A pleasant and leisurely Monday lunch with friends.
2008 EARL Peter Hahn- Vouvray Clos de la Meslerie - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
A new producer to me, an American who purchased a property dating back to the 1600's, makes one wine organically with vines 20 to 60 years old. This is his first vintage under his full control. Fresh and creamy on the nose with quince, pear, mineral and almond aromas. I was told that it was a demi-sec by the host, but an initial taste shows too much sugar for that. A quick check on the domaine's website shows that, in fact, there's 29.9 g/l residual sugar, 6.2 g/l total acidity, 13.3% alcohol and that 2,364 bottles were produced. Loads of ripe pear flavors on the palate with a bit of fruit salad syrup, quince and mineral, but the mineral doesn't have that intense tuffeaux character other Vouvray show. There's some fatness to the wine and it's a bit flat in the mid-palate. While there's a fair amount of acidity, it could use a little more to my tastes. A solid first effort, though. B+.
1966 Chateau Palmer - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Not as pristine a bottle as the last one I had. This one showed a generic old red wine nose to start before air brought it together to reveal sassafras, earth, leather and cherry aromas. Soft and fully resolved and a bit fragile on the palate. More tertiary elements at this point, though there's a core of bright cherry fruit at the center along with cedar, leather and herb. Feminine in style with it's lightish palate presence, high acidity and pretty aromatics. After a half hour or so the finish started to dry out. From a bottle with not the best fill, but still a pleasant showing nonetheless. A-/B+.
1985 Chateau Palmer - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
I've never been all that enamored to the '85 Palmer, but I enjoyed this bottle more than others in the past. Classic and elegant in style with a not unpleasant leanness. There's an intense potting soil/earthy character on the nose and palate that reminds me a bit of the '85 Olga Raffault Chinon. Black fruited with a green tobacco finish. Softened tannins with elevated acid levels. No harm drinking now, but no rush either. A-/B+.
1988 Chateau Coutet - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
Showing quite well with honey, sweet citrus, pineapple and vanilla aromas. Fresh and lively on the palate for a Sauternes/Barsac thanks to the elevated acid levels, a trait I greatly enjoy in '88s. Nice sweetness, but not overdone or cloying in the least. Pineapple, apricot, crème brûlée and a bit of shoe polish on the palate. The oak is integrated well. A nice way to wrap up a leisurely lunch. A-.
2008 EARL Peter Hahn- Vouvray Clos de la Meslerie - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
A new producer to me, an American who purchased a property dating back to the 1600's, makes one wine organically with vines 20 to 60 years old. This is his first vintage under his full control. Fresh and creamy on the nose with quince, pear, mineral and almond aromas. I was told that it was a demi-sec by the host, but an initial taste shows too much sugar for that. A quick check on the domaine's website shows that, in fact, there's 29.9 g/l residual sugar, 6.2 g/l total acidity, 13.3% alcohol and that 2,364 bottles were produced. Loads of ripe pear flavors on the palate with a bit of fruit salad syrup, quince and mineral, but the mineral doesn't have that intense tuffeaux character other Vouvray show. There's some fatness to the wine and it's a bit flat in the mid-palate. While there's a fair amount of acidity, it could use a little more to my tastes. A solid first effort, though. B+.
1966 Chateau Palmer - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Not as pristine a bottle as the last one I had. This one showed a generic old red wine nose to start before air brought it together to reveal sassafras, earth, leather and cherry aromas. Soft and fully resolved and a bit fragile on the palate. More tertiary elements at this point, though there's a core of bright cherry fruit at the center along with cedar, leather and herb. Feminine in style with it's lightish palate presence, high acidity and pretty aromatics. After a half hour or so the finish started to dry out. From a bottle with not the best fill, but still a pleasant showing nonetheless. A-/B+.
1985 Chateau Palmer - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
I've never been all that enamored to the '85 Palmer, but I enjoyed this bottle more than others in the past. Classic and elegant in style with a not unpleasant leanness. There's an intense potting soil/earthy character on the nose and palate that reminds me a bit of the '85 Olga Raffault Chinon. Black fruited with a green tobacco finish. Softened tannins with elevated acid levels. No harm drinking now, but no rush either. A-/B+.
1988 Chateau Coutet - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
Showing quite well with honey, sweet citrus, pineapple and vanilla aromas. Fresh and lively on the palate for a Sauternes/Barsac thanks to the elevated acid levels, a trait I greatly enjoy in '88s. Nice sweetness, but not overdone or cloying in the least. Pineapple, apricot, crème brûlée and a bit of shoe polish on the palate. The oak is integrated well. A nice way to wrap up a leisurely lunch. A-.