Paul Cluver Chardonnay 2014

Again a good South African white wine. Have been quite surprised by the elegance and restrained of the wines I`ve drinked lately. This Elgin valley Chradonnay I actually remember tasting many years ago. And it did leave an impression then. So decided to give it another go.

Paul Cluver Estate Chardonnay
13.50%
15e (Wine-Searcher)

Balance is everything!
This feels like a musical miniature. Form, content and expression are beautifully in balance here. Minerality is like a steady Cello legato underneath, giving everything a liberating pulse.
Palate is full bodied but not heavy; quite pristine actually, fresh and playful, with strong and fine acidity. There`s also a nice savory edge to it. Hmm, I just can`t get over the musicality. A polyphonic wine. Really disciplined and elevating finish, collecting all the themes to a long and meditative ending. The use of oak is in perfection.
Persistent, lingering aftertaste. Creme brulee, toasted caramel, baked apples, lemon.
Gracefully powerful Chardonnay!
91

Colonnara Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Cuprese 2011

I drink Verdicchio wines way too seldom. This is a good reminder of
just how interesting the wines can be, and what kind of value they can offer.

2011 Colonnara Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Cuprese
13,5 %
8e (Wine-Searcher)

A bit muted aromatically: some honey, wet hay.
On the palate medium bodied with decent acidity. Good, intense fruit; melon, lime, some herbs, flowers. Highly delicious, and intriguing flavors. Finish is really really flinty, dusty, almost austere;
leaving a very long, honeyed, a bit herbal aftertaste with a sligthly bitter chalkyness. Some taste reminds me of Vermouth, in a good way.
Fine, multidimensional Verdicchio!
90

Becker Landgraf Gau-Odernheimer Spätburgunder J2 2013

2013 Becker Landgraf Gau-Odernheimer Spätburgunder J2
13.50%
13e

Earthy and honest Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir).

Shy but beautiful aromas of wet forest floor, smoke, dried cherries.
On the palate quite supple, medium bodied. Up lifting acidity and soft tannins. Focused fruit, red berries, crushed rocks, mossy smokey earth. Good length.
Nice!
89

Viña Pomal Reserva 2010

Another Rioja. A wine area that I have also somewhat mixed feelings. Often wines are for my taste a bit too generic, oaky, and lacking in authenticity. But then again, at best I think that wines from Rioja can offer a pretty great value play.

Bodegas Bilbainas Rioja Viña Pomal Reserva 2010
13.5%
13e  (Wine-Searcher average)

A straightforward Rioja-Reserva, but quite delicious. Blueberrry pie with a nob of Ice cream. A bit ashy, spicy and lethery finish, with a good amount of acidity and moderate tannins. Not too complicated, but does it´s thing very well indeed.
Improves signifigantly after decanting.
88

Muga Blanco 2014

 


I`ve had a bit ambivalent relationship with Spanish white wines. I`ve enjoyed some in the past,
but had also many many disappointments. As going out side of my comfort zone in white wines seems to be my theme at the moment, why not give Spain a change.

Muga Blanco 2014
13,0 %
13e (Wine-Searcher)

Silky smooth on the palate but, with a strong underlying structure and minerality. Starts actually really kind of shy, but like a diesel motor slowly starts to roll, and finishes with substantial power; leaving a beautifully lingering aftertaste of candied orange peel, lemon, and some spicyness.
A good value!
89

Bellingham Grenache Blanc Viognier 2014

Bellingham The Bernard Series Whole Bunch Grenache Blanc Viognier 2014
14.00%
20e (Wine-Searcher)

This is beautiful!
Fascinating aromas: peaches, lime, almost a hint of botrytis, toasty caramel, smoke, burnt wood and marshmallow.
The palate is full bodied, slightly oily, tropical and seductive. Also a touch smoky and savory. On the backgorund appears only a hint of oak and toastiness. Acidity, and chalky/mineral undertones gives energy and depth.
Has a lingering and nutty aftertaste with interesting, high pitched and bright lime/lime zest element emerging. The 14% Alcohol is impressively under control.
Big, bold and hedonistic, but at the same time surprisingly fresh and lively. Quite complex.
90