Maury, Banyuls and Rivesaltes 1933-1976

1976 Domaine du Duy Banyuls
Ruby. Dried fruits, figs and leather nose. Fresh acidity, figs, fried fruits palate, leaner, not the most complex, good length. 86

1974 Casenobre Rivesaltes
Pale amber. Nuts, apricots, leaner nose. Fresh acidity, rounded, easier, dryish finish. 85

1971 Sainte Lucie Rivesaltes
Pale amber. Nuts, caramels and dried fruits nose. Fresh acidity, lively, leaner, focused but thin, lacks fruit. 86

1969 Riveyrac Rivesaltes
Amber with garnet core. Alcohol and dried fruits nose. Fresh aciditu, leaner, light fruit, bit thin, 85

1962 Pietri Geraud Banyuls
Ruby, orange rim. Light nose, dark fruits, easy going. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, lacks fruit and intensity, hollow. 82

1957 Château Prieuré du Monastirdel Camp Rivesaltes
Amber, ruby core. Figs, anise, minerals, scented nose. Fresh acidity, lively, fresh if leaner, dried fruits, bit alcoholic finish. 87

1954 Domaine la Sobilane Rivesaltes
Pale amber. Nuts, minerals, dried apricots nose. Fresh acidity, lively, rounded, thinner palate but has fruit. Dried apricots and fruits finish. 89

1950 Château Prieuré du Monastirdel Camp Rivesaltes
Amber, ruby core. Dried apricots, nuts, raisins, quite lovely nose. Fresh acidity, lively, red and dried fruits, bitt hin finish but sweet and elegant. 89

1946 Château Sisqueille Rivesaltes
Cloudy amber. Caramel, ffigs and dried fruits, raisins nose. Fresh acidity, lively, nuts, minerals, figs again, leaner finish, nutty. 89

1939 Domaine Pla del Fount Maury
Brown, orange rim. Rich, nuts, ripe, alcohol up front and figs nose. Fresh aciditu, creamy texture, ripe and rich, but dries off in the finish. 91

1933 Château Mossé Rivesaltes
Light amber. Intense, figs and dried apricots nose, nuts. Fresh acidity, lively, minerals, nuts, dried fruits, detailed, elegant, rounded, long. 94

40 years of Dom Perignon, pizza wines!

There are few points to the ones who guess who's hiding behind the bottle.....

Pizza wine is a phenomenon occuring in a few select addresses, late at night, when a tasting has been going on for such length, that everyone starts to be hungry again. Pizza, as everyone knows, should be had with Italian wines, even if the level of the wines is somewhat unusual.

1955 Giacomo Conterno Barolo;
Pale garnet, orange rim, some sediments. Some anise, touch of tar, lean feel, red berries with a little air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, more fruit, rougher and sligtly edgy texture. 89

1964 Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva;
Bottle 5121. Stunning pale red, brick rim. Almond essence, VA, roses, perfumed, pear compott. Fresh acidity, dry tannins, lean. My last bottle was far better, and as always with Biondi, there can be huge bottle variations. 78

1964 Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva;
As I saw that I hadn-t put out a tasting note on the last bottle, it's comming here. This bottle was had about a year back. Bright pale red, sediments. Roses, licorice, cherry stones, redcurrants, leather, quite intense and complex, layered. Palate never opens up fully, fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant balance, doesn't quite live up to perfect bottles of the 75, long length. 93


1974 Roagna Giovanni & Alfredo, Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Pajé;
Pale ruby, brick rim, leather and anise, high acidity, ripe tannins, dry and dusty palate, metallic, tired.

1953-1955 Gaja Barbaresco Veccia Riserva;
Bottle 110568. Gaja started putting the vintage on the bottle only in 1956. Some older bottles may have hand written vintage. This had medallions from 1953 on the label, so the vintage is narrowed down to somewhere between 1953 and 55 according to Rune Rake. Brown, red tint. Lots of sediments. Some hints of aromas here and ther, to old. That was the initial tasting note. After 20-30 minutes, redcurrants and hint of roses, still lean and sharp on the palate.

1954 Chateau Gilette, Bordeaux Superiore;

Deep golden, greenish hue. Raisins, prunes, hint of honey and camphor, minerals and lemon, very complex, exceptional development in the glass. Bone dry, ok acidity, not quite enough body, slightly bitter finish, more of a quriosity than really good, promises a lot on the nose, but can't keep up. 82