Saina Nieminen
Saina Nieminen
Tement Gelber Muskateller Steirische Klassik 2002
Served blind: 11,5% abv; Gelber Muskateller = Muscat Blanc Petits Grains. But this wasn't like any other Muscat I have had (though I guess, this might not have been intended to age this long!). The scent is delightful with lots of citrus and white flowers, it seemed a touch oxidative (rather than oxidised) and reminded me of the white Riojas of Lopez de Heredia.
It was oily in texture but retained wonderful citrussy fruit. Far more refreshing and crisp than any other dry Muscat I have had. Lovely stuff! My guess: it seemed rather like Chenin Blanc in some respects yet had that oxidative touch that made me think of Joly (but one where emphasis was on making wine not practicing lunatic philosophy); second guess was the LdH white; after that I gave up.
Cosimo Maria Masini Nicole 2006
Lee Greene from the property was recently in Finland visiting the importer and I was kindly invited to taste through their range. I very much enjoyed this wine then, so I was happy to try it again, this time drinking it rather than just quickly tasting it. I had previously tried the 2005 which was a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cab Sauv and thought it fine despite the Cab, but I do think the 2006 which is 100% Sangiovese is far better for simply being more typical of Tuscany. Both vintages are "natural" wines and see no new oak, but the aromas all seem more precise with the '06 - the '05 (forgive me for muddling up my similies) was as muddled up as if I tried to look at an impressionist painting without my glasses: muddled upon muddled but still with much to like (I did like the '05 to some degree and managed to finish a bottle in two days). The extra clarity unfortunately made me finish this one in one evening, hence the headache earlier today.
Anyway, the '06 was full of bright red fruit; crisp and clean, tannic and palate-cleansing and far too moreish for my head.
Brasserie de Jandrain-Jandrenouille V Cense
A dark saison, crisp and hoppy but with an almost Trappist-beer sweet maltiness - an interesting style I hadn't tried before. At first it seemed just sweet with thin body, but it seemed to develop in a very positive direction with just a few minutes open.
Scents of citrus and spice emerged; the palate firmed up and it became an elegant beer with a touch of sweetness and a grapefruit-refreshing finish. Nice stuff! I hadn't heard of this Brasserie before, but I might have to find more from them. This wasn't a beer that immediately flaunted its virtues but rather was one that made me search for its merits - which I did find.
Rogue Brutal Bitter
We seem to have received a number of interesting US beers and this seems to me the highlight of those I've tasted so far. The St. Rogue Dry Hopped Ale was great in small amounts but seemed too intense, barley wine -like despite its dryness - impressive but not as drinkable as I like. And this is where this Brutal Bitter gets everything right for me. It is generally speaking in a similarly hoppy but fruity style, promising some sweetness from the scent but ending up being pretty dry and crisp. But this lacks the weight of the St. Rogue (though it actually has more alcohol at 6,2% abv!) making it more drinkable. I could have had a second bottle! Nice stuff!
Served blind: 11,5% abv; Gelber Muskateller = Muscat Blanc Petits Grains. But this wasn't like any other Muscat I have had (though I guess, this might not have been intended to age this long!). The scent is delightful with lots of citrus and white flowers, it seemed a touch oxidative (rather than oxidised) and reminded me of the white Riojas of Lopez de Heredia.
Cosimo Maria Masini Nicole 2006
Lee Greene from the property was recently in Finland visiting the importer and I was kindly invited to taste through their range. I very much enjoyed this wine then, so I was happy to try it again, this time drinking it rather than just quickly tasting it. I had previously tried the 2005 which was a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cab Sauv and thought it fine despite the Cab, but I do think the 2006 which is 100% Sangiovese is far better for simply being more typical of Tuscany. Both vintages are "natural" wines and see no new oak, but the aromas all seem more precise with the '06 - the '05 (forgive me for muddling up my similies) was as muddled up as if I tried to look at an impressionist painting without my glasses: muddled upon muddled but still with much to like (I did like the '05 to some degree and managed to finish a bottle in two days). The extra clarity unfortunately made me finish this one in one evening, hence the headache earlier today.
Brasserie de Jandrain-Jandrenouille V Cense
A dark saison, crisp and hoppy but with an almost Trappist-beer sweet maltiness - an interesting style I hadn't tried before. At first it seemed just sweet with thin body, but it seemed to develop in a very positive direction with just a few minutes open.
Rogue Brutal Bitter
We seem to have received a number of interesting US beers and this seems to me the highlight of those I've tasted so far. The St. Rogue Dry Hopped Ale was great in small amounts but seemed too intense, barley wine -like despite its dryness - impressive but not as drinkable as I like. And this is where this Brutal Bitter gets everything right for me. It is generally speaking in a similarly hoppy but fruity style, promising some sweetness from the scent but ending up being pretty dry and crisp. But this lacks the weight of the St. Rogue (though it actually has more alcohol at 6,2% abv!) making it more drinkable. I could have had a second bottle! Nice stuff!