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:
Some fabulous old Bordeaux reds, a legend from Spain, a couple of Chenin Blanc wines that confirm the deliciousness of this grape, a natural wine from Gaillac in south-west France, a Ribera del Duero from superstar Peter Sisseck, an early vintage of one of the most famous Douro red. And Moldovan wines, whites from Languedoc and Bergerac 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
Cricova Blanc de Noirs Pinot Noir Extra Brut, Moldova
Nice sparkling from Cricova, one of Moldova’s largest producers. Pleasant, refreshing nose of apples, quite short on the palate but easily enjoyable with creaminess and a dry finish.
White wines
Le Blanc 2017, Domaine Turner-Pageot, Languedoc
Discreet nose but the flavours open up on the palate. Long and intense with rich texture and some fatness. Delicious and well balanced. Nice freshness and a little salty at the finish. The grapes are Roussanne, Marsanne and Piquepoul. Marsanne has six weeks of skin contact. ~ 12 euros.
Ithybole Chenin 2017, Domaine de Montrieux, Coteaux du Vendômois, Loire Valley
This pleasant wine is made outside the pretty town of Vendôme, located in the Loire Valley, just north-east of Tours. Ariane Lesné made her first vintage at Domaine de Montrieux 2016. Her various wines are named after people in the books of Rabelais, who also was a Loire native. This chenin blanc gives you both a certain crispiness and a fine citrus fruit. Quite light in body.
Cuvée des Conti, Bergerac Sec 2017, Château Tour des Gendres, Bergerac
Very good and a lot of character for the price. A fabulous combination of full-bodied Sémillon and crispy Sauvignon Blanc. The palate is powerful with some fatness and ripe fruit. There is also good freshness. ~12 euros
Château Soucherie Les Mouchis 2001, Anjou, Loire Valley
Very typical Chenin Blanc with tones of beeswax, honey (but totally dry) and citrus. Full-bodied, intense and a completely dry taste. The age doesn’t really show yet. Very good. Purchased in 2003 for 7.50 euro.
Les Cocalières, Domaine d’Aupilhac Blanc 2017, AOP Languedoc
Discreet on the nose but lovely mouthfeel, a “texture wine”. Notes of white flowers, apricots and peaches. Enjoyable but a little expensive. The grapes are Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Vermentino, as well as a little Clairette. 20 euros.
Julicher Riesing 2017, Martinborough, New Zealand
Nice, unpretentious Riesling with typical aromas. Flowers and citrus on the nose. Some residual sugar (7 grams/liter). Partially fermented in oak barrels which gives it a certain body and fullness.
Red wines
Psi 2016 para Dominio de Pingus, Bodegas y Viñedos Alnardo, Ribera del Duero, Spain
No price for guessing that Psi stands for Peter Sisseck who is the man behind this wine. It is powerful and well balanced with dark fruit and a long finish with structure and tannins. The grape is Tinta del Pais, the local name for Tempranillo and the vines are old, around 80 years. ~25 euro.
Tahbilk Old Vines Cabernet Shiraz 2015, Australia
Full-bodied wine with warm, generous and ripe fruit and notes of cedar wood and oak. Dense body, quite soft but with some structure. Balanced. ~18 euro.
Château Vartely Individo Editie Limitata Rara Neagra 2017, Moldova
Light in colour and also quite light in body but with intense flavours reminiscent of Pinot Noir. A bit oaky with a warm, southern feeling to it. Enjoyable. Made from the local Moldavian grape Rara Neagra.
Domaine Causse Marines Peyrouzelles, Gaillac
A delightful, easy-to-drink wine. Juicy and fresh with a natural wine feeling. “Low” alcohol content of 12%. The label indicates that the wine contains less than 10 mg sulfur/liter and that the sole ingredient is grapes.
Redoma Niepoort 1996, Douro Valley, Portugal
Very good, mature wine with a complex, developed character. At the same time, it has kept its freshness and youthful vitality. Very harmonious and balanced. The grapes are Tinta Toriz, Tinto Cão, Touriga Franca and others. Redoma was Niepoort’s first red wine and first released in 1991.
Château La Dominique 1981, Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion, Bordeaux
Superb Bordeaux with elegant fruit, good freshness and a smooth aftertaste. Perfect to drink now which is a surprise considering that 1981 was a vintage that no one thought would last this long. Purchased in 1984 for 131 SEK (~13 euro).
Côte Rôtie 1979, Chapoutier, Rhône Valley
Aromas of tobacco and some dried fruit. Feels quite youthful. Structured with good freshness and balance. There’s still quite a lot of power left. Purchased in 1984 for 96 SEK (~10 euro).
Cabernet Sauvignon 1979, Jean Léon, Penedés, Catalonia, Spain
Jean Léon is a legend. He left Spain and poverty in the 1940s and went to the United States. In 1956 he opened a restaurant in Hollywood called La Scala. A restaurant that became the hang-out for celebrities and jetsetters in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1962 he opened his winery in Penedés and in 1994 it was sold to the neighbour Miguel Torres. This 1979 is brilliant. It feels a bit like a Châteauneuf-du-Pape, quite soft but with good vitality and ripe, warm (but not dried) fruit.
Nerello Cappuccio 2016 Terre Siciliane Rosso IGT, Benanti Viticoltori, Etna, Sicily
Easy-drinking and light in style, as they often are, these wines from Etna. But with complexity. Raspberries and other red berries dominate the nose, the taste is long and delicious. Good balance. Drink it a little bit cool. 23 euros.
Eon of Bendigo Pinot Noir 2013, Accolade Wines, Central Otago, New Zealand
Discreet on the nose and quite discreet also on the palate. Oaky finish and warm, ripe fruit. Doesn’t feel like a Pinot Noir. Maybe a little too old? Enjoyable after all.
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!
