Uncorked: Good wines we have tasted recently, December 2018

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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.

Some inspiration for more wine discoveries! As well as a perspective on what to expect from older wines.

This month:

A pleasant discovery from the new wine country of Moldova, some mature Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, Merlot from a young star winemaker in Rioja, a Madiran, once again showing the ageing capacity of the grape Tannat, interesting red and white from the Loire Valley, whites with character from Languedoc. And some more.

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!

Sparkling wines

Champagne Penet-Chardonnet, Grand Cru La Croix d’Aumonier 2010

A superb, ripe, complex and expressive Champagne from 100% Pinot Noir. There are also some honey notes, but the taste is completely dry with a dosage of only 5.5 grams of sugar. La Croix d’Aumonier comes from a single vineyard and has been fermented and aged in oak barrels. No malolactic fermentation. It was disgorged in November 2016.

Champagne Penet-Chardonnet, Grand Cru La Croix d'Aumonier
Champagne Penet-Chardonnet, Grand Cru La Croix d’Aumonier, copyright BKWine Photography

White wines

Le Blanc 2017, Domaine Turner Pageot, Languedoc

A really delicious white from the grapes Roussanne, Marsanne and some Piquepoul. Marsanne has six weeks of skin contact. The style is full bodied and a bit fat with good balance, good freshness and also a bit salty in the finish. The skin contact gives tannins and a significant weight in the mouth. ~ 12-14 euros

Turner Pageot Le Blanc
Turner Pageot Le Blanc, copyright BKWine Photography

Château de Fesles Chenin Sec La Chapelle Vieilles Vignes 2015, Anjou

Very good Chenin Blanc with the typical aromas of the grape variety. Dry and crisp, almost steely, with some honey notes and elderberry. Complex and balanced. 12 months in oak barrels. ~10 euros.

Château de Fesles Chenin Sec La Chapelle Vieilles Vignes, Anjou
Château de Fesles Chenin Sec La Chapelle Vieilles Vignes, Anjou, copyright BKWine Photography

Domaine Ollier Taillefer Allegro 2017, Faugères Blanc

A rare white Faugères made with Roussanne and Rolle. Complex but still easy drinking, full bodied with notes of peaches and a good weight on the palate. ~ 11.50 euros

Domaine Ollier Taillefer Allegro, Faugères blanc
Domaine Ollier Taillefer Allegro, Faugères blanc, copyright BKWine Photography

Red wines

Bordón Crianza 2014, Rioja, Bodegas Franco-Españolas

Easy drinking and unpretentious Rioja in a fresh, fruity and slightly spicy style with 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. 12 months in American oak. ~ 7 euros.

Bordón Crianza 2014, Rioja, Bodegas Franco-Españolas
Bordón Crianza 2014, Rioja, Bodegas Franco-Españolas, copyright BKWine Photography

Saumur Champigny, Vieilles Vignes 2015, Domaine Filliatreau

Delicious wine. Fine and elegant with a ripe Cabernet Franc character. Unusually rich for a Loire red. The vines are between 50 and 90 years old. ~15 euros

Saumur Champigny, Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Filliatreau
Saumur Champigny, Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Filliatreau, copyright BKWine Photography

Château Vieux Maillet, Pomerol, 2004

Very enjoyable Bordeaux in classic style. Perfect to drink now. ~30 euros.

Château Vieux Maillet, Pomerol
Château Vieux Maillet, Pomerol, copyright BKWine Photography

Château Montplaisir, Vinsobres, 2015

The wine maker Benoit Chaignon in Vinsobres in the northern part of the southern Rhône Valley has made a delicious, full bodied and balanced wine with dark fruit, good freshness and elegance. The grapes come from old vines of Grenache and Syrah. ~25 euros

Chateau Montplaisir, Vinsobres, Rhone
Chateau Montplaisir, Vinsobres, Rhone, copyright BKWine Photography

Domaine Ollier Taillefer, Grande Reserve 2015, Faugeres

Structured and full-bodied but at the same time very easy-drinking and inviting with red berries and garrigue tones (juniper, rosemary…). The domain’s oldest vines of carignan, grenache and syrah. Aged only in tank.

Ollier Taillefer grande reserve, Faugeres
Ollier Taillefer grande reserve, Faugeres, copyright BKWine Photography

Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine, Burgundy La Chapelle Notre Dame 1997

Magnificent, just like an old Burgundy should be. Typical Pinot Noir character and a fine, long velvety finish. Still vigorous with plenty of fruit. Bought at the winery in 1999 for the modest sum of 35 francs.

Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine, Burgundy La Chapelle Notre Dame
Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine, Burgundy La Chapelle Notre Dame, copyright BKWine Photography

Barbarot 2014, Rioja, Barbara Palacios

Barbara Palacios, the daughter of famous Alvaro Palacios, makes wine in Rioja. This wine is made from Merlot (!) and although the oak maybe is a bit too dominant to my taste this is a very good wine with really nice fruit. ~15 euros

Barbarot, Rioja, Barbara Palacios
Barbarot, Rioja, Barbara Palacios, copyright BKWine Photography

Château Bouscassé 1996, Madiran

This is a great wine that really doesn’t taste its age. It has the dark colour of a much younger wine, a massive fruit, a good structure and lots of freshness. Not many other grapes than Tannat can manage that.

Château Bouscassé 1996, Madiran
Château Bouscassé 1996, Madiran, copyright BKWine Photography

Sol Negru Feteasca Neagra 2015, Asconi Winery, Moldova

Moldova is today not really much known for its wines but is a coming wine country in Europe. At the time of the Soviet Union it was one of the big suppliers of wine to the country. This is a very good wine, made from the local grape Feteasca Neagra, with structure and aromas reminiscent of Bordeaux. A very pleasant discovery.

Sol Negru Feteasca Neagra, Asconi, Moldova
Sol Negru Feteasca Neagra, Asconi, Moldova, copyright BKWine Photography
Sol Negru Feteasca Neagra, Asconi, Moldova
Sol Negru Feteasca Neagra, Asconi, Moldova, copyright BKWine Photography

Château Franc Mayne 2004, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé

A delightful and excellent wine that still has quite a lot of youthfulness. Good complexity and with typical Bordeaux aromas like cedar wood.

Château Franc Mayne, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé
Château Franc Mayne, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé, copyright BKWine Photography

Gevrey Chambertin 1996, Domaine Clos Saint Louis

Very nice mature wine, deliciously soft on the palate and still vigorous.

Gevrey Chambertin 1996, Domaine Clos Saint Louis
Gevrey Chambertin 1996, Domaine Clos Saint Louis, copyright BKWine Photography

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!

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