Riesling for the ages!

At first glance, an Austrian Riesling produced by a top maker from the 2000 vintage should just finally reach it's strides peaking now. One would also think that such a bottle bought right now would cost more than a very pretty penny having that it was maintained in very good provenance as the box it came in would suggest.

After having said that, it was all a misconception. The bottle was on clearance due largely in part of the hurting economy for the low, low price of 9.99. Having decanted the wine for... well, over a week, it has been maintaining its strides well until tipping just a day over. Within the duration however, the bottle has been tasted showing little, if any, noticeable changes as the color of the wine has been developing a deeper gold while growing more viscus.

Upon reaching a week in, it hit what I would say is the ultimate peak of complete and utterly deliciousness. The depth of the flavor, the richness of the bouquet, the thickness coating the palate, and the finish struck a wonderful chord. Needless to say, I was blown away by this bottle and looking towards buying one more to replace the one I had opened with my sister.

The price in which the distributer had marked it was at 46 dollars and, clearly, the age-ability and quality gives honor to the price range it rests its laurels on. Where many wines fall apart reaching the week in the decanter, this one has just begun!

CellarTracker: 2000 Prager Riesling Smaragd Hollerin

Will buy one to do a formal report.

Informal Evaluation: Emphatic BUY! [90+]

Note: Though informal, first 90, I think.

Pierre Peters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Millésimé - 2003

With a soft golden glow, it sports very fine bubbles lifting to reach the top bringing with it a very standard chardonnay profile that quickly evolved into something more. Notes of aroma amongst the family had mentioned nuttiness, almond, hints of oak, walnut, and bread dough gradually rising.

The taste had grown profoundly past from the first thirty minutes from a closed off state originally turned me off as it displayed the standard still closed off chardonnay profile to something more appetizing. What was once bread dough from mid palate to finish had shown a profile that was delicious to a level that is quite difficult to describe as the experience was what I recall at this moment. The finish had continued most elegantly through and through to truly make it worthy of every penny and more.

It is to say the least that my family had enjoyed this as much as I did and perhaps more. To those bottles remaining in the collection, stay well!

Evaluation: Buy for those occasions [89+]

Cellar Tracker: http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=554687

Not all chard's are made equally - Extended

As we continue down the path to self discovery of the wine palate level, it is becoming more apparent that my palate for chardonnay has gained a bias favoring French. This time around the step that has led down this direction was 2003 Pierre Peters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Millésimé, which has been thus far the most expensive bottle I have opened. Though, the reason for opening this bottle was a collision of several events making for a wonderous occasion worthy of such. However, I digress.

In having drank this bottle, the path of wine is not all about tasting, the flavor profile had an initial standard chardonnay profile which has put me off but the evolution in which it had undertaken following is what truly shine through. It has shown that even though it was a 2003, it has still a long line and progression left to it to which will offer an experience that is greater than the value of the bottle. To this, I look forward.

Informal tasting notes... COMING SOON!

Glass sizes

After having gone through and tasting 45 bottles of wine in less than two hours, it has just reaffirmed the constant point that's been driven, size matters. Though, more precisely, size and shape really matters in tasting wine.

However, it really doesn't help that the amount of wine being poured was quite substantial by comparison to the volume in which the glass can hold. It could, however, be that when the person dispensing the samples observes that the taster is spitting, they may be pouring more than those who are swallowing. The more one thinks about it, the more sense it makes since the person who spits are tasting it for the taste rather than drinking it to get sloshed. At the end of the night, even spitting all, it couldn't be helped that I was feeling sloshed at the end of the day.

What had reaffirmed this belief of size and shap matter is the fact that most of the reds had came off as austere, heavily tannic, and rather unpleasant. Its hard to believe that all the reds were too young to be released and increasingly more so that most if not all were closed off. That is to say though, that even in a small venue where there is only but ten wines to taste, there is at least one that would be the most pleasant and enjoyable as oppose to this event where there were very little to none.

Though, this shape did suit well for the sparkling wines which benefit from a long slender glass much similar to that of champagne flutes. Anyhow, enough ranting...

A slight imbalance in my collection...

After having bought one heck of a steal on a Austrian Riesling from 2000 at 9.99, I've found myself wondering how to balance out my collection of wine which has been very red heavy while moving farther away from the ever so main stay of Rieslings.

My palate has, as of late, been burnt out of the classic Californian Chardonnay but found quite an interest in Burgundian Chards. However, the interest Australian Chards has been fading even though those that I've tried so far has exhibited great minerals both on the bouquet and palate.

I've yet to pick up another Alsatian white though either in fear of tarnishing the measuring stick in which I treat as something to aim for and perhaps not so many have hit the selling block at the price I'm looking to buy.

So, European whites, awaken!