Weingut Reinhold Haart Piesporter Grafenberg Riesling Kabinett 2012

Hot and damp weather with no wind is not really my favorite thing in Berlin. And as there`s no sea or big lake near, the whole city just seems to be inside a pot, boiling. On top of that, had to work inside the whole day; a cold Riesling was in place. So picked one up from a local wine shop, just a few blocks from my appartement, Weinladen Schmidt Prenzlauer Berg (if you`re in Berlin and in need of a good Riesling, check it out).



Haart Grafenberg Kabinett Riesling 2012
9%
13 e (from a local wine shop)

Feels like this is in a good place right now.
Quite intense nose: ripe pear, baked apples, hint of petrol, some saltyness (sea breeze feel).
Supple and also nicely dense palate with electric, but gentle acidity. Tropical fruits, with drops of lemon/lime. Honeyed and somewhat salty and grainy finish. Good length.
Elegant, refreshing, yet not too simple Kabinett.
90

Famille Perrin Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards 2013

Famille Perrin / Perrin & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards 2013
14.0%
31e (Wine-Searcher)


I can`t recall I`ve drinked in a long time a wine that changes more with air contact.
(could it be a bottle shock? I bought the wine from Munich airport and opened it immediately after the flight)
But I mean wow! First straight from the bottle I was a bit disappointed; wine was totally shut down, austere, almost angry. I drunk only one glass and let it on the table overnight and after 24 hours, a complete change!
Absolutely intriguing and complex aromas: liquorice for days, smoke, forest floor, herbs, strawberries with whipped cream.
On the palate wine is silky smooth, with fine acidity and tannins. Super dry, but with a sort of inner sweetnes. Alc. totally integrated. Higly delicious, intensive and broad fruit; strawberries, raspberries, perfectly ripe with surprising freshness. Quite savory. Nice secondary notes: liquorice, gravel, smoked herbs, hint of mint. Long long smokey and herbal aftertaste.
Balanced, classical, earthy CdP. Loving it!
93

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