Ployez Jacquemart Selection Rose: Lovely – just right, and its pinkness was Christmas-appropriate.  And it won over a non champagne crowd with its delicate strawberry and lemon notes.
Ployez Jacquemart Brut 2000: Served too warm – tasty nonetheless for being Christmas day.  Another bottle will get consumed very shortly.
Auburn Lowburn Riesling 2010: Improving out if sight with a year’s age (personal interest disclaimer on this label).
Joseph Sparkling Red 2010 disg: My favourite disgorgement of this wine so far. Sweeter and fruit-fresher than earlier versions, although the alcohol seems to stick out a little more these days. Like it a lot.
Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Auslese 1993: A cellar release from 2010.  Best bottle so far out of a sixpack. Shows its pradikat through weight rather than sweetness, with juicy acidity balance perfectly by racy green pineapple and lemon fruit which is nly now showing signs of its 18 years of age.

Cheers

97

When the cork is popped on a bottle of Champagne in my household, I usually have a glass or two and then move on. Not so yesterday; I stayed in there, elbows at the ready, and made sure I got my fill. Off the top of my head. A light bronze in colour, with an energetic fine bead. A pure nose, citrus and yeast, a bit doughy, minerally and a soft whiff of smoke. The palate is dry, with limes and lemons, minerals, nuts and yeast, and terrific length. There is a marked acidity, but the fruit concentration and poise are delightful. Still very youtthful, and needs another 5+ years I reckon. Sealed under cork. 12% abv. Retails around the $200 mark. 93+ points.

This is more a tasting vibe than a tasting note. Sloppy work I know, but I was at a birthday lunch and my days of scribbling descriptors and impressions on napkins are well behind me. A strawberry blush with a needle point bead. Quite aromatic too, but more yeasty and bready than anything from an orchard. The palate was pure and surprisingly soft; neither crisp nor dry, with silky acid and excellent persistence. I am not a big Champagne drinker, but could go ‘alf a bottle of this very easily.

Rated : 92 Points
Tasted : Nov08
Alcohol : 12%
Price : $115
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2008-2012
Source : The Wine Emporium
Website : Louis Roederer

Happy New Year!

I have been threatening to open this on a New Year’s Eve for a while now, at least three years, but finally last night we had a night at home, albeit entertaining some friends. Some yellowing, a relaxed fine bead, not effusive or ebullient. A complex nose, beef stock and tobacco, toasty, smoked mushrooms and a bit oxidative, aldehydic, almost some chocolate if that doesn’t seem too left field. The palate is big and powerful, quite worked, old apples and lemon, honeyed and earthy, with good length. A very interesting wine, a food wine, and needs something to accompany it. I have seen it pointed higher (and lower for that matter) so I think some bottle variation is at work here.

Rated : 93 Points
Tasted : Dec07
Alcohol : 12.0%
Price : $360
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2007 – 2015+
Source : Cellar

Is Dom, is good. What needs to be said about this wine that hasn’t already been said? I have written a note anyway. Pale yellow, with the finest of beads. The nose shows some yeast, lemon and grapefruit, green apple and the faint nuttiness. The palate is Chablis-like, with minerals and lemon fruits pirouetting through light and fluffy clouds of calming and cooling blueness. Immaculate structure and tremendous concentration. This bottle seems a bit more evolved than a bottle consumed last year. A great way to kick off and evening. Buy some if you can!

Rated : 96 Points
Tasted : Apr06
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : $200
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2006 – 2016
Source : Cellar