NWC – tenth April – Blind Bottle (No theme)

The primary time I’m writing a couple of blind bottle format. Briefly a lot of the wines are coated so we don’t know what we’re tasting after which revealed.

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A glowing wine to begin. Some good age and autolytics instantly current on the nostril with some ripe apple and citrus. Excessive acidity on palate, inexperienced apple on the entrance with lemon curd because it developed within the mouth. A nice little bitterness on the end. Missing a contact of persistence at this stage of its life however tender and fulfilling. May solely be English and was a Leckford 2011 earlier than their Waitrose partnership. Presently round £30.

The primary nonetheless white had a contact of nuttiness alongside some lemon salinity. The palate was fairly a wealthy texture and baggage of stone fruit. We struggled to position this one, turned out to be a Picpoul, Les Ronces, 2019 that was punching nicely above your on a regular basis instance. £15

A brisker type subsequent with a number of lifted citrus, grapefruit and lime however some candy pear and hints of tropical pineapple too. The palate was rather less fascinating, the citrus being the principle profile. Acidity very excessive and felt quick however suffered from the extra weighty Picpoul that went earlier than. I guessed this wine appropriately as I had beforehand purchased a couple of myself. Bodega Garzon Albarino, 2022. £18-20.

Somloi Vandor, Teraszok, Juhfark, 2020 was not served blind. The Hungarian Juhfark grape was not one I’ve had earlier than. The nostril appeared a contact muted if an curiosity combine between toffee apple with some yellow/inexperienced fruit notes. The depth on the palate was good, with excessive acidity. On the entrance some bruised apple however I most popular the again of the palate with simply unripe plums and a pithy end. Fascinating. £20

A waft of acetone greeted me preliminary on the subsequent wine though the palate was very completely different. Very oily, nearly a rosewater trace. Missing acidity and a few butterscotch caramel on the end. Arduous to choose and we didn’t guess Californian Chardonnay! Ranch 32, 2020 was a Wine Society blended case purchase. It jogged my memory of decrease high quality model of a Grgrich I had some time in the past. Tremendous concentrated and overwhelming, it didn’t really feel balanced and I don’t love caramel and butterscotch in my wine. £20

A change of tempo with one thing a lot lighter within the glass. The nostril wasn’t very giving, citrus and possibly a contact of minerality/moist stone. Good acidity within the glass, waxy lemons and a few lime however feeling a contact drained on the end. A lot shock when it was revealed to be Chablis Premier Cru Beauroy, Christophe Camu, 2019. Anticipated extra richness and focus from a premier cru. £30.

Again to greater octane wines and this put me in thoughts of a GG Riesling. Actual depth, a candy and bitter factor happening with an interaction of citrus and stone fruits. Simply wonderful steadiness and creamy texture though a bit of younger and desires a while to mellow. Schloss Gobelsburg, Grüner Veltliner, 1ÖTW, Ried Lamm, 2020. Not typical of your much less lofty expressions of Gruner and now £40 is recognised as certainly one of Austria’s high estates.

A extremely golden color within the glass this was clearly a good bit older than the opposite whites. Had a beautiful mingling of pineapple, honey and candy apple. The palate was an fascinating mixture of nice maturity with some complexity however I discovered it arduous to choose actually particular notes. It was tender citrus, orange zest, guava. Actually beautiful stuff. I believed we may be in Jurancon because it had some similarities to final weeks wines. I used to be unsuitable. Anjou, Chateau de Suronde, 2004. I dont suppose they nonetheless have the identical wine of their lineup, bottles from this period can be found for round £40.

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The primary pink was a wine of two halves. The nostril was fairly tertiary, extra candy cinnamon with a bit of cherry. The palate was actually fairly inexperienced and stalky although had a bit of bramble black fruit on the end. I used to be in Etna on the nostril and new world cab franc on the palate. It was Valpolicella, Lena di Mezzo, 2021. Nonetheless not fairly positive what to make of it however maybe my disastrous blind guessing put me off it :). £20

Some brown edges on the color instructed some age right here, nostril of baking spices, some earth and pink fruits. Others detected some barnyard aromas that I didn’t fairly get. Some risky acidity for positive. Pretty ripe pink fruits nonetheless remained, redcurrant and raspberry however that candy spice was additionally there. Fairly a ringer for Pinot however was a tender and mature Gamay! Coeur de Terroirs, Moulin-A-Vent, Labruyere, 2014. £25.

An fascinating comparability as my wine was the Moulin-A-Vent, Wine Society a hundred and fiftieth Anniversary, 2019. Somewhat extra distinguishable as Gamay for me on the nostril though others had been additionally in Pinot territory. Extra of a black fruit profile however nice steadiness, ripeness however retaining good acidity. Good to see some victories for Beaujolais. £17.50

A pair of wines subsequent and an instance of fascinating comparisons our group throws up. I used to be instantly in Boredaux, I don’t suppose it might have been the rest. One was fairly wealthy and heady with cassis and oak. The opposite a bit of extra inexperienced although elegant and with higher steadiness. They had been each Chateau Charmail the richer one 2010, the opposite 2012. Fascinating as a result of while the 2012 was a classic rated a lot under the 2010 the group usually most popular the 2012. Maybe at this degree, £20 cru Bourgeois, the 2010s are feeling a bit of ripe and tiring?

Lastly a leviathan. Tremendous darkish, missing fruit, extracted and tannic. Dusty, with cloves and liquorice. No we had been’t again in Madiran from final week, some scratching of heads however I used to be happy to name it proper. Aglianico. Caggiano Taurasi Vigna Macchia dei Goti, 1995. Extremely highly effective nonetheless at this age and folks guessed it was 10/20 years youthful than it was! Some actually struggled with it however while I didn’t find it irresistible I discovered it drinkable, clearly must meals to be extra palatable. Latest vintages £50

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