterness on a good structure and finish.
2002 Alois Kracher Zweigelt TBA Nouvelle Vague No.1, Austria
WADA rated 84pts
Golden brown. Beautiful dried raisins, apricots, honey syrup framed by nice fresh acidity.
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