Pesquera Crianza 2004..

Pesquera Crianza 2004

Bodegas Alejandro Fernández

Ribero del Duero, Spain

Deep purple colour, 'legs';
concentrated nose of earth
and plums; flavour leans towards
cassis, ripe tannins but very
approachable already with
sweetness of ripe fruit and
then a good backbone..
very compact..
needs about 5 years

Points 17 +

Pinot Noir Garden Party

A hot friday evening, a beautiful garden, excellent food and the promise of one of my favourite pastimes..drinking Pinot Noir..
We started with some white Asparagus salad..accompanied by a
Huber Weißer Burgunder trocken 2005..
light style..nice balance of fruit and acidity.
The main course comprised of slices of duck and some lamb filet...with roast potatoes and antipasti....you could choose when, what and how you ate...very relaxing..(the Greek idiot neighbour playing Techno music was not gonna spoil it.. They are still searching for his brain..poor soul)



And so to the Pinot Noir/Spätburgunder tasting...the information we were given..
2 Vintage 2005, 2 Vintage 2004 and one wine older..
3 of the five wines were from Germany..

I tasted the wines through as they were served....all had been decanted shortly before serving..and kept cool..(it was 30 degrees)...Pinot Noir tastes good slightly cooler..and the warm air brought it to the right temperature.


I then went through them all again..with the main meal and the excellent cheeses that followed.

As I drink a lot of the grape(they call me Mr. Pinot).. I was able to say the first three were Germany..I even 'thought' the 3rd wine was Huber..with his slighty dryer style.
As to the last two..as the Gravitas was a poor bottle( I had recommended the wine for the tasting)..and the host had made a funny comment.. I guessed the 4th wine to be the Gantenbein...all in all.... it was pleasing to give some right answers..not always the case in blind tastings.. you can easily turn from 'Expert' to 'Amateur'



1.
Waldumer Pfarrberg 2003
Co-Op Waldulm,
Baden, Germany
Brick red, reserved aroma..medicinal..did open
up in the glass; smokey, cherries,
fair flavour and a dry finish.
How can a Co-Op produce this..
well 2003 is the answer...

Points 15.5














2.
Salway 'RS' 2005
Salway,
Baden, Germany

A delicious Pinot Noir with a brick color and aromas of dried cherry, leather, earth and oak. On the palate it is light and elegant with sweet and spicy oak and terrific balance.

Points 17.5










3.
Malterdinger Bienenberg 'R' 2004
Huber,
Baden, Germany

Medium deep...dark cherry smell;
soft, meaty flavour with a dry finish,
dry finish..the Huber style...maybe too long in oak.

Points 16
















4.
Gantenbein 2005
Gantenbein
Fläsch, Switzerland

After my visit to Rebstock Guesthouse..the host also spent a few days there..and had tried the Gantenbein 2004..hence his wish to have the Vineyard in his tasting..we managed to get hold of the 2005.
Lighter colour than previous three; smokey aroma; some upfront acidity which was harmonius with the gentle Pinot fruit..improved with airing.

Points 17


















5.
Gravitas 2004
Saint Arnaud's Vineyard,
Marlborough, New Zealand
I had recommended this wine after my tasting a few weeks ago..
It was not at it's best here..a bad bottle..so really unfair to mark it.
I gave the host another bottle a day later..and await his comments.

PS...as much as I enjoy tastings...I feel that the wines need to be tasted alone...in the above case.. the Gantenbein...watch this space...

PPS....The host tasted the 2nd bottle on the Saturday evening...was very good....

Trilogia 2004

Christos Kokkalis Trilogia 2004
Greece

After tasting the 2nd Wine Mova 2003 I searched for the top wine of the same year..nowhere to be found..so..2004 it had to be.
Warning..this is not for the faint hearted,
share it with a few friends..drink it alone in 10 years.

Deep, red-brick; cigar aroma, intense closed nose; needs plenty of work..decant a day in advance!...chewy tannins...it's all there...but not exactly a 'delight' at the moment.
Points 17+

White Pearl from the South

Blanc de Roc d'Anglade 2005
Remy Pedrano,

Anglade, France

A vineyard near to Nimes...Chenin Blanc(Grape grown mainly in the Loire) & Grenache Blanc..used oak barrels;
medium yellow; minerally aromas..developed with airing..filled out; quite full-bodied. soft acidity with the gentle fruit of the Chenin Blanc, soft texture with a freshness, lovely long finish...a summer wine but with plenty of character..needs airing..decant if you have time.

Points 17.5

Pinot Noir from Austria

Schlossweingut Graf Hardegg
Pinot Noir vom Schloss 2004
Weinviertel, Austria

Light colour makes you think ..oh oh..but his leads to an aroma of berries, raspberry dominant; soft,silk flavour; ready to drink and excellent value for Euros 15

Points 16

PS.. at a recent blind tasting I found many Austrian Pinots made in a completely different style to Burgundy and Germany...this is not the case here...my style...

Domain Gourt de Mautens 2003

Domaine Gourt de Mautens 2003

Rasteau, France

A Cotes-du-Rhone Villages for over 30 Euros..has Parker been at it again?..well..no idea as yet..but..this is the type of wine he thrives on...so I'll get in first..

Dense, deep purple/red in the glass, heavy legs; a 'cool' nose, dark cherries; complex, amazing mid flavour, slightly 'porty'....the proverbial 'iron fist in a velvet glove' fits perfectly here. The vintage 2003 was a humdinger..jokingly I said..you need a knife and fork to cut through it...BUT..this is so well balanced, and the aforementioned 'coolness' throughout tasting..means this is no blockbuster to drink and then search for the aspirins..but a superb wine with finesse and elegance that would leave many a Chateauneuf-du-Pape in its wake...

Points 18 +

More about Domaine Gourt de Mautens here.

Chile Restaurant Red

Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon Organics 2004
Aconcagua Valley, Chile


Upfront wine...ripe cassis, herby, soft juicy flavours, very 'New World' in style ...a wine I would enjoy very much in a restaurant..but maybe not want to drink on a regular basis.

Points 15.5

Vienna Wine Or Wiener Vines

If you wanted a white style of Chateauneuf-du-Pape with up to 13 different grapes..this is about as close as you get...For the record the grapes are: Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Gewurztraminer, Rotgipfler, Zierfandler, Neuberger, Riesling, Welschriesling, Gruner Veltliner and Sylvaner!

Coming from a 47-year old vineyard planted with 9 different grape varieties. These are picked in 2 different harvests and then vinified in stainless steel tanks together on lees.

Weingut Wieninger Nussberg 'Alte Reben' 2004

Vienna, Austria

The first smell showed a real 'mixed bag'..scents of stoned fruits..after a few swirls and shakes..Riesling became more dominant but don't quote me on that! ; full, hedonistic wine, very concentrated flavour, honey, with a powerful backup taste...perefect balance..citrus was the last note...

If you are fed up of overoaked Chardonnays or acidic Rieslings(only joking)..here is something different for ya!!

Points 16.5+

Swiss Made 1

Manfred Meier PS Pinot Noir 2004

Zizers, Switzerland

Traces of liquorice on the nose..then softened to show a creamy attractive aroma; also showed improvement all-round with airing..needed 30 minutes for me to change my opinion from 'oh no' to 'mmm I like this'. Light style of Pinot..I drank this with spicy Thai food..perfect match.

Points 16.5

Portugal Duo

Rather like buses....it's been a while since I drank a Portugiese red..then along came two..on consecutive evenings...

Calheiros Cruz Reserva 2000

Douro, Portugal

Still fairly deep with purple tone; reminded me of the old style Riojas, gentle vanilla of oak, not overdone, didn't fill the room as some do...but was a pleasure to go back for another sniff..dry wine, finely balanced, soft tannins. I really 'enjoyed' this wine.

Grapes Touriga Nacional & Tinta Roriz..aged in French Oak

Points 17

Next evening we were at friends for dinner..he had been at his local wine shop and had been recommended to buy this wine..(the owner of the shop knew I was a guest)

Quinta Do Crasto Reserva Old Vines 2004

Douro, Portugal

Wine was covered up...I guessed the country and area..which was maybe not too difficult after the previous evening's wine.Deep colour, intense purple; at first very masculine on the nose ..dark fruits..but developed tremendously in the glass..the last whiff showing creaminess; soft in the mouth backed up with a soft tannin kick...very enjoyable now..but should develope interestingly over the next 5-10 years

Points 17.5 +

Two Wines under 7 Euros

Am I, after 30 years of drinking wine, incapable of enjoying wines under 7 Euros?.
A recent wine from Dao, Portugal, costing 6.80 Euros..gained a first place from a jury of the Wine Gourmet magazine..which did not impress me....left me thinking it may be the case..but no, dear readers...it ain't true.....

Carchello 2005
Bodegas Agapito Rico
Monastrell, Spanien

Inky ruby colour;. grapey on the nose, dark fruit scents. Juicy, plenty of character and no rough edges. Excellent value EUROS 6.50

Points 15










Kirsten Blanc De Noir 2004

Mosel, Germany

I first tasted this wine at a restaurant in the Mosel..I wanted a glass of white, and had enough of Riesling,..and this was offered..an instant pleaser.I drove next day to the Vineyard and purchased a case..with friends and hot weather..it had disapeared after 2 weeks..so I re-ordered 3 cases...which kept us happy throught the summer months of 2005. The final bottle was opened recently....soft, enticing wine..not meant to be taken TOO seriously..but always a joy to drink..goes with anything..and as my favourite champagnes are usually from Pinot Noir..it makes sense that I would enjoy this. The Vineyard did not produce any in 2005 as Herr Kirsten was not happy with the quality...let's hope 2006 is back to normal. Euros 5.80

Points 15

Barolo Delight

Barolo used to be a stubborn you waited 20 years for..and if you were lucky you caught it in the day it was perfect..after that it went downhill. Nowadys..they are much more consumer friendly.

Barolo Cannubi Chiara Boschis 2001
E. Pira & Figli, Piemonte, Italy
Medium deep colour with slight ageing at the rim; trace of what I call 'brittle tannins' on the nose, funky smells; in the mouth it is dry, trace of tannins with well-balanced cherry fruit. Very good

Points 17

Trusting A Wine Waiter

A night out with the family(6 of us in all) at an Austrian run restaurant in Wiesbaden..Landhaus Diedert. I'd checked the winelist on the webpage and knew roughly what I would order.We we 3 'drinkers' so one white & two reds were planned. While the others checked the menu I checked the wine-list. BANG..the 2002 Risesling Spätlese from Künstler was sold out..as were 2 of the possible reds I may have chosen. Wine waiter came over.. and I explained..so he asked what type of white I wanted. Now, I never rely on restaurant staff because most recommendations are usually poor...but he seemed to know his wines..and recommended the white below. I had found other reds..but as he had come up good with the white..I gave him a free hand...so..all three are his fault(smile)..but he did pretty good.

Banfalu Sepp Moser Burgenland 2005

Austria

This wine comprised of 3 grapes..Chardonnay, Weissburgunder & Muskatel Otterel.
Complex aromas, perfect mix, none of the grapes really dominating, exotic fruits springs to mind, trace of marzipan; fine weight, a glass you want to return to, and a good finish...a really interesting wine...

Must try to find it..but it seems pretty rare..

Points 16








August Kessler Spätburgunder trocken 2003 'PinotNoir'
Rheingau, Germany

This is the first bottle I've seen with the now new ruling that Spätburgunder can also be labeled with Pinot Noir. For red wines..in Germany, 2003 was wonderful, altho can produce some 'heavies'. Kesseler's style is light, so the balance betwen style and vintage turns out well,
Medium colour, watering rim; nose of red & black cherries; light-weight in the mouth, plenty of juicy fruit, a lovely 'summer' wine, could possibly be even drank cooler, Perfect for pasta and barbecues.Really enjoyed it.
Points 16.5

Tiefenbrunner Lagrein Castel Turmhof 2004

Lagrein is the grape..not knowingly ever tasted by myself;
very deep colour; spicy & peppery, big, full style, gobs of fruit, no real tannins..nicely balanced...

Points 16

Pinot Noir - Spätburgunder..the same difference!

Two fine examples of the grape(s)..

Gravitas Pinot Noir 2004
New Zealand
The perfect climate for Pinot Noir could and should be New Zealand...but the consistancy is not there yet....here's a goodie tho...

Quite dark for the grape; Barnyard nose, cherries; opened up in the glass, subtle oak, classic Pinot, medium full weight and perfectly balanced. Room for improvement as well...

Points 17.5

R & C Schneider Spätburgunder
'R' Barrique Trocken 2003
Baden, Germany

This is a perfect vintage for this vineyard..fine, medium colour, no aging; elegant aroma, not too forthcoming at first....but opened with a few swirls..flavour more instant, attractive, tasty mouthful of velvety fruit, developed beautifully after 30 minutes, perfect balance.Delicious wine

Points 17.5 +

A Mixed Bunch

A recent week's tastings......

Errazuriz Chardonnay Wild Ferment 2005
Chile

Gentle, soft aromas; creamy flavour, lovely balance, just a touch of acidity..then the fruit comes through...not 'overdone' like many Chardonney's nowadays

Points16.5

Arboleda Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Caliterra, Chile

I have a couple of favourite SB wines..the rest I always have difficulty trying to enjoy..
grapefruit, gooseberries etc..nice..but that's all..

Points 15

Christos Kokkalis Mova 2003
Greece
This is made by a chemist who has a business in Germany...
His top wine is 'Trilogia'..but this, his 2nd wine; is very impressive...(must find the Trilogia).Made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Agriorgitiko
it has a purple colour, still dark; red & black fruits hit you with the first sniff; however..after that..the wine is soft and round, full flavoured, even elegant,with nice firm tannins.Very enjoyable.

Points 16.5

Lorinon Reserva 2001
Bodegas Breton
Rioja, Spain
Old style Rioja; cream and vanilla nose; medium weight..
the slight dryness from the barrel ageing..good value(Euros 11,--)

Points 16

Bründlmayer Kamptaler Terrassen Riesling Trocken 2005
Austria

Light colour; clean dryclassic nose; more sweeter in the mouth but
backed up by dry minerally finish..needs a year or two.

I drank this with a German speciality from our area..Handkäse mit Musik..
a smelly type cheese with onions and vinegar...it tastes better than the description..and the wine went very well with the food.

Points 15.5