5 from Ogier

2010 Ogier Châteauneuf du Pape Clos de l'Oratoire blanc:

Pale golden. Rich nose, ripe, some wax and grapefruit. Fresh acidity for white Ch.neuf, straightforward texture and structure, balanced, if a bit warm. Good length. 87

2009 Ogier Crôzes-Hermitage Comte de Raybois:

Deep ruby. Some herbal notes over blackberries, game and some spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruit forward, good length. 85

2010 Ogier Saint Joseph Duc de Caderousse:

Ruby. Berries, raspberries and redcurrants. Some stable and barnyard behind. Nettles. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, fairly refreshing palate but seems a bit herbal and unripe somehow. 86

2010 Ogier Châteauneuf- du Pape Bois de Pied Redal:

Deep ruby. Rich and intense nose without being very complex. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fairly easygoing, a bit alcoholic finish. 86

2010 Ogier Châteauneuf- du Pape Clos de l'Oratoire Rouge:

Deep ruby. Scented and up front, again without being particularly complex. Some violets and licorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, sweet and easygoing fruit, again alcoholic finish. 87

3 from Fenocchio

2011 Fenocchio Langhe Rosso Terraverga:

Bright pale ruby. Scented cherries, licorice, and tar. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, refreshing if a bit lean for the structure. A bit on stilts. 85

2006 Fenocchio Barolo Villero

Bright ruby, garnet rim. Scented tar and roses, quite intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, intense and layered, but lacks real complexity. Good length. 87

2007 Fenocchio Barolo Cannubi:

Bright ruby, garnet rim. Scented, violets, tar and roses nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, feels more together than the Villero. Layed and nuanced. 89

Four from Marques de Vitoria

A drinkable BiB!

Marques de Vitoria 1861 is a forward, easygoing and refreshingly kind on the oak Rioja. Same grapematerial as in the Crianza, but less oak, which is normally a very good thing in Rioja. But the BiB packaging makes wine less fresh and drowned in SO2. This would probably be quite nice in bottle. 81

2008 Marques de Vitoria Crianza:

Ruby. Spicy blueberries and licorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, easy and forward, good length. 82

2005 Marques de Vitoria Reserva:

Ruby. Spicy, floral and up front oak. Licorice and blueberries behind. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruit driven. Oak ever present. 84

2004 Marques de Vitoria Gran Reserva:

Deep ruby, garnet rim. Rich, dark fruit and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, oak holdes things here as well. 85

99 Borgogno Barolo Classico Riserva

1999 Borgogno Barolo Classico Riserva:
Pale ruby, garnet rim. Took time to get nuanced, tar, roses, licorice and cherries. Fresh and high acidity, mountain of ripe tannins, lean body with quite intense fruit. Good length. 90

Lovely 2001 Certan de May and more

2011 Eifel Pfeiffer EP Kabinett:

Pale lemon yellow. Light nose of apples and a touch of minerals. Fresh acidity, soft, simple but balanced. 78

2011 Weinreich Riesling Trocken:

Pale lemon yellow. Fresh lemons, apples and minerals. Fresh acidity, lively minerality, almost smoky, apply finish. 89

2011 Weinreich Riesling Hasensprung:

Pale lemon yellow. Fresh lemons, yellow apples and minerals. Fatter notes. Fresh acidity, bitter apples and grapefruit, long finish. 91

2011 Zérate Albarino:

Pale lemon yellow. Ripe yellow plums, and honey melon. Fresh acidity, fruity palate, refreshing, quite mouthwatering. 86

2002 Domaine des Herbauges Muscat de GrandLieu sur Lie Le Légendaire:

Pale golden. Wax, honey, almost sweaty. Freshish acidity, minerals and butter, almost salty. Long. 86

2010 Domaine Courbis Saint Joseph:

Deep ruby, pink rim. Peppery blackberries, almost scented. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, elegant palate, good length. 86

2009 Maison Hecht & Bannier H&B Bandol:

Deep ruby, pink rim. Sweet nose of blackberries, ever so slightly scented and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, somewhat sweet, good length. 85

2004 Château Sociando Mallet:

Decanted for an hour. Ruby, garnet rim. Scented, blueberries and fine cassis. Slightly spicy. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, quite lovely now but will improve with another two years or so. Needs a little bit more polishing in the cellar. Good length. 

2009 Château Moulin Saint Georges:

One and a half hour of decanting. Deep ruby, garnet rim. Plums and blueberries, like an en primeur sample still. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, very shut down and needs hours of decanting or ten years plus in the cellar. Very long finish. 91

2001 Château Certan de May:

Decanted for about hald an hour. Ruby with garnet rim. Seductive, scented nose of blueberries, touch of cherries, leather and chocolate. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lovely palate, balanced, drinking beautifully now, can keep. Long. 92

2010 Lion de Suduiraut:

The second, second wine. Pale gold. Fresh fruity nose, apples and light minerals. Lovely rounded palate, fresh acidity, elegant body, refreshing and good length. 88 This is a more fruit-driven, "lighter" and more mineraly and refreshing style than Castelneau.

DRC, the complete works: 2007

2007 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet:
Bttl 01059 Pale golden. Rich nose. Intense and very nuanced and layered. Nuts, butter, citrus, minerals, flint, vanilla, floral, an incredible spectrum of aromas. Fresh acidity, lively, elegant and superb balance. Layered, again intense but also transparent, a rare mix. Gorgeous texture and structure, mouthwatering, exceptional balance. Extremelly long. 99

2007 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Échézeaux:
Bttl 04217 Pale ruby. Slightly of autumnal forest flor and wet leaves all ready. Pure strawberries and a floral touch. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, pure fruit, slightly sweet and sour, refreshing and incredible length. 95

2007 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Échézeaux:
(This bottle was not in the same tasting but tasted just a week before). Bright garnet. Some plums, figs and slightly unripe strawberries and herbal touch. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, slightly grippy tannins, a bit square and needs time. Long. 91

2007 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Saint-Vivant:
Bttl 03959 Bright garnet. Slightly earthy, touch of hung meat, vanilla, and cinamon. Layered and complex and a highly seductive nose, subdued strawberries. Very refined and nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, harmonious. Gorgeous texture and structure, mouthwatering. Superb even now with air, shorter than the É of this vintage, but more complex. 95

2007 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti:
Bttl 01088 Bright garnet. So incredibly transparent, nuanced, layered, like sheets of the finest silk, very tender, yet powerful. The silk wraps around and hides every other sensation than this wine, in such a delicate way. Subdued yet flamboyant. Etheral. Spices, flowergarden, dried and fresh fruits, exotic, wide and focused, pure as none. Fresh acidity, few and ripe tannins, almost watery palate in it's uttermost transparent state, playful like a shy child playing in the corner, you barely notice it, but you hear it's lafter. Elusive like a beautiful butterfly in summer. And all of this was written during the aftertaste of the first sip alone. This is magic, and I hope I can taste it once more. It gives length a new meaning. Most will not be impressed by it, I'm sure, but like something transparent and tender from Mozart, take away one note, and it would not be a masterpiece. 100

2007 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg:
Bttl 03905 Bright pale ruby. Transparent if somewhat richer nose. Minerals beneath, a whiff of wild flowers behind strawberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, intense and playful texture and structure. Lively and up front after RC, even if a tender wine. Nuanced and long. 96

2007 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche:
Bttl 04783 Bright garnet. Scented, more masculin and powerful, and everything much more in a ball at this stage. Fresh acidity, playful, ripe tannins, very elegant even if it feels like a brut next to RC. Very transparent and layered, easier to decypher, one flavour neatly packed in it's own shelf, and it leaves it to you to find as many shelves as possible. Very long. 97

31st of December 2012

Le Palais des Thés Thédes Lords:

A very fragrant and citrusy and somewhat light on it's feet Earl Grey.

Chaplon Meng Ding Huang Ya (yellow tea):

A somewhat nutty and grassy and ever so slightly floral yellow tea. Rounded and very elegant, superb. 

1863 Barbeito Boal:

Amber with yellowish rim. Intense nose of layered dried fruits. Nuts, almonds, apricots, very complex. Fresh and lively acidity, balanced and intense, extremelly long finish. 95

2002 Pol Roger

Pale lemon yellow, small bubbles. Citrus and lemons, some yeast and green apples behind. Tighter than last bottle. Fresh acidity, elegant mousse, balanced and lovely, almost frail structure. Long. 92

2007 Lagunilla Reserva:

Bright ruby. Elegant blueberries and licorice nose. Not that intense, nuanced, almost Burgundian. Fresh acidity, rounded tannins, a bit oaky on the palate, ruining seemingly elegant fruit. 82

1962 Château Gruaud- Larose:

Excellent fill one cm below cork. Ruby with broad garnet rim with a hint of orange. Figs, anise, leather and floral notes. Scented, nuanced and layered, never intense. Transparent and light on it's feet. Fresh acidity, tannins more or less gone, refreshing, adding fruit and body with air. A Bordeaux for Burgundy lovers. Very long. 94

Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle:

This bottle have rested in my cellar for about five years. Pale golden with tiny bubbles. Ever so slightly toffee behind apples, elegant minerals, some butter and yeast. Fresh acidity, lively and very elegant mousse. Refined and layered, nuanced. Very long finish. 93+

30th of December

2011 Kloster Eberbach Riesling Kabinett:
Watery lemon yellow. Easygoing apples and some citrus notes. Fresh acidity, elegant and nicely balanced, good length. 81

2007 Niepoort LBV:
Deep ruby. Intense nose of cherries, blackberries, plums, some spices and vanilla. Layered and scented. Fresh acidity, lively, ripe tannins, lovely balance, intense and very long. 94

28th of December

Le Palais des Thés Blue of London:

A floral and subdued Bergamott and citrus Earl Grey. Elegant. 

Le Palais des Thés Thé des Moines:

A version on the 'Tibetan tea' with more subdued floral notes, and something slightly vanilla and lemon crust about it. Elegant. 

2007 Vincent Girardin Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly:

Pale straw yellow. Refreshing and vibrant nose of citrus, apples and a mineraly touch. Fresh acidity, elegant body and texture, good, refreshing length. 87

2010 Von Hövel Scharzhofberg Riesling Kabinett:

Pale straw yellow. Apples and refined minerals with a slight touch of tropical fruits. Fresh and lively acidity, transparent and light, elegant and classic, long. 89

2005 Domaine Laroche Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume Vielles Vignes:

Pale golden. Buttery apples and some vanilla almost overshadowing flinty minerals. Fresh acidity, rich Fourchaume, balanced and a bit up front. But also rounded. Good length. 88

2007 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino:

Ruby. Vanilla, some oak notes and cherries. Straight forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, nice balance and fruit, good length. 89

27th of December

Kusmi Anastasia:

An intensely citrusy Earl Grey that is a little discerning on it's brewing temperatures. Can easily become a bit bitter.

Ji gong Buddha Tea:

A nutty, ever so slightly woody and herbal tea. Transparent and tender and superb balance, very long indeed. 

2009 Clos Floridene blanc:

Straw yellow. Honey over some citrus and minerals. A bit heavier than last bottle about a year back. Fresh acidity, almost creamy texture, mineraly and very ripe lemons. Evolving nicely, long. 90

2005 Château Musar:

Deep ruby. Fruity and full nose for Musar but cherries, anise, somewhat scented and, well, VA is wrong, but towards, a touch. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fuller body, lovely balance. Slightly sweet and sour as usual. Long. 93

2007 Montecillo Reserva:

Ruby. Vanilla and a bit lean blueberries and licorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lean fruit, slightly dry, oak shines through, short oaky finish. 85

26th of December

Fortnum & Mason Old Silver Tea Pot:

Blend from the 1914 Christmas Catalogue of Ceylon and Darjeeling. An elegant and refined black tea that have become a favorite lately when something smooth is required. 

Fortnum & Mason Empire Blend Tea:

Another historic tea, blended from Ceylon, India and East Africa teas. First presented in 1934 to Queen Mary by the Empire Tea Growers. A floral, somewhat herbal and quite intense black tea, that is also smooth. But can easily become tannic and bitter if brewed to long and/ or hot. 

2007 Quinta do Noval Berry's Own Selection LBV:

Deep ruby. Sweet and fruity nose, ripe, nuanced and layered. Fresh acidity, leaner body than nose, refshing, good length. 89

1999 Château Saint- Pierre:

Ruby, garnet rim. Closed first. After twenty minutes a scented cassis and blueberries with a touch of anise and violets. Lovely nose. But there are some barrel notes in the mix that is a bit anoying. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, and again, oak is a bit too aparent. Lovely fruit, and hidden. Luckily, it only took another twenty minutes of air. A lovely Claret. 90

25th of December

Mariage Frères Saint James O.P Ceylon:

Elegant Ceylon, somewhat floral and herbal and subdued fermentation notes.

Kusmi Gunpowder:

Slightly scented behind herbs and grass, quite elegant and nuanced Gunpowder.

1969 Mas Amiel:

Pale garnet with amber hue and orange rim. Raisins, figs, touch of nuts, touch floral, touch of many things. Subdued, layered and thorougly nuanced. Fresh and lively acidity, silky texture, seemless with the acidity playing like a piano tune on top of it. Long. 95

Fortnum & Mason Royal Blend:

A somewhat scented and aromatic Assam and Ceylon blend. 

2005 Domaine de la Vougeraie Vougeot Monopole Clos du Prieuré

4008 bottles made. Bright ruby. Youthful of strawberries, ever so slightly earthy and some barrel notes. Fresh acidity, lively, ripe tannins, unripe raspberries, almost acidic. Acidity and barrel seems to fight each other in the somewhat astringent finish while the fruit have left for holiday. Or has it moved out? 84

2001 Harmand-Geoffroy Mazis-Chambertin:

Bright ruby, thin garnet rim. Strawberries and ripe raspberries with a slightly scented touch. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, refreshing and lively, fairly rounded but a touch of oak shines through in the minty finish. Good length. 88

24th of December

Mariage Frères Breakfast Earl Grey:

Elegantly scented and somewhat citrusy Earl Grey

Mariage Frères Thé au Tibet:

Floral, subdued, even silky black tea with a touch of orange blossoms. 

2007 Château Doisy Daëne:

Bright golden. Apricots, vanilla, some honey and minerals. Layered. Fresh acidity, rounded and nuanced, refreshing and elegant, rich yet transparent. Long. 93

Broadbent 10 Years Old Malmsey:

Amber with gold/ green rim. Nuts, figs and raisins. Heavy nose. Fresh acidity, sweet, rich, slightly burnt caramel, good length. 87

Harney & Sons Darjeeling:

Some herbs and ever so slightly spicy, fairly easygoing Darjeeling. Rounded.

Taylors of Harrogate Pai Mu Dan:

Light yet intense of grass and floral notes. 

1985 Château Langoa Barton:

In the neck fill. Ruby with garnet rim. Figs, prunes, some cassis, intense, layered and complex nose, seemingly at peak for my palate. Fresh acidity, some tannins still but just to make the framme avrround the fruit, refreshing and elegant, long finish. 93+

1966 Château Léoville Barton:

Low fill, low top shoulder, but good cork. Garnet with brick rim. Licorice, figs and leather. Quite light and more so than last bottle. Fresh acidity, hardly any tannins left, licorice and dried fruit palate with raspberry refreshing finish. Good length. 92

1999 Disznókö Tokaji Aszü 6 Puttonyos Kapi:

Pale amber with yellow green rim. Some nuts, raisins, dried apricots, orange marmalade and elegant honey. Superb nose. Fresh and lively acidity, refreshing, intense, yet light feel. Playful and vigorous, mouthwatering and very long. Way better than I remember it, fruitier, more nuanced and layered. 95

23rd of December

Mariage Frères Earl Grey French Blue:

Floral and elegantly scented Earl Grey.

Mariage Frères Darjeeling Princeton TGFOP:

Herbal and grassy Darjeeling, which quickly gets bitter if brewed to long.

2010 Dönnoff Dellchen Riesling GG

Pale straw yellow. Apples, minerals and some floral notes. Layered. Fresh acidity but balanced and refined for 2010 Riesling. Lemons and apples on the palate, long finish. Refined. 93+

2003 Quinta de la Rosa Berry's own selection Vintage Port:

Deep ruby. Cherries, plums and figs. Intense. Fresh acidity, not that full bodied, but richness of 03 Port and rounded fruit. Good length. 88

Top 50 wines tasted in 2012

Its time for the inevitable. A look back on what the year of 2012 brought to the table. Some wines have been tasted several times this year, some have been tasted earlier, and some for the first time. When I looked through the thousands of tasting notes, it's pretty clear that I'm spoiled rotten. And teher are a staggering amount of excellent wines that are not even here. Some wines are only juice and will outlast me, others at peak or just off it. It's a lot of French wines, but that is also what I taste by far the most of. These are listed as they are now, and some will undoubtedly change place if retasted in the years to come. Every year I say its impossible to top the previous, but this list? I think that would be difficult.....

Top ten wines tasted 2012

1961 Château Ausone (Released from the château 2007)

2001 Château d’Yquem

1832 Barbeito Terrantez

1989 Château Haut-Brion

1900 D’Oliveiras Malvazia

2009 Château Margaux

2009 Château Latour

2007 DRC Romanée-Conti

2004 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne

2007 DRC Montrachet

And the next fourty

1970 Château Latour

1986 Château Lafite Rothschild

2009 Château Petrus

2009 Château Lafite Rothschild 99

1927 Cockburn’s Vintage Port

1967 Château Suduiraut

2005 Dominum Tokaji Essencia

1949 Château Cheval Blanc

1999 Armand Rousseau Chambertin

1928 Château Ausone 95

2008 Armand Rousseau Chambertin

1990 Château Cheval Blanc

2004 Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet

2005 Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze

1989 Château Montrose

2008 Lamy-Pillot Le Montrachet

2009 DRC Romanée-Conti

1986 Château Léoville Las Cases

1986 Château Margaux

1945 Château Cheval Blanc

1982 Château Haut-Brion

1986 Château Haut-Brion

2002 DRC La Tâche

1945 Château Pontet-Canet

2004 Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues- Bâtard- Montrachet

1975 Château Latour 97-98

1998 Armand Rousseau Chambertin

1970 Château Lafite Rothschild

1964 Château Latour

1983 Château Trotanoy

1990 Château Montrose

1985 Sassicaia

1970 Château Léoville Las Cases

1998 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

2003 Château Mouton Rothschild

2004 DRC La Tâche

1995 Château Mouton Rothschild

1963 Fonseca’s Vintage Port

1988 Krug

1945 Clos Fourtet

1976 Château d-Yquem

Mysterious 1999 Yquem

Two mysterious bottles of the 1999 Château d’Yquem was opened last Tuesday. The first was so flat it bordered on water with a touch of sugar. The second bottle tasted like a cheap negociants Sauternes. On Wednesday morning the first bottle was returned to the Monopoly in Norway where they claimed it was excellent. I doubt it could have been, but I retasted mine on Wednesday evening, and it had gained some fruit and had almost some length. It was on a good negociants or petit château level. Thursday it gained more fruit and aftertaste; it was on a Château de Myrat level. On Friday I tasted it yet again, and it had gained, more fruit, almost creamy and apricots and the acidity was back. Long aftertaste and made me think of Guiraud 96. Today, on Saturday morning I took a few sips and it’s even fresher, with apricots, nuts, and some honey and creamier feel. Very fresh acidity and a quite intense palate with a long finish. Not an optimal bottle, but getting close. Very close. A bottle of 1996 was opened next to these on Tuesday and that was perfect and confirmed that these two were far off the mark. I thought it might be modern cork that robs the wine off fruit, but without the TCA off aromas. But whatever was wrong on Tuesday is here no more. Who said wine was a simple topic? If you are an art critic, the Picasso in front of you will never look like something from a nobody now will it?

06 Domaine de Chevalier blanc

2006 Domaine de Chevalier blanc:
Pale lemon yellow. A somewhat richer and fuller nose for DdC blanc, but also typical lemons, minerals and apples with a touch of grapefruit. Quite intense nose. Fresh acidity, full bodied and some nutty and vanilla flavours, almost smoky, before lemons and a more focused aftertaste sets in. Oak is a bit up front both on nose and palate at this stage, so give it a few more years. Very long. 93