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.
On this month’s wine list:
- A mixed bag from the Rhône Valley
- Burgundy
- Bordeaux
- Barolo and others from the Piedmont, including an unusual ruché
- Mosel
- Champagne
- Douro
Some inspiration for more wine discoveries! As well as, in some cases, a perspective on what to expect from older wines.
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!
- Maison Nicolas Perrin, Syrah / Viognier 2012
Pleasant wine with some syrah character. Quite light in style with some violets and smokiness. About 8 €.
- Pernand-Vergelesses 1994 Louis Jadot
A complex, somewhat oxidized character. Full bodied as a high class white Burgundy should be. Aromas of ripe apples. Good to drink now.
- Château Soudars 2002 Haut–Médoc
Delicous Bordeaux from a little-known château. Quite light in body and structure but with typical cabernet aromas.
- Barolo 2005 Luigi Baudana, Monforte d’Alba , GD Vajra
Very intense and typical Nebbiolo aromas . Some smokiness, some violets. Very well balanced. A high class and delicious Barolo. One of the producer’s prestige wines.
- Domaine Saladin, Chaveyron 1422, Vin de Table de France
A very good wine. Fruity, complex, balanced. Quite dense and also some spiciness on the palate. The grapes are 95 % syrah and 5 % viognier. A blend that is not typical of the southern Rhone where the Elisabeth and Marie-Laurence Saladin make their wines, which explains why it is sold as a mere vin de table.
- Champagne Michel Turgy Blanc de blanc 2002
Delicious champagne with a fine maturity combined with citrus freshness, almond aromas and rich body and length.
- Divinus de Château Bonnet 2000
Typical Bordeaux aromas of cedar wood, black current and tobacco. Good concentration and fullness. A successful vintage of Château Bonnet’s prestige wine. From this château in the Entre-deux-Mers region André Lurton manages his great Bordeaux Empire.
- Sibylle Kuntz Mosel Riesling Spätlese Trocken 2011
Pleasant, fresh, full bodied. Refreshing minerality and a small residual sweetness that is well balanced by the high acidity. Mosel at its best. 27 euros on the property.
- Colombo & Fille Saint Joseph 2011
Good structure and tannins. Some fullness. Typical syrah aromas, a bit light in body, but very appealing. Made by Laure Colombo, daughter of well-known Jean-Luc. About 13 €.
- Domaine Barou, Un Autre Monde, 2011, Saint Joseph
A delicious Saint Joseph in a light and elegant style and with a distinct Syrah character. Organic. About 12 €.
- Minna Vineyard 2007 Vin de Pays des Bouches de Rhone
Pleasant and spicy nose and a little tight fruitiness reminiscent of Bordeaux. Structured, well balanced with a long finish. Even though we are in the beautiful area around Aix-en-Provence, this wine is actually a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Villa Minna Vineyard is run by coulorful couple Minna and Jean-Paul Luc.
- Aux Caudelayres , Fronsac 2011, vignobles Paul Barre
This château is biodynamic since 1990, maybe it was the first in Bordeaux. Very good, elegant fruit, fine acidity, complexity and length. Extremely good value for money. About 14 €.
- Montalbera Laccento Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG 2011
Made in Piedmont with the unknown grape with the same name as the wine. Intense aromas of red berries and especially of roses. Unusual and quite exciting actually. And very pleasant to drink.
- Château Petit-Gravet 1998 Saint Emilion
Purchased for 10 € in 2002 so a fairly inexpensive Bordeaux, but it has kept and developed very well. Clear and lively Bordeaux character, tight black currant fruit, discreet oak flavours. Hope we have more bottles in the cellar! Winemaker is Catherine Papon-Nouvel.
- Crasto Superior 2011, Douro, Portugal
Generous fruit in an easygoing style. Quite a good concentration. Soft on the palate but with structure. Around 14 €.
- Pintas Character 2010, Douro, Portugal
Made by talented wine maker couple Sandra Tavares and Jorge Serôdio Borges. A young, structured wine with a warm character but also elegance .Complex flavours and a generous fruit. The oak is discreet despite 18 months in 50% new French barrels. Around 26 €.
- Quinta de Vallado Touriga Nacional 2010 , Douro, Portugal
Powerful and compact wine with tannin and structure, aromas of tar and generous black fruit. Delicious. Around 25 €.
- Passadouro Reserva 2007 Douro, Portugal
Made from a 70 year field blend. Still a young wine with great concentration, power and intensity. Lovely fruit and a little vanilla from the French barriques. A top wine from the Douro Valley. Around 35 €.
- Luis Pato Vinha Pan, Beiras, Portugal
Very concentrated and intense wine made from the local grape baga. Luis Pato is one of the stars in Portugal. This is one of his top cuvées and despite the grape’s somewhat harsh character, he has achieved just the right balance between softness and tannins. The flavors are spicy and complex. A top wine. Around 30 €.
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!
