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 Bordeaux 1982, bottled in Sweden, probably the last one from our cellar. An old Müller-Thurgau that really took our breath away. Several interesting and delicious wines from Moldova, for many a new wine country. And more Bordeaux, Etna, Languedoc, Chile, Spain … And a Zinfandel from Napa Valley that surprised us.
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!
White wines
Georg Breuer, Berg Rottland Riesling 2002, Rheingau, Germany
Amazing and perfectly matured Riesling. Possibly some residual sugar. Lots of citrus aromas. 22 euros in 2004.
Les 10 Ânes Blanc 2015, Domaine des 2 Ânes, Corbières
Made from 10 different grape varieties: Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Terret, Clairette, Macabeu, Muscat etc., all planted together. Powerful style and some fatness on the palate. Slightly oxidized. Delicious. Biodynamic estate, certified Demeter. 11 euro.
A winery featured in our new book on the wines of Languedoc-Roussillon.
Dürnsteiner Auslese, Müller Thurgau 1977, Wachau, Austria
Incredible wine. Beautiful amber colour, dried apricots on the nose and on the palace. Very complex and flavourful. Really a pleasant surprise. We bought this wine in Sweden in 1987 for 89 SEK.
Autograf, Feteasca Regala, Gitana Winery, Valul lui Traian region, Moldova
A superb wine with fresh citrus aromas and complexity. Feteasca Regala is one of Moldova’s interesting indigenous grapes.
Second souffle 2017, Domaine Bridau (in cooperation with Les Equilibristes), Vin de France
Exciting wine made with Carignan Blanc, a very unusual grape in the Languedoc. The team behind this wine saved a vineyard with very old Carignan Blanc vines. They chose to vinify these grapes separately to show the grape’s potential. A full-bodied wine with texture and personality.
Aurora 2018, I Vigneri, Etna, Sicily
Pleasant wine made with the Sicily grape Carricante. Good body and texture, a nice saltiness in the aftertaste. Some citrus and honeysuckle. Alcohol only 11.50% but the wine is completely dry. 20 euro.
Marsanne Viognier Gimblett Gravels 2015, Trinity Hill, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
A full-bodied wine with some fatness on the palate and an aromatic and floral character. 12 months of oak ageing but the oak taste is discreet. Very nice wine. From Gimblett Gravels rocky and gravelly soil in Hawke’s Bay on the North Island.
Red wines
Château Canon 1990, 1er Grand Cru Classé, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux
Very good wine. Typical of a well matured Bordeaux. Still with some of its youth intact. Balanced and smooth. Purchased in 1993 for 116 FFr.
Château Corbin Michotte 1999, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux
Well matured with freshness and good acidity. Will keep longer but perfect right now. 25 euro in 2002.
Revolucion Garage 2016, La Consulta, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina
New world style, powerful, warm and intense fruit, some oaky flavours. The grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. From trendy La Consulta in southern Valle de Uco.
Ravenswood Zinfandel Napa Valley 1997, USA
Incredibly young in style and dark in colour. Fruity and powerful. Very good. A surprise.
Racines, Domaine des Terres Georges, 2015, Vin de France
100 % Carignan from old vines. A balanced wine, full of character. Dark fruit and berries. Terres Georges is a very good producer in Minervois in Languedoc.
A winery featured in our new book on the wines of Languedoc-Roussillon.
Château de Lisse 1982, Saint Emilion (magnum), Bordeaux
An historical wine. Bottled in Sweden by Vin & Sprit, at the time a state-owned company and the only importer of wine and spirits to Sweden (things have changed since then, at that time import was a monopoly, today only retail is a monopoly). Fantastic wine and a great surprise. Didn’t think it would keep this long. Lots of fruit, cedar wood, perfectly matured.
Pernand Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Vergelesses 2001, Domaine Marius Delarche, Burgundy
Delicious and very typical Pinot Noir. Just the way you want them. Still very fresh. Purchased in 2004 for 11 euro.
Las Araucarias Carmenere Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2015, Valle del Maipo, Chile
Organic wine from an ambitious family estate in Maipo in Chile. A full-bodied wine with character. Good structure and nice fruit. Very enjoyable.
Martinella, Etna Rosso 2013, Vivera, Sicily
Organic wine from Etna region in Sicily made with Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. Very light in colour as often is the case with these grapes. Juicy fruit but structured. Spicy, cinnamon especially.
Château Coquillas 2000, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux
Very good wine, well matured and complex.
Saint Joseph Les Royes 2000, Domaine Courbis, Rhone
Perfectly matured wine from the Northern Rhône Valley. Tobacco and hints of leather on the nose and still quite fresh. Very nice.
Clos Puy Arnaud Les Ormeaux 2015, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
Biodynamic wine from Bordeaux’ westernmost region, made by winemaker and owner Thierry Valette. Pleasant and easy drinking but still a serious wine. Intense fruit. 75 % Merlot and 25 % Cabernet Franc ~17 euro.
Licis 2015, Franck Massard, Ribeira Sacra DO, Spain
Pleasant wine with a lot of fruit, good freshness, fresh herbs and a little bit of oak aromas. Good balance. Made with the local grape Mencía in the North West of Spain. ~16 euro.
Château d’Anglès Classique 2016, La Clape, Languedoc
Quite unpretentious wine made with Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Easy drinking but with good structure. Juicy fruit. ~12 euro
A winery featured in our new book on the wines of Languedoc-Roussillon.
Saperavi 2018, Vinuri de Comrat, Valul lui Traian region, Moldova
A wine from southern Moldova and the big, ambitious winery Comrat. Full bodied, quite soft, good freshness and fruit. Quite enjoyable.
Negru de Purcari 2016, Stefan Voda region, Moldova
One of Moldova’s most famous wines, made by the big wine company Chateau Purcari. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates with 70% and is blended with 25% Saperavi and 5% Rara Neagra. It has been 18 months on oak barrels. Powerful wine with dark colour and intense aromas. Dried figs, tobacco and spices on the palate. Good structure and balance.
Nerello Cappuccio, Laeneo 2016, Tenuta di Fessina, Etna, Sicily
Very light in colour. It feels very much like a Pinot Noir in the aromas. But it is made by the Etna grape Nerello Cappuccio. Only. Which is quite rare. Easy drinking with intense and southerly aromas. 14 euros.
Chat Fou 2016, Côtes du Rhône, vin artisanal et naturel
A juicy wine, natural in style, deliciously easy drinking. Made by winemaker Eric Texier. Grenache dominates the blend. 12.60 euro.
Echinoctius 2014, Vin Rosu Sec, Equinox, Stefan Voda region, Moldova
Constantin Stratan at Equinox belongs to the new generation winemakers in Moldova. This prestige cuvée is made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Rara Neagra and Merlot. It is powerful and generous, with lots of everything, including oak and body. With food (this is definitely a food wine) the wine felt more moderate and pleasant.
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!
