Another year of wine, another year of drinking and eating and loving. It's been an interesting year - lots of memorable wines, my longest list so far. That's what makes wine worthwhile to me. When a memory of a wine brings not with it just a lingering recollection of bouquet, flavour, texture, but also of conversation with friends, of long dinners and good nights.
Please click the red links to return to the original post. Many thanks for reading, and may 2011 be yet another wine-filled year for us all.
1999 Château Gazin, AC Pomerol - starting the year off strong, ten year old right-bank claret, cost me dearly but like the right girl, the payoff was mind-blowing
2007 Podari del Nespoli Sangiovese di Romagna di Prugneto, DOC Emilia-Romagna - my first taste of the region, sangiovese at all its rustic finery
NV Michel Brocard Rosé Brut, RM Champagne - a rare grower Champagne of 100% pinot noir, all mushrooms, earth, and love
1995 Remoissenet Pére & Fils Pommard-Épenots, AC Pommard 1er Cru - drunk alongside a 1995 Latour à Pomerol, no contest - Burgundy for the win
1978 Hutcheson Colheita Port, DOC Douro - old Colheita Port, supple, complex, mind-blowing
2006 Château Faizeau, AC Montagne-St-Émilion - an important reminder that merlot is not wimpy, and good Bordeaux doesn't have to cost you your left nut
1985 Coto de Imaz Gran Reserva, DOCa Rioja - screaming in ecstasy
2004 Coto de Imaz Reserva, DOCa Rioja - same producer, drunk alongside the 1985 - student and master, less wrinkles but one and the same
1983 Balthasar Ress Riesling Kabinett, QmP Winkeler Jesuitengarten Rheingau - unremarkable producer, remarkable wine
2008 Paul Anheuser Riesling Kabinett, QmP Schlossböckelheimer Königsfels Nahe - Nahe is a new region for me - the 2008's are extraordinary in their expression of steely, racy riesling
2007 Max Ferd. Richter Riesling Kabinett, QmP Erdener Treppchen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer - young Mosel, this vintage will be monumental
1992 Château Mouton-Rothschild, AC Pauillac Premier Grand Cru Classé - not the best wine, but come on . . . it's Mouton
2008 Studert-Prüm Riesling Kabinett, QmP Graacher Himmelreich Mosel - a stunning producer of electric riesling
2008 Kruger-Rumpf Riesling Kabinett, QmP Münsterer Kapellenberg Nahe - my goodness, another 2008 Nahe, mind being blown
2005 Royal Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos, Hungary - mushroomy, tense, aromatic - puts some Sauternes' to shame
2008 Staete Landt Riesling Auslese, Marlborough - a German-styled riesling out of New Zealand? And doing it better than some Germans?!
1990 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Vintage Reserve Brut, AC Champagne - 20-year old Champagne, one of the most amazing wines I've ever drank
2003 Château Lagrezette, AC Cahors - held from my time served in university, lots of fond sentiments, drunk for a dinner featuring beef and only beef - and it was really good
1991 Schloss Schönborn Riesling Spätlese, QmP Hochheimer Domdechaney Rheingau - drunk for Rieslingfest, old Rheingau at its most expressive
2008 Giusti Piergiovanni Lacrima di Morro d'Alba, DOC Marche - obscure Italians are the best
1997 Balthasar Ress Riesling Spätlese, QmP Hattenheim Nussbrunnen Rheingau - direct, proper old riesling
2005 Marziano Abona Terlo Ravera, DOCG Barolo - my first Barolo, love/lust at first sight
1995 P.S. Baümler Becker-Erben Riesling Auslese, QmP Wehlener Sonnenuhr Mosel - another bottle of this gem
2004 Evans & Tate The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River - Australians make balanced, varietal cabernet! Australians make balanced, varietal cabernet!
2004 López de Heredia Viña Cubillo Crianza, DOC Rioja - the finest old European producer, period
2005 Poderi Colla Dardi Le Rose Bussia, DOCG Barolo - serious Barolo . . . now we getting serious
2005 Fratelli Revello Vigna Gattera, DOCG Barolo - intense, tight, aromatic - a worthy counterpart to Burgundy
2001 Gemma Giblin Riserva, DOCG Barolo - slightly older Barolo, expressing all that's good and wonderful about nebbiolo
1999 Pol Roger Extra Cuvée de Réserve Brut, AC Champagne - another wine I've sat on for years, a dream in its tightness, tensile strength, and purity, drunk 10 years too soon
2004 Lailey Vineyard Wismer Vineyard Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara Peninsula - Derek made this a dream come true, one of the finest wines I've drank this year
2006 Domaine Machard de Gramont Clos Blanc, AC Pommard 1er Cru - a worthy end to this year of wine drinking, a Pommard showing true to vintage, varietal, and region
DF
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