5/20/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Syrah, Trincadeira, Cabernet Sauvignon, Touriga Franca from 20 years old vines in average. Destemmed, fermented in stainless steel tanks, aged 12 months in American (60%) and French (40%) oak barrels. Total acidity 6.49 g/l, residual sugar 2.8 g/l, 14% vol.

Decanted for two hours and poured it back into the bottle 2 hours before dinner. On the nose dark berries, cherries and shy notes from the oak, on the palate quite tannic and tart (even after this long airing) a bit spicy and the finish is rather long. For my palate still too young but it already goes with hefty food, for my next bottle I will wait a couple of years.

5/18/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Chardonnay planted in 1989, 13% vol.

Required an hour in the decanter to come together and to show its potential. On the nose orchard fruit, lemon and herbal notes, on the palate good structure and a lot of substance, medium+ acidity, mineral and rather long finish.

Was already very good with the fish we had, but will be better in a couple of years (91-93+).

5/18/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

Bottled without any additives (no SO2) before fermentation completed, 12.5% vol.

Small bubbles. On the nose brioche and orchard fruit, on the palate clean, fresh and dry, a bit linear and short but not bad at all. May win with an additional one or two years in the cellar (88-89+).

5/14/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Was quite tart at opening, so I decided to decant it 3 hours before dinner and it still improved in the glass. On the nose ethereal (more tar than roses) and dark fruit, on the palate a load of smooth tannin and medium to high acidity, good mouthfeel and long finish. Great showing and as classic as Rioja can be, drink now or till 2040.

5/11/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

From autochthonous and international varieties, 12.5% vol.

PnP. International style, I guess there is mainly Chardonnay in the blend. Medium bodied with good freshness, mouthfeel and length. Enjoyed in an Italian restaurant in Belfort. Don't cellar it, drink in its youth.

5/10/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Aged 9 months in wooden vats,14% vol.

PnP. Beaujolais in classic Burgundy style, on the nose earthy notes and dark berries, on the palate medium bodied, fresh and good length, 89+. In a nice spot now, drink within the next 4 years. A nice surprise and a good match to the ris de veaux at the Bistrot Gourmand in Épinal.

5/9/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

Chardonnay from 30 years old vines, aged 12 months on fine lees in stainless steel tanks and barrels, 12.5% vol.

PnP. On the nose good Chardonnay typicality with mainly orchard fruits, on the palate medium acidity, slightly creamy, good length, 88-89.

According to the warm vintage, the wine did not show much Chablis typicality, nonetheless it was a good choice at the Brasserie Saint Martin in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. Drink within the next 2 years.

5/12/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

PnP, enjoyed half bottle immediately and the second half 3 days later.

On the nose first a bit shy gets a mix of sweet flowers , mint and herbs. On The palate medium acidity, a slight creaminess but a bit thin. Showed improved on the third day, similar but with more signs of maturity (dried stone fruit), on the palate rounder and more depth compared to the first day.

Old school Rioja with most probably further ageing potential but I am not sure, so I, will store one or two bottles for an additional couple of years to see where it goes.

5/7/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 14% vol.

Decanted an hour before dinner (a bit longer would have been better). On the nose a fight between dark berries, sour cherries and tertiary notes, not clear which gets the winner. On the palate powerful with still lots of edges but also with good depth and a long finish.

Classic Pomerol from a warm and dry vintage at the beginning of its maturity. Was superb with a selection of French cheese, has still a long life ahead (till 2035+ if correctly stored), 92+.

4/30/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Cabernet Sauvignon 73% and Merlot 27%, aged in oak (50% new), total acidity 3.14 g/l, 13% vol.

Decanted an hour before dinner and highly enjoyed with bred and a selection of French cheese. Starts like a very classic Pauillac, gets more power and fruit with additional air. On the nose dark berries, tobacco and with more air underwood and a suggestion of funky notes, on the palate it started fresh and dry with some edges, gets quite powerful and rounded up with more time in the glass, ends very long.

In a great spot now and with ages to go. Recommendation to decant for more than an hour at the current stage.

4/28/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Grenache Noir 75%, Grenache Gris 15% and Garignan from old vines 10%, aged 10 years in old oak barrels (barrique and demi-muids), 16.5% vol.

PnP and enjoyed over 3 days. Nice nose with fig, walnut and dark berry fruit, on the palate good balance between sweetness, freshness and tannic structure, dense, intense and long. It was not ideal with sweet dishes but it was superb with blue cheese, 93+.

One of the best wines from this winery I have ever tasted and worth the attribute “Grand Cru” with the typical mix of dark fruit and oxidative notes, best when slightly cooled at about 10 to 12°C.

4/27/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeast, long 4 weeks maceration for such a vintage, aged in neutral oak, 14% vol.

Tasted at the winery, short note: Classic, quite tannic for a Trousseau, good freshness and good structure for a bright future. A bit austere at current stage and needs food to be enjoyed, will be more enjoyable in some years, 91-93.

Very different to the Ruzard / Rosieres from the same vintage. Aviet understands it perfectly to treat the different Trousseau climats and vintages according to their potential, hard to beat him.

4/27/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Natural farming, fermentation with indigenous yeast, aged about 2 years in demi-muds, 14,5% vol.

PnP and enjoyed it first with some roasted mushrooms and then with fish (trout) that matched perfectly. On the nose sweet flowers, a hint of hazelnut and a sea breeze, on the palate good mouthfeel that tends to the lush side and a mineral touch that makes it interesting, good length.

Chardonnay with good Jura typicality though there are no oxidative notes nor any funky notes. In a very nice spot now but will continue to develop nicely over the next 6 years.

4/25/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

Orange wine, bottled without SO2, 12% vol.

Orange wine, bottled without SO2, 12% vol. PnP. PnP. On the nose intense flavour of passion fruit, nothing else, quite amazing (one of the very rare moments when all at the table agreed on the same). On the palate clean, very dry and mineral with a nice bitter note but without much depth, perhaps it is just much too young would be interesting to try this again in a couple of years.

4/22/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Decanted 3 hours before dinner that helped a lot to open. Nice mature nose with tar, ethereal and dark berries, on the palate earthy notes, medium+ bodied and long, balanced finish.

Very classic Nebbiolo that would be hard to differ from a Barbaresco, 93 points for the nose, 91 points for the palate. Drink within the next 6 to 12 years.

4/21/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

Was quite muted and a bit flabby when I opened it just after the Kabinett from the Juffer that was very expressive. From the second bottle, there were only two glasses consumed, the rest we enjoyed two days later, time helped a lot and it was really good with a nice Riesling nose, good minerality, high acidity, quite dry, medium bodied and good length.

Seems as it enters now a bit difficult stage, the youthful easiness it had a year ago is gone and it requires more patience now, so I will wait now a couple of years with my next bottles.

4/19/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Wow, is this good. Expressive Riesling nose from the first minute, full of fruit with a hint of petrol, on the palate good balance between acidity and sweetness, good depth and long finish.

Textbook Kabinett in a good spot now, for sure, it will age nicely but there is also no reason not to drink it now. A big step up compared to the Brauneberger Riesling J trocken, we had at the same evening.

4/15/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

Chardonnay aged in used barrique (30%) and stainless steel, 13% vol.

PnP. On the nose sweet blossom and ripe orchard fruit, on the palate quite lush, round and good persistence. No obvious difference on the next day.

Quite different compared to the tasting at the domain 2 years ago, the mineral touch is gone and the sweet fruit dominates now. Not a complex wine at the current stage, nevertheless, it was a good choice for the aperitif.

4/14/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

87.6% Pinot Noir, 12.4% Chardonnay; base vintage 2016; dosage 8g/l; disgorging 10.11.2020.

Big bubbles but surprisingly long lasting, on the nose brioche and shy red berry fruit, on the palate dry, fresh and linear, finish shows medium length, precise, not bad at all but a bit simple.

Not much difference compared to the bottle from the same lot 3 years ago.

Looking at the price point, this gets more and more crazy with Champagne, this might be OK for the prestige wines, but 60€ or more for basic bottlings (even if it is labelled as Grand Cru)? In Jura, I get for the same price 3 or 4 bottles of similar quality.

4/13/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

Grillo aged in stainless steel, 13% vol.

Have expected another style when thinking on the Cure song “Friday I'm in Love”, nevertheless, the bottle was not bad. Needs air to open, starts quite shy with white fruits and a mineral touch, on the palate fresh, dry and medium bodied.

Good at aperitif or with sea food, drink now or within the next 4 years (88-89).

4/11/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

PnP. Needs a bit air to open. Nice Riesling nose, floral with some yellow stone fruit and a hint of Petrol. On the palate medium acidity, needs a bit time to get more depth, slightly creamy, medium to long finish, 90-91+.

First vintage with the "Prädikat Grosses Gewächs", in 2017 it was still “Erste Lage”. At the beginning of its drinking Window, will age nicely for many years.

4/7/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Double decanted an hour before dinner and followed over the next two hours. On the nose dried pineapple, fresh herbs and a suggestion of hazelnut, on the palate creamy and rather full bodied (14% vol.), medium acidity, nice bitter note that matched perfectly with the fish we had, good length.

Less on the mineral side than La Verchère from the same vintage, more Côte de Beaune like. Beginning maturity, starts to make fun, but needs a lot of air to show its best, I will wait another 2 years with my next bottle.

4/6/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Shows a light straw with a green reflex. Quit similar to last tasting note, a bit more developed on the nose, similar to a Riesling with green apples and white stone fruits. On the palate it is still very fresh and light (unbelievable that it shall have 14.5% vol.) without any signs of maturity, medium length.

If I had to guess the age of the wine, I would say 3 to 4 years old, drink now or within the next decade or so.

4/4/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Decanted an hour before dinner. Similar as the bottle 30 months ago but a tad better with leather, forest floor, dark fruits and a suggestion of gamey flavours, on the palate smooth tannins, medium+ acidity, good concentration and a long, slightly rustic finish.

Classic old school Bordeaux, in a good place now, will hold for another 6 to 10 years but will most probably not improve anymore, a short decant of 30 to 60 minutes is recommended.

3/27/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

PnP and enjoyed over 4 days. Superb from the very first moment, shows lemon and walnut with a suggestion of curry and lovage. On the palate some creaminess, good freshness, depth and good length.

Best on day one and day four, in between it was a tad less compelling. It is already very good, though still very young and will need many years to peak and to show more complexity, I will wait a couple of years for the next bottle.

3/23/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Tempranillo (90%) from vines over 60 years old, complemented by Graciano (10%), destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks controlled temperature for 18 days. Aged 4 years in 4-year-old American oak barrels. Total acidity 5.9 g/l, alcohol 13.5% vol.

Decanted 2h before dinner, but it still improved with more time. Superb intense nose, dark fruited, tar and ethereal, on the palate good freshness, dry and full bodied, good length with still some edges but not disruptive.

Classic Reserva from a superb vintage, developed nicely within the last 30 months but requires still more cellaring time to peak. Drink now with a long decant or within the next 2 decades, 92-93+.

3/22/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

PnP from a small bottle out of the fridge. Less intense than the last bottle, needed some minutes to open. On the palate notes from botrytis, dried apricot and honey, on the palate sweet, good freshness, creamy, dense and long.

Great achievement, drink now to enjoy the perfect balance this wine shows now or wait a decade for the first tertiary notes, that will add the complexity you are looking for when opening a bottle of Rieussec.

3/22/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Was double decanted the evening before and an additional decant 2 hours before dinner. Nice nose with a mixture of cherries, tar and first notes of maturity. on the palate good structure and high acidity, present tannin and a long finish with still some edges but without any heat at 14.5% vol.

Very old school Barolo, already very approachable but will be best in a decade or so I think, 92 to 93+.

3/22/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Was double decanted 24h before dinner. On the nose starting a bit shy and opens with air, still very primary with red berries and red stone fruit, on the palate pure and very elegant, dense but not heavy, good length, superb.

Quite different to the Valferana 2011 we had just before. Still very youthful, already very good but just at the beginning of its drinking window, will easily go for another 10 to 20 years, 93+.

3/22/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Was double decanted 24h before dinner. Smells incredibly good with rose petals and tar with underlying red stone fruit, on the palate it starts elegant with high acidity and smooth tannin, but gets a bit rustic with additional air, medium+ bodied and good persistence.

Old school Gattinara, very good now if giving it enough air, but has the structure to go for another 10 to 15 years, 92+.

3/17/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

PnP and drunk over 2 days. Linear and boring on the first day, better on the second day with more freshness and depth, on the nose lemony and fresh herbs. Not bad but was more interesting 2 years ago, will it come back with more age? Let's see.

3/16/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Destemmed and fermented in stainless steel, aged in big oak barrels and bottled in January 2013, 14% vol.

Decanted 2 hours before dinner. Mature nose with red stone fruit, underwood and a suggestion of mushrooms, on the palate smooth tannin, medium+ acidity, full bodied and long finish.

It's my first bottle from this brand and expected something more modern looking at the label but in fact it is a very old school Brunello, slightly on the rustic side but still very enjoyable, drink now or within the next 4 to 6 years.

3/15/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

Chardonnay 50+%, Pinot Noir 30-35%, Pinot Meunier 10-15%, 15-30% reserve wine, aged 4 years, 12% vol., bought 16 months ago in the local supermarket.

Cork was in shape as it would have been bottled recently. Tiny bubbles, apple and brioche, medium acidity, slightly creamy with a good mouthfeel, medium length, well balanced.

Good basic Champagne for a fair price (for Champagne).

3/10/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Fresh, red berries and elegance were the first impressions when I opened the bottle to check that it has no fault, so I decided not to decant. 4 hours later at dinner it showed a darker fruit profile and first tertiary notes, on the palate good freshness, medium+ bodied and rather elegant, smooth tannin and a good length, everything in a good balance.

Classic old school Médoc at peak now but well stored bottles will easily go for another 6 to 8 years. Matched perfectly with our home made gratin dauphinois and the beef.

3/10/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

More than 60 years old vines, natural farming, fermented with indigenous yeasts, 7 months "sur lie", 12% vol.

PnP. Starts quite lemony and with a fresh sea breeze, on the palate very clean, high acidity, rather light and with medium length. With air it gets a suggestion of green apples, more depth and the acidity gets less prominent, very good.

Nice Muscadet in a good spot now and with superb price to quality relation.

3/7/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Chardonnay from natural farming, aged about 24 months in barrels of 650 l and 24 months in stainless steel, bottled without any additives 19.08.2022, 14.5% vol.

Restaurant Lokal, Biel. PnP. Needs air and gets better with every minute. On the nose apples and a touch of exotic fruits that get replaced by citrous notes at the end of the course, some yeasty notes, medium to high acidity, dry, good depth and long finish with a hint of lemon zest. The fairly high alcohol content was not noticeable, no it was even rather light on its feet.

Natural wine from one of the best, without any oxidative nor funky notes, still a bit young and will profit from another couple of years in the cellar, 92+. Always a pleasure to drink these wines, give it enough air at this stage, best would be to decant for an hour.

3/3/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

80% Tannat, 20% Cabernet Franc. Maturing on the lees for 12-14 months in 60-80% new barrels, 14% vol.

Decanted 3 hours before dinner, that helped a lot to open. Quite different to the last bottle 3 and a half years ago, the primary fruit and the notes from the oak are gone, there is still some dark fruit, but in addition it shows tar and roses, on the palate good freshness and structure, medium to full bodied but still rather elegant and with good length.

In a nice place now, first maturity, the nose is more suptle than a couple of years ago and the tannins are still there but fine grained, quite Barolo like, it's the first time I get this from a wine from Brumont. Was perfect with the brasato we had. Drink within the next 8 to 12 years and give it a lot of air.

3/3/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

PnP. On the nose white blossom, white and yellow stone fruit and a suggestion of petrol, similar as the last bottle 15months ago, but on the palate the sweetness is gone, still with good freshness but less charming now, not that it would be unpleasant, but something is missing, hope it is just an in between phase and will be better again in a couple of years.

3/2/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Chenin Blanc from biodynamic farming, 13% vol.

When I opened the bottle it was quite lush and not what I was expecting, the note from Julian Marshall is a spot on it, but after an hour in the decanter it was delicious. On the nose sweet and fresh notes with kumquat, quince and a suggestion of yellow stone fruit, on the palate creamy but dry, very good mouthfeel and long finish.

Very good now if giving it enough air but there is no doubt that it will age nicely for many more years. One of the best Huet I had up to now and still fair priced.

3/1/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Opened an hour before dinner but required more time in the glass to come together. Very nice nose with red berries and some funky notes in a perfect balance, on the palate it starts a bit thin but gets more depth with time in the glass, good freshness, smooth tannin, medium+ length.

Has improved a lot within the last two years and is most probably at peak now, drink within the next 2 to 4 years and give it enough air.

2/28/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Nice Armagnac nose, starts intense on the fruit and some spiciness, evolves in the glass with a warm profile of cinnamon and notes from the oak. On the palate slightly creamy but without any sweetness, intense, fresh and long. Quit complex for a 12 years old Armagnac and worth the money.

2/26/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (30%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Petit Verdot (5%) fermented in stainless steel vats, ageing for 18 months in oak barrels (of which 40 to 60% are renewed each year). 13.5% vol.

Decanted an hour before dinner. Starts with sour cherry and a hint of ethereal, turns towards black currant and gets more and more dominated by tertiary notes (leather and underwood) with additional air. On the palate good freshness, dry and full bodied, long finish.

Classic Margaux and the best Monbrison vintage I have tasted up to date with a superb price to quality relation, drink now or within the next 6 to 12 years, depending on your preferences on mature wines.

2/24/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

VDP Erste Lage, 12.5% vol.

Opened an hour before dinner. Nice Riesling nose with apricot, lemon zest and a suggestion of petrol, on the palate high acidity, nearly dry, a saline touch, dense and a good length with a hint of a nice citric bitterness.

Already very good but still very youthful, good promise for the future, 91++.

2/19/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

Decanted 90 minutes before dinner. Starts restrained and quite austere, needed another 90 minutes to get approachable. Showed dark berries, leather and balsamic notes, on the palate very dry and tight with high acidity, medium+ body and long slightly drying finish.

As often with Tondonia and Bosconia Reserva, I love them when released because of the pure fruit and the freshness, then 2 or 3 years later (as now) they get into a difficult phase and at the age of 16 to 20 years (depending on the vintage), when getting mature and more complex, they get incredibly good again. If drinking now, give it a decant of 3 to 5 hours but better wait a couple of years, it will reward your patience.

2/18/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

52% Sauvignon, 48% Sémillon, aged 9 months in oak barrels.

PnP on the first day and the rest two days later. I should have known better because of the previous tasting two years ago, this wine is not suitable for PnP, it requires a lot of air, so it was quite simple on the first day but 2 days later it was much better with more depth and freshness. On the nose gooseberry, lemon and an exotic touch, on the palate clean with good balance between the high acidity and the creaminess, not at all heavy though it has 14% vol., medium+ length.

Drink now or within the next 8 years and give it enough air, best after one to two hours in the decanter.

2/17/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

Zweigelt, aged 8 month in new barriques, 14% vol.

PnP. On the nose red stone fruit, dark berries and very shy notes from the oak, on the palate dry with good structure, medium to full bodied and medium+ length with still some edges that ask for food. Surprisingly classic in style. Drink now to 2031.

2/17/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

Viognier fermented spontaneously, aged 6 months in amphora, 12% vol.

PnP. Starts quite shy with white stone fruit, floral and a green touch, on the palate clean, medium acidity, light to medium bodied and length.

A rather light Viognier without any over ripeness, what I usually appreciate but unfortunately also without the depth Viognier can have. Don't know why people get the idea to plant these French varieties in such a warm climate as there are so many Italian grape varieties that are much better adapted to this climate.

2/16/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

Opened 5 hours before dinner. On the nose nice Sangiovese typicality with prune, dark berries (elderberry) and first shy tertiary notes, on the palate fresh and dry, a bit straight forward, medium+ bodied and long finish with still some edges.

Old school Riserva, a bit on the rustic side and best with food. In a good place now but with enough structure for 6 to 10 more years. Superb price to quality relation for 12 sFr/€.

2/13/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine:

100% Savagnin, oxidative treatment (sous voile), 14.5% vol. PnP and enjoyed it over a week.

Needs a bit of air to show its beauty. Starts with walnut and a touch of lemon, gets in addition the typical curry and lovage notes with time and air, on the palate quite creamy with high acidity, dense and very long. Already very good on the first day but even a tad better the next days (92+).

According to the warm vintage powerful and Vin Jaune like, drink within the next 2 decades.

2/11/2024 - amateur62 wrote:

Primitivo aged 18 months in French and American oak barrels, 14.5% vol.

PnP. Still very primary with ripe dark fruit, quite jammy, the oak is well integrated, on the palate full bodied, medium acidity, smooth and with good length.

These bold wines are not my favourites but I have to agree that it was a good match with the Piccata Milanese. Still in a good place but it's better to wait not much longer with the last bottle.