Here are my top five.
FIVE: 1959 Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs
A tasting with a group of friends gave me the opportunity to try this wonderful wine. I know that adding some younger wine isn't exactly a fair playing field for all the other wines, but it just tasted so good! Off gold colour, a rich, oxidized nose with baked lemon, toffee, salt and smoke. A little peach sponge cake emerges with ripe citrus and a rye bread element on the palate. With a little 1996 Blanc de Blancs added, it livens everything up, bringing balance and some bready notes. 95pts (with the younger wine added)
FOUR: 2009 Taylor's Vintage Port
The launch of the 2009 vintages from Taylor's Fladgate allowed me the opportunity to try young Taylor's for the first time. The 2009 vintage was exquisite. Balance and beauty, rarely seen in such a
young port. Up front baked meat aromas
with a bit of leather, mint and oriental spice, leading to sweet, jerky
aromas. Polished fruit, quite closed,
with cassis, cherry and a lot of cocoa and tobacco dusted over the top of
it. A stunning wine, young yes, but one
that will become legendary. 96pts
THREE: 1972 Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle
A 'bring a bottle' dinner had this generous donation from a friend, and after anticipating it to be past its best, we were astonished that it was the wine of the night. Really sweet chocolate, lovely fruit and a
little mint and cherry coming through. A
very pretty aroma. The palate is super,
simple fruit, a touch of spice and some earthier elements. There is black pepper on the finish. A beautiful, elegant wine. 97pts
TWO: 1975 Schloss Johannisberg Grunlack Spatlese
A masterclass of wines from this great producer showed two wines that will live with me forever. The first, an 'entry level' wine from a terrible vintage forty years ago demonstrated how good German wine can be even when everything is conspiring against it. The second was this gem, initial Chlorine up front but then beautiful lemon and lime aromas, leading to peach nectar, pork fat and more lemon. A sweetness up front on the nose, with rich honey, lemon marmalade and lime zest. Fresh throughout, despite its age, and a few sherbet notes dusting the charred lime finish. Staggering. 99pts
A masterclass of wines from this great producer showed two wines that will live with me forever. The first, an 'entry level' wine from a terrible vintage forty years ago demonstrated how good German wine can be even when everything is conspiring against it. The second was this gem, initial Chlorine up front but then beautiful lemon and lime aromas, leading to peach nectar, pork fat and more lemon. A sweetness up front on the nose, with rich honey, lemon marmalade and lime zest. Fresh throughout, despite its age, and a few sherbet notes dusting the charred lime finish. Staggering. 99pts
ONE: 1990 Salon
The same tasting that I tried the 1959 Pol Roger at allowed me to try, what I think, is the first wine that I've ever given 100 points to. It was my perfect Champagne - simple as that really! Baked citrus with lots of sweet herbs,
white peach, some honeydew melon and fleshier fruit flavours. A lot of rich, dark fruit, more concentrated citrus
with layers of flavor evolving. Tropical
fruit, then graphite, then toasty flavours and finally dry bitter
elements. Wonderfully complex,
beautifully balanced and delicious.
100pts
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