A few wines earlier this week at Atelier in Newtown.
Vilmart Cœur de Cuvée 1997.
Light straw colour with a fine bead. Lemon, pear, brine and earth on the nose. There is subtle fruit sweetness balanced with excellent acidity on the palate. Long and intense, this is an excellent wine and one of the better 97s I’ve tasted.
92/100
Domaine Servin Les Blanchots 2000
Corked.
NR/100
Louis Michel et Fils Grenouilles 2000.
Behind the huge amount of sulfur was pear, marmalade and peaches. The palate is medium weight but very simple.
84/100
Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne 1999.
Nutty, pineapple, tropical fruit, lemon rind and subtle oak aromas. A ripe, expansive palate without being too overbearing. Acid is good enough to focus the palate. Long length.
91/100
Marquis d’Angerville Clos des Ducs 1999.
Earth, cherry, blood and chocolate aromas on the nose. Firm palate, with some sweet fruit in the background, the acid structure is a highlight. Powerful and very impressive. Starting to come around to drinking well.
92/100
Sylvie Esmonin Clos St. Jacques 2001
Rich, lifted nose of raspberry, cherry and a touch of earth and chocolate. The palate is more restrained than the nose but is still tightly wound and full of power. Good potential to improve from here.
91/100
Château de Beaucastel rouge 1990
A lot of complexity on the nose with smoke and smoked meats, cherry, spice, cedar and a fair bit of funky brett. Good intensity to the palate, but the brett affects the length of the finish. I would have rated this 2-3 points higher if the brett hadn’t affected the palate so much.
92/100
Dalla Valle Maya (Napa) 2000
Bold nose, with blueberry, chocolate, vanilla, autumn leaves and grassy characters from the Cabernet Franc. Very intense and youthful on the palate with good length and the ripeness is never out of balance. Primary, but surprisingly approachable and I think it will be at its best over the next 5 years.
93/100
Dr. Loosen Ürziger Wurzgarten Auslese 1995
Lemon, spice, floral notes and light honey aromas comprise the nose. The palate is excellent with light sweetness and refreshing acidity. Great balance and lingering length.
89/100
Claude Cazals Clos Cazals 1997.
Green apple, honey and pear on the nose. The palate is awkward, it is almost both bitterly acidic and broad at the same time. Good, but I had this two and a half years ago and much preferred it then.
87/100