2011 Escombro Jumilla
Alicante Bouschet
2014-03-03 - I LIKE THIS WINE: 100 points
This wine will attract a fanatical following and is my first 100p here on CT. Have thought about this wine for three days now and feel comfortable with the score.
Black color.
Rich, splendid, elegant and multi-disciplinary aromas including various herbs and both dark and red berries. Still very young and for making my point clear: no anise, no coffee and no roasted aromas.
In the mouth this is more rich than an old-fashioned Aussie Shiraz, but not from extraction, no, this tastes like the natural concentration of the grapes. (In my imagination, the grapes used for this wine are so small, they are picked with tweezers) Escombro is long, multifaceted and a chamelion that both charmed and blew our socks off. Good acids and a fabulous tannic structure hiding behind the megafruit. More balanced than Justitia's scales.
Made by what is described as a rather peculiar Swede, Erik Rosdahl. Apparently tall, wild-looking, prefers flip-flops even in the winter and lives in a ruin ("Escombro" in Spanish.)
Is sold in some 3-star restaurants and in Bar Brutal (Barcelona) where it was recommended to me by the owner. Who later was coaxed by my daughter to let me buy the restaurant's last bottle...
I would guess it's the one great wine that RP didn't have before complaining about natural wines...
There is no other text of any kind on the label.
At Bar Brutal they said it's made of Grenache, but on the only web reference I can find, it says old vine Alicante Bouchet. So, I don't know. 16%, so not for everyone.
If I had as many btls as I wanted, I'd drink one every week for maybe 30 years. Now I only have one and will enjoy it on my pre-birthday party in april.
1993 Vereinigte Hospitien Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese
Mosel Saar Ruwer
2014-05-02 - I LIKE THIS WINE: 98 points
CT offline in Tokyo (1 star L'Effervescence): I find no flaws with this wine, but don't feel experienced enough (non-comfortable) with Mosel Rieslings to award it 100 points. The obvious feeling is of lying down in a beautiful meadow in the summer... VOTN among four with pedigree.
Golden.
Rich, splendid, mature Riesling character with a perfect whiff of petrochemistry. Honeyed (suggesting Botrytis) with aromatic flowers (jasmine, honey suckle, Philadelphus) and summer fruit. Broad, superbly balanced acids in a fabulously concentrated, intense entry, mid-palate and somersaulting finish. Almost no sweetness in the wine anymore. Beautiful mouthfeel and transparency and oozing of mineral character. Also has an oily component together with the petroleum.
Geee, this is to live for! Wish I had more for immense pleasure now and for at least 10 more years.--
Wife: 94p
With Chatters at fantastic L'Effervescence (Tokyo).
1976 Verwaltung der Staatsweingüter Rauenthaler Gehrn Riesling Auslese
Rheingau
2014-04-26 - I LIKE THIS WINE: 97 points
Brownbag in Göteborg by Finewines.se (Göteborgs Vinkällare): WOTN (I seem to remember that all ppl agreed.)
This Riesling clearly speaks German.
In its perfect stride, where it will remain and slowly fade away over many years.
The perfect German Riesling nose with superbly balanced petrochem and mature Botrytis notes of distinction. The palate is amazingly elegant and well built with the sweetness reduced from age and a beautiful, tranquil, transparent structure allowing for the stony minerality to take center stage.
A lovely, lovely wine.
2002 Penna Lane Shiraz "The Willsmore"
Clare Valley
2014-06-20 - I LIKE THIS WINE: 97 points
Midsummer Night's Celebration (Pagan Way) (1 star L'Effervescence (Tokyo)): My WOTN.
Extremely rich, dense, aromatic Shiraz nose in a perfect place. It's rare I get stuck with my nose in a red wine, but this nose is utterly amazing!
In the mouth, it has excellent balance even if there is a hefty full bodied Gospel singer embodied in this wine. Dramatic, clear expression of wet stones and all the anise-seeds, fennel, rusty iron and industrial rubber that you can ever dream of.
Has many more years of great life ahead of it. Really wish I had some...
1982 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5°
Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo
2014-04-26 - I LIKE THIS WINE: 97 points
Brownbag in Göteborg by Finewines.se (Göteborgs Vinkällare): Dark, mature red color.
The nose took a while for me to dissect. With the great noses around the table I soon saw the light. Dark, mellow and earthy notes that grew well. Speaks clearly of age with a fabulous aromatic palette of butter and BBQ sauce with some 'liquid smoke'.
In the mouth it is becomingly oxidized from its age, has integrated its barrel time well and still both acidic and tannic bite. Dark cherries jam, a hint of dill and a fine pice of butter on top. Full bodied wine and all grapes snuggly and seamlessly integrated.
Our blinded discussions started in Spain, travelled the World, only to return to Spain. We then scratched Rioja and with small assistance from M.E. finally scratched also Priorat and landed with Vega Sicilia. Almost correct
A fabulous, fabulous wine!
Owners with good btls can keep their treasures for many more years, however, it is fully mature now.
2005 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley
2014-06-14 - I LIKE THIS WINE: 97 points
World Cup Football BBQ wine dinner (Zorg's place, Umeå, Sweden): WOTN.
Fantastic performance tonight!
Mjuffingly fantastic! Previous TN stands, just turn up the volume a bit! Please...
If you have a higher degree of self discipline, than, please, keep it for at least 5 years. Longer is better.
NV Valdespino Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Don Gonzalo Oloroso VOS
Palomino Fino
2014-06-11 - I LIKE THIS WINE: 97 points
One of the best Sherries or possibly: THE best Sherry in my Life (so far). Had from 1/2 btl after 24 hrs of slow-ox in wine fridge. Multi-faceted, multi-layered and long, intrinsic, pure and should go well with many foods.
Golden brown, with focus on brown.
First I was struck by the pure Amaretto tone. Then the nose of varnish (really dried specimen) hit, together with EtOH-drenched almond icing (mandelmassa), milk chocolate, arrak (giving for the Swedish palate: "punschpraliner" and "myrstack") The nose is just immensely monsterous with the smooooooth character abundant.
If the nose is great, the mouth is imperial... Long, long, looooong, looooooooooong, looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong!
Great acids that add the aspect of youthful vitality to its great things. Starts off with a smooth Amaretto tone and ends with a very long grilled bread aroma that verges on being that of burnt hair. Incredibly long, fantastic experience.
Will return w/Mats asap for the next practice of July.
