So many wines, so few notes

[Jeff Connell]

So yesterday evening, at dinner with me Mum, the wine was a 1994 Pessac-Lognan, which has fine, even half-decent; but perfectly reasonable that I can't quite remember what it was. Okay, okay, it was Haut-Bailly. But not near as memorable as the 1993 Certan de May Pomerol I had about a week ago with the (reference redacted). That was a wine of essential fruitiness that somehow will stay alive for, yes, thirty years - or at least from 1993. So another 14 years. Despite not having perfect balance, despite not having fabulous structure - but just for having material that could charm the pants off you.

The night before, it was the Gruner Privat from the Senftenberger Piri of Nigl, 1998. Taking its time to open, with much to show. Flowers and herbs, apricots and grapefruit pith, wild strawberries and white strawberries - macerating. A slight bit of caramelization. Then seeming either to fade or close before we could finish, I'm not sure which.

La Caillre 1999 from Clos du Tue-Boeuf, Vin de Pays de Loir-et-Cher, followed the Nigl. Lacy and delicious, racy and delicate, a wine of flowers and earth; fine fruit but not Pinot Fin, quoi - Pinot massal parental. A wine of privilege, no a wine a privilege to drink.

Then tonight, Stadlmann Zierflander 2006 from the Thermenregion (south of Vienna). So what is this? Is this the Jacqure of eastern Austria - no, I think more like the Malagousia, but with acidity. And lemon grass, and whatever kind of tree fruit that remains largely herbal. Not complaining, it's Zierflander after all, and we are happy to find it in the ever-diverse pageant of wine.

So, then there were other wines, numerous, recently in fact, that I have forgotten to remember. Maybe they will come back to me.

 

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by Jeff Connell:
So many wines, so few notes

The night before, it was the Gruner Privat from the Senftenberger Piri of Nigl, 1998. Taking its time to open, with much to show. Flowers and herbs, apricots and grapefruit pith, wild strawberries and white strawberries - macerating. A slight bit of caramelization. Then seeming either to fade or close before we could finish, I'm not sure which..

It probably faded, didn't it? I just bought another two bottles and was hoping it still showed some of the fun complexities it showed last year. So, am glad to read your note. But I still wouldn't have hopes for long aging, would I? Given that caramel/funky botrytis note you mention and all..

 

[SFJoe]

Zierfandler, maybe? The Mandel-Hoh?

I had a bottle of this in the fridge, but donated it to a thirsty fatboy, so I don't have current notes.

 

[Jeff Connell]

It probably faded, didn't it? I just bought another two bottles and was hoping it still showed some of the fun complexities it showed last year. So, am glad to read your note. But I still wouldn't have hopes for long aging, would I? Given that caramel/funky botrytis note you mention and all..

Yes, I suppose it was fading. Which seems to imply don't decant - and don't dally. It's not clear what the implications are for bottle aging. I'm content to leave other bottles alone for the time being.