Sunday 29 June 2014

Drinking Tonight - 1967 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Union Vinicole de Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Sunday - perfect to make pulled pork with a 6 hours cooking time. This time I made it with lots of garlic, red peppers, mushrooms and fresh herbs. I had a craving for a mature bottle to go along. Leaving all the 64´s aside, I found this bin end buy from a few weeks ago.

1967 was a great vintage in Châteauneuf. Broadbent gives it four stars and Parker gets emotional on the vintage - "marvellously rich, exotic, decadent wines with low acidity, huge body, and massive quantities of fruit, glycerine, and alcohol".
How could I resist bying it...? :-) Lets open it and see if it was worth the heavy tariff of 25 Euro...?

1967 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Union Vinicole de Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Right out of the bottle this is an old style charmer. Fully mature and offering a lot of pleasure during the hours in the afternoon it takes to finish the bottle. The nose alters all through the evening but the aromas of dried raspberries, lingonberries, autumn leaves, old glue, dog fur, rosehips and dried up balsam vinegar is there all along. Yummy! Old but perky still. Very good. Some dried strawberries at the end.
The taste is fully mature, round and soft with notes of lingonberry pie, rosehips. mushrooms, old chocolate and some red wine vinegar. There is a fine warmth in the medium long finish. No tannin resistance what so ever, but the acidity is good. Given this blind I would have guessed a 71 or 76 Burgundy...:-) I just love it when these spur of the moment buys delivers!
87p   (tasted 2014/06)



Saturday 28 June 2014

Just Bought

During my Brunello project I got very impressed by the wines from Col d´Orcia. The older Riserva bottles had kept in excellent shape and the flagship wine, the Poggio al Vento, blew me away - the debut vintage of 1982 was one of the best wine tasted during 2013.
And when I got a chance to buy the 1990 I jumped at the chance.



Previous Poggio al Vento bottles tasted
Cold´Orcia bottles tasted during the Brunello project

Thursday 26 June 2014

Champagne Tasting Lunch With AR Lenoble

I got an ínvitation from Kajsa Wines to taste AR Lenobles whole range of wines over lunch. Since I haven´t tasted more than the odd bottle from this producer in the past, I gladly accepted.

The founders great grandchild Anne Malassagne was in Stockholm and presented the wines with flair and charm. AR Lenoble is a family company, producing (only) 350.000 bottles a year, of which 50% is exported. More info here.


NV Cuvée Brut Nature
We were welcomed with a glass of this non dosage wine. This and the next wine is exactly the same cuvée, the only difference is the dosage. The cuvée is made up of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier.
The nose is cool, elegant and fairly light with notes of summer flowers, lemon peel, dry fudge and some buttery aromas. Kept very well in the glass when it became warmer. Very, very good.
The taste is young, tight and, of course, dry with notes of flowers, yellow apples, lemon and a touch of lavender. A very fine acidity. Long and elegant. This I like.
89p   (tasted 2014/06)

NV Cuvée Intense Brut
The same cuvée as the wine above, but with a 5 g dosage. The nose is a bit warmer compared with the Nature and the fruit is more of the red kind compared with the yellow fruit in the Nature. And a bit of smoke as well. Very good but the Nature is racier.
The taste is young, fresh and light with notes of red curants, barely mature red apples, gravel and flowers. A long, fine finish. But again, the Nature gets the upper hand, for my palate anyway.
87p   (tasted 2014/06)


NV Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs
The NV Blanc de Blancs has a cool, handsome, fine nose with notes of yellow flowers, hazel nuts, lemon cream and a touch of mint. Very elegant.
The taste is young, tight and elegant with notes of yellow apples, butter cup flowers, dry caramell and hazel nuts. A very fine mousse. Very, very good.
89p   (tasted 2014/06)

2008 Grand Cru Blanc de Blanc
This is a must buy! Absolutely stunning, with a laser focused nose full of sweet/sour lemons, cap gun smoke, hazel nuts, freshly washed clothes and lemon fudge. Aristocratic. Very deep. This is the real thing. But still very young of course.
The taste is young, very tight but oh so promising with notes of lemon cream, summer flowers, fried nuts and some caramell. A stunning acidity. The finish is long and refined. This will need at least 5 years in the cellar and live for much longer, but boy, will this be great!
94p   (tasted 2014/06)




2006 Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs
The two year older version has a richer, fuller nose with notes of almond paste, lemon cream, melted butter and dried tropical fruit. A creamy feeling. A fine nose.
The taste is creamy, buttery and rich with notes of sweet yellow fruit, lemon cream and almond paste. A good acidity. Not as energetic as the 2008, more ready for prime time drinking, and I wouldn´t mind drinking this with a dish with seared scallops with a Jerusalem artichoke purée - yummy!
90p   (tasted 2014/06)

NV Rosé Terroirs
A young, seedy, cool nose with notes of red currants, dried flowers, warm grass and a touch metallic. Somewhat anonymous. Cleanly made but I think it lacks charm and energy.
The taste is young, tight and a bit foursquare with notes of red currants, unripe yellow pears, stale nuts and dry earth. As on the nose, agreeable on the palate but it doesn´t sing. Maybe time will tell. For a rosé an usual blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir.
82p   (tasted 2014/06) 


2009 Premier Cru Blanc de Noir
Now we turned our attentions to Lenoble´s pure Pinot Noir wines. The 2009 has a rich, complex, deep nose with notes of wild strawberries, asian spices, candle grease and moist undergrowth. A lovely floral scent. This is young but showing lots of potential.
The taste is young, creamy and concentrated with notes of red currants, dried strawberries, warm tiles and dark earth. A very fine acidity. Long, long finish. This is a great Pinot in the making.
93p   (tasted 2014/06)


2006 Premier Cru Blanc de Noir
The three year older Pinot is equally good but another creature altogether. The nose is deeper, darker and sweeter with lovely notes of spicy raspberries, dark chocolate fudge, warm tiles and warm earth. Very, very good. Ripe and almost ready.
The taste is broadshouldered and deep with racy raspberry fruit and notes of earth, spices and a hint of chocolate. A very good acidity. Long and balanced and with a fine purity. Of course young, but I could drink this any day of the week.
92p   (tasted 2014/06)

2006 Cuvée Gentilhomme Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs
This Grand Cru Cuvée has a stunningly pure, racy nose with notes of acacia flowers, lemon fudge, hazel nuts and freshly washed clothes drying in the wind. Depth, grace and focus in a glass. This is really fine.
The taste is cool, elegant and pure with a old vine rigor and lovely notes of yellow pears, lemon cream, dry fudge and summer flowers. The acidity cuts through everything. Long, long and utterly gorgeous. I would love to drink this one in, say, 6-8 years time.
95p   (tasted 2014/06)



NV Cuvée Les Aventures Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs
Well, well, things just keeps getting better and better. At first I thought that the Gentilhomme had the upper hand but when they developed in the glass this cuvée won me over. This Puligny look a like has a impressive nose with notes of yellow apples, pan fried nuts, cold butter, almond cookies and a hint of ginger. Deep and complex. Gorgeous!
The taste is young, tight and pure with notes of lemon cream, almond paste, butter cup flowers and assorted nuts. The finish is long, refined and focused. This cuvée is a blend of vintages 2002 and 2006. Still young, this beauty could be savoured now but wait 5+ years for the real reward.
96p   (tasted 2014/06)

NV Cuvée Riche Demi Sec
I have never developed any foundness for these demi sec Champagnes, and this was no exception from the rule. The nose is medium deep, somewhat anonymous with notes of sweet/sour lemons, stale cookies, white chocolate and dried flowers. It doesn´t sing for me, in any key.
The taste is big and slightly off dry with notes of ripe yellow apples, butter cookies and some earthy notes. The finish is medium long and it ends, again, anonymously. The blend is the same as the Brut Nature, only with a dosage of 32 g/lit. There is nothing faulty with it, it just doesn´t get me going, in any direction.
82p   (tasted 2014/06)


Now, how to get hold of one of the 1964 magnums that Anne mentioned the estate has...? :-)

Tuesday 24 June 2014

Drinking Tonight - 1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Moillard-Grivot

My stock of 98 Châteauneuf´s is coming to an end, only a few bottles are left. I thought that this one could work well with some entrecote with a potatoe purée and a red wine sauce. It did.

1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Moillard-Grivot
A open, mature, round nose with notes of red plums, boiled root vegetables, dried raspberries, warm spices and some dog fur for complexity... Fully mature on the nose. Holds well in the glass all night long and even evolves with some bonfire and tobacco scents. Very good.
The taste is big, warm and friendly with notes of dried rasberries, bay leaves, rosehips and pipe tobacco. A medium long finish with soft tannins and a good warmth. In a perfect drinking stage, but I would finish any remaining bottles in the next 3-5 years.
86p   (tasted 2014/06)


Earlier tasting notes of 1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape here:
http://barolista.blogspot.se/2013/09/two-1998-chateauneuf-du-pape.html
http://barolista.blogspot.se/2013/12/two-1998-chateauneuf-du-pape.html
http://barolista.blogspot.se/2014/02/two-times-1998-chateauneuf-du-pape.html
http://barolista.blogspot.se/2014/04/two-more-1998-chateauneuf-du-pape.html

Midsummer Wines

We have spent some days in the middle of Sweden, deep into the woods, no internet connection, no comforts of the modern society (think bathroom...), just me and my better half, and we have had a tranquil time. It was long ago I have felt so relaxed.
Of course I brought some bottles of wine into the heart of darkness.

2012 Cartology, Alheit Vineyards
This blend of 86% Chenin Blanc and 14% Semillon has a big, focused, deep nose with notes of ripe peaches, grilled lemons, pickled ginger and expensive soap. And that soapy note keeps evolving, and in the end it is a bit too much for my liking. A very creamy nose. Good quality.
The taste is big and broad with notes of overripe peaches, grilled lemons, a touch of mint and lots of soap/moisturizer. A bit oily in the finish. Good acidity though. Again, this is a good quality wine but from time to time it feels like drinking sun screen and that´s not really my cup of tea.
85p   (tasted 2014/06)



2013 Côtes du Rhone Reserve Rosé, Les Dauphins
A tasting sample from Primewinegroup.
This fresh. light rosé is made from 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Cinsault. It has a cool, fine nose with notes of pomegranate, wild strawberries,, rose petals and gravel. Very nice. Some herbs as well. On the light side but very fine.
The taste is young, cool and dry with notes of not yet ripe red apples, dried raspberries, gravel and dried herbs. A good acidity and a medium long finish. Very nice. This is a bargain for 9 Euro.
87p   (tasted 2014/06)

1999 Brunello di Montalcino Il Paradiso, di Manfredi
This beauty offers up a deep, complex nose that just have developed some mature notes. Lovely aromas of crushed black cherries, sweet licorice, rosemary, violets and boiled beets rises from the glass. A very fine warmth. This is deeply hedonistic yet structured and concentrated.
The taste is big, intense and warm with notes of sweet red and black cherries, violet pastilles, rose water, gravel and a touch of dark chocolate. A long, impressive finish with finely tuned tannins. The finish ends dry and salivating, leaving the palate wanting another sip. Starting to mature, this is ready for prime time drinking for the upcoming 10+ years.
94p   (tasted 2014/06)



1995 Brunello di Montalcino Pian delle Vigne, Antinori
A deep, mature, round nose oozes up from the glass with notes of pipe tobacco, sweet black cherries, fried rosemary, sandel wood and moist undergrowth. A fine warmth to the fruit. Dark, ripe and fine.
The taste is big, steady and warm with notes of chocolate covered cherries, licorice, rosemary, rosehips and hot gravel. The finish is long, warm and yummy. Round, sweet tannins. This is, from this bottle anyway, fully mature but should hold for another 5+ years.
91p   (tasted 2014/06)

Wednesday 18 June 2014

Six Bottles Of Champagne To Close The Tasting Season

The annual closing of our tasting season in our tasting group is always with Champagne. This year it was M that poured us 6 bottles.
All wines tasted double blind.

While M was pouring the Champagnes we were presented with a pre wine.
1996 Millesimato, Rotari
This was bottle 158 out of 2400 made. This is made out of 85% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Noir. It has a cool, light, nice nose with notes of lemon peel, sage, rubber and a touch of smoke. Withdrawn. Hard to get a grip on it on the nose.
The taste is cool, dry and a bit foursquare with some lemon and lime fruit and notes of not yet ripe melon, gravel and some smoke. A bit grapefruity in the finish. It is definitely a ok wine but it lacks charm.
80p   (tasted 2014/06)


The we faced six glasses of bubbly and this line up was a treat!
2004 Divine, Leclerc Briant
The youngest Divine is very elegant, still young with fine notes of red apples, fennel seeds, freshly baked bread and some moist earth. A high, fine nose. Very, very good.
The taste is young, elegant and a bit restrained with notes of lemon, chalk, unripe red apples and a touch of ginger. Refreshing. The finish is medium long and ends dry. Very promising, this needs 5+ years in the cellar.
91p   (tasted 2014/06)


1996 Divine, Leclerc Briant
The 8 year older version has a compressed nose with notes of yellow and red apples, bread crumbs, cap gun smoke and a overripe melon scent. A bit ungainly.
The taste is somewhat mature, tight and good with notes of tarte tatin made with yellow apples, vanilla pods, crushed rocks and grapefruit. A good acidity. This is all over the place, both on the nose and in the mouth. Very good but not in the league of the other Divine´s.
87p   (tasted 2014/06)


1995 Divine, Leclerc Briant
This beauty offers up aromas of sweet yellow apples, lemon fudge, hot grass, sea shells fried in butter and a bit of detergent - very complex and fine. Some maturity but this has a long way to go. Just lovely.
The taste is tight, complex and still rather young with notes of yellow apples, grapefruit, candied lime peels and cap gun smoke. The finish is very long with a refreshing acidity. Ends with a lovely dry twist. This is good! And still young!
93p   (tasted 2014/06)


1990 Divine, Leclerc Briant
As good as the 95 is, it is no match to this almost perfect specimen. The nose is that kind where you get lost in space and time when your nose is buried deep in the glass. Wonderful aromas of yellow apple tarte tatin, cold coffee, hand cream, fudge and smoke oozes up from the glass. There is a nerve in the nose that is fantastic. Perfectly mature.
The taste is pure, focused and mature with notes of sweet yellow apples, almond paste, cap gun smoke and buckthorn. A long, long finish with just the right amount of acidity to keep it fresh. Could be cellared for another 5+ years but it won´t get any better. Gorgeous!
96p   (tasted 2014/06)

1990 Brut, Andre Clouet
The 90 from Clouet is more mature than the Divine and much more than the youngster below. But that is irrelevant, since this is a mouthful of fine, mature Champagne. The nose is big and broad with notes of creamy yellow fruit, dried flowers, dry fudge and a touch of coconut. It reminds me of a mature white Burgundy. Very, very good.
The taste appears a bit younger with notes of red apples, biscuits, fudge, dried flowers and pickled ginger. A long, fresh finish with a good acidity. This is fully mature but I wouldn´t be afraid to hold on to some bottles for another 3+ years.
90p   (tasted 2014/06)



1990 Cuvée St Legrand Blanc de Blancs, RL Legras
When we were forced to guess on the theme for the tasting I thought that the first five bottles had something in common, and guessed it could be the same wine, in vintage order, And since the 90 Clouet seemed more mature than the 90 Divine it seemed logical.
But this one? I thought that we had moved back, or forward, to 2002... This defines logic in its youth. We tasted the 1996 a few years back, and that seemed more mature then than how the 90 performed on this evening.
A young, fresh, intense nose with notes of chalk, young green apples, cigarette smoke, melon and butter biscuits. Very stony and lots of mineral after a while. Very fresh.
The taste is young, cool and tight with notes of butter cup flowers, green apples, chalk and grapefruit peel. Very long and fresh. But not with the intensity of the 96. Maybe time will tell...
90p   (tasted 2014/06)

Monday 16 June 2014

Drinking Tonight - 1997 Solesine, Bellavista

This mature Lombardy wine went perfectly with a chicken lasagna tonight. The cepage is 85% Caberbet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. 
I payed 24 Euro for it a couple of weeks ago, wine hunting is fun! :-)

1997 Solesine, Bellavista
A deep, mature, strong nose with lovely notes of plums, black currants, rosehips, graphite and some barnyardy aromas. A fine warmth. With air there is a whiff of green peppers, but that just adds to the over all picture of a complex wine in a perfect state of maturity.
The taste is broad, warm and structured with notes of ripe black currants, rosehips, cedar and gravel from a Tuscan dirt road. A long, warm finish with soft tannins. This is drinking perfect on this night. Being the first Solesine I have ever tasted, I would love to taste more vintages of it.
91p   (tasted 2014/06)


Thursday 12 June 2014

The Glass Battle - Riedel vs Zalto - Round Three

It was to be a Spätburgunder that Riedel and Zalto would have battled over in this third round. But, alas, the bottle was corked.
I didn't have another suitable bottle of Spätburgunder but came to think that I also drink a lot of Chardonnay out of this glasses, so with some twists with the corkscrew - ta da - a half bottle of Corton-Charlemagne is opened and poured in the glasses.

2009 Corton-Charlemagne, Vincent Girardin - in Riedel Vinum Montrachet
Instead of the Vinum Pinot Noir I have this glass in the Vinum series that is deigned for Chardonnay which is named Montrachet no less.
Out of this glass a fine, elegant, somewhat restrained nose arises, with notes of lemon peel, lemon cream and hard lemon candy - a lot of lemon! There is also some petit scents of cap gun smoke, cold butter and star fruit. Fine but it doesn´t really show off.
The taste is young, dense and concentrated with notes of grilled lemons, lemon fudge, melted butter and some caramel. There is more action in the taste. A fine acidity in the long, intense finish, Very, very good. Good as it shows in this glass, it is not the winner, read on.

2009 Corton-Charlemagne, Vincent Girardin - in Riedel Vinum Extreme
The Extreme glass takes the nose and flavour of the Montrachet glass and turns the level up. There is more of everything - sweet fruit, warmth, almost some burned butter and even a touch of alcohol in the long finish. Somewhat burly. The least good glass in this round.

2009 Corton-Charlemagne, Vincent Girardin - in Zalto Burgundy
Yet again, the Zalto can take place on top of the podium. The nose is more deep and intense than out of the Montrachet glass, yet with a refinement that isn´t there in that glass. A lovely spiciness to the lemon fruit. This is a great Corton-Charlemagne sniff!
The taste is equally stunning with a creamy concentration, focus and a balance that lacks in the other glasses, even though the Montrachet glass is very good. There is a gorgeous salty note in the middle of the taste. A clear winner. I have to get me some more Zalto glasses!
94p   (tasted 2014/06)

 

The Average Vintage In My Cellar Is...?

It seems that I have got too much time on my hands... I got to think about what the average vintage in my cellar would be?
So I did the math. The result is based on all vintages without regard to how many bottles I have of each.
For example, if there is one bottle of 1900 and five bottles of 2000, the average vintage is 1950. Got it? :-)

Well then...?

The average vintage is......












Wait for it.....











1984

Here illustrated by Moulin Touchais, the only wine I have from that vintage. After drinking all 64´s this year, the average vintage will be much younger...

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Then & Now - 1979 & 2009 Château d´Angludet

It has passed some time since the last then & now post. But I was yearning for some nice Bordeaux and found myself opening these bottles.
I have always had a soft spot for Angludet - 1985, 1989 and 1995 comes to mind as great drinking Bordeaux for many years.
Info here.

1979 Chateau d'Angludet
Right out of the bottle it seems a bit fragile but it soon opens up and become a gentle, mature old school Bordeaux which displays a nose full of red currants, tobacco, cold coffee, graphite and some fresh stables. A fine note of salted meat. Develops all night until the last drop. Very fine without being overly complex. 
The taste is mature, cool and a touch lean with notes of red and black currants, dried plums, old leather, coffee and autumn leaves. Very satisfying. A fine dried up sweetness. This would perfectly fit the Broadbent expression of a "luncheon Claret".
88p   (tasted 2014/06)
 

 
2009 Chateau Angludet
In the thirty year younger version they have dropped the d' in the name. But that's not the only modernization. If I gotten this blind I would have been hard pressed to put this in Bordeaux. A big, extracted, hot nose with notes of dark plums, black currant jam, dark chocolate, sweet licorice and vanilla oak aromas. Australia? South Africa? Chile? What! Bordeaux! Really? Ok, then...
The taste is - thankfully - much better. It is more restrained and the fruit doesn't appear so sweet and jammy. The black currants are only just ripe, the chocolate and vanilla just plays in the background and the young tannins takes a firm grip in the end of the finish. There is even a red currant acidity in the end. The taste is very good but the nose is too sweet, at least for now. Will it become a classic - in my taste - Bordeaux? Well, lets see if I can save a bottle for 25 years and find out...
82p   (tasted 2014/06)

 

Monday 9 June 2014

One Riesling, One Chardonnay & One Mystery


2011 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett, Willi Schaefer
A young, lively nose with notes of pears, lemon candy, grass and sweet minerals. A hint of banana peel after a while. Very good.
The taste is young, cool and fresh with notes of pears, melon, gravel and candied lemon peels. A medium long, balanced finish. A bit of earth. And a nice acidity for structure. Very good.
87p   (tasted 2014/05)



NV The Experimental Wine, Artisan
This fun wine I tasted courtesy of David - thanks! But I didn´t get the cepage of this one, so this is the mystery...
Anyway, it has a young, salivating nose with notes of ripe yellow pears, ginger, fresh herbs and some interesting rubber scents. Deep and fine. A touch of oak also. Complex.
The taste is young and juicy with notes of pears, lime, grass and pickled ginger. A good, although not that high acidity. A long, fine finish. Very, very good.
90p   (tasted 2014/05)

2012 Nine Yards Chardonnay, Jordan
The 2009 vintage of this South African Chardonnay was a real stunner and the 2012 is not far behind. The nose is big, seductive and fat with notes of peaches, cold butter, lemon cream, summer flowers and cap gun smoke. Very, very fine. Deep and powerful. Reminds me of a bigger, yet balanced Puligny-Montrachet.
The taste is young, juicy and hedonistic with notes of lemon cream, melon, cap gun smoke and a touch of passion fruit. A fine acidity to match the intense fruit. A sweet minerality. Just lovely!
92p   (tasted 2014/05)


Friday 6 June 2014

Live From Sweden Rock Festival - 2008 Brunello di Montalcino, Ciacci Piccolomini d´Aragona

Yet again, we are at Sweden Rock Festival. Yesterday was a superb day, with Cloven Hoof performing the best concert, although Eyes Wide Open, Masterplan and Uriah Heep also performed great.

In between the IPA´s and malt whisky, I have to get me some wine! I opened this at the hotel room before hitting the festival arena.

2008 Brunello di Montalcino, Ciacci Piccolomini d´Aragona
This youngster offers up aromas of red and black cherries, violets, gravel, veal meat and some new leather. A medium intensity and with air a fine scent of dried flowers rises from the glass. Very good.
The taste is young, taut and has more structure and depth than the nose. Fine notes of red cherries, rosehips, warm gravel and rosemary. Finely graded tannins in the long finish. A very fine mouth feel. Give this 5+ years in the cellar. Has a fine potential.
90p   (tasted 2014/05)


Wednesday 4 June 2014

The Glass Battle - Riedel vs Zalto - Round Two

In Round One Zalto took an easy victory with the young New Zealand Pinot. Riedel have preparing themselves for round two and are eager to give it their best.
This time it is a mature Burgundy they will battle with. From the greatest vintage ever no less!

1964 Beaune Cuvée Estienne Hospices de Beaune, Moillard Grivot - in Riedel Vinum
A deep, complex, gorgeously mature nose with notes of (over)ripe raspberries, beet juice, chewing tobacco, Christmas spices, molasses and moist forest floor. Very, very fine. Boiled root vegetables after a while. Opened a bit light but gains depth and concentration over the evening. This is good!
The taste is round and soft yet packing a punch, with notes of dried strawberries, red beets, rosehips, dry tobacco and mushrooms. A very good acidity. A long, initially sweet finish that ends with a dry twist. This is perfectly mature. There is something deeply hedonistic and primal with a perfectly aged Burgundy. Great stuff!
As you can see below the Vinum glass showed its class and was the best one for this aged Burgundy.
94p   (tasted 2014/05)

1964 Beaune Cuvée Estienne Hospices de Beaune, Moillard Grivot - in Riedel Vinum Extreme
The Extreme glass shows almost en identical nose as the Vinum, albeit a tad lighter in structure. The taste is also almost identical but it ends a bit dryer in this glass. But very, very good in this one also.


1964 Beaune Cuvée Estienne Hospices de Beaune, Moillard Grivot - in Zalto Burgundy
Well, the Zalto isn´t suitable for aged Burgundy, not according to this single test anyway. The nose is definitely more monolithic, the sweetness found in the Vinum glass doesn´t show itself at all. I find the taste in the Zalto more cooked and the balance between the fruit and acidity isn´t there. This is way behind the Riedel glasses.

Riedel came back and took the first place in round two, with both glasses outshining the Zalto. Will Zalto bounce back in the final round three? Stay tuned! :-)