For a few weeks I have been really struggling to make it to the various tastings that happen around Nottingham, because of work, apathy, and tastings being cancelled, and I suppose the warm weather we are finally experiencing. Gin and tonic seems to be the order of the day at the moment; some delicious gin at that. The 'Mothers' ruin' in question is Leopold's Gin, a small batch American craft gin, made using Valencia oranges and pomelos (small grapefruit) as two of it's constituent botanicals; giving it a real citrus kick and refreshing rather than super dry finish. Delicious.
But I digress, this is a wine blog after all.
What follows are just some notes from wines tasted recently, getting me back up to speed, sort of.
Chateau Des Jacques, La Roche, Moulin A Vent 2006. Beaujolais, Louis Jadot
I'm really enjoying different cuvees of Beaujolais at the moment, Moulin a Vent in particular, with it's meatier, age worthy qualities, along with Chenas and some lovely, fragrant Fleurie too.
This one displays some real perfume, violets and rose petals, alongside some tart red cherry and black cherry as well. This translates onto the palate and is accompanied by some warming cinnamon and some savory green pepper. There is some underlying sweetness that the green pepper bounces off, a level of confection that is none too overpowering. A nice wine.
Givry 1er Cru, Clos Du Cras Long, 2002, Vincent Lump
There is a delicious sour cherry and oak nose to this wine, although slightly restrained and maybe slightly closed off? Even so, a gorgeous aroma, with a little bit of meat and earth too. On the palate, plenty of tart red fruit, cranberry, redcurrant, cherry and bags of lip smacking acidity! There is some tannin there, not loads, but a bit. Pare that with the acidity and a good quantity of fruit and this wine should stick around for a few years yet.
Nuit Saint Georges 1964, Patriarche
Not sure that Givry will stick around for quite as long as this fossil has. What a wine! Considering my father pre-dates this wine by just one year, I'm simply staggered at how well this wine has kept, and then performed during this tasting.
The nose is full of smoke, earthy forest floor qualities and some dark, slightly raisin fruit which really tingle the nostrils, but maybe that comes from the merest hint of alcoholic heat?!
The palate is brilliantly complex, with some really bright fruit, sour blackcurrant, cherry, oak and spice. Followed by just a nuance of tannin. This is close to being the oldest wine I have ever had, and a real treat and privilege to taste. Good stuff!
McWilliam's Elizabeth, Semillon, 2005 Hunter Valley
This is oak-tastic!! It smells like it has been left open next to a wood burning stove! There's so much smoke and sulphur on the nose, it's almost too much. But underneath all of that there is some lovely citrus fruit, and minerality. On the palate there is loads of lemon, and some pineapple too, and obviously oak, followed by massive acidity and more citrus. I re-tasted this bottle two days later and it was even better, showing more aged qualities, which suggests this has a good few years left in it!
