European Cellars
Paul Kubler
"K" Alsace Pinot Gris 2016
this bottle takes me back to Alsace.
i spent a weekend in Strasbourg in 2006 protesting/partying in front of the European parliament that's located there.
no wine was tasted as i sticked to self imported bottle of zubrowka vodka, drops of potent LSD (that were dropped to the tail end of the vodka by a really short vicious smiling man - true story) and local pilsner beer that i remember fondly that's called 'meteor' and came in large 750ml bottles(pretty good ice cold and just ok after the sun warmed up the last 3rd of the bottle).
and now... 13 years later. different tastebuds. but I'm still the same person essentially.
100% pinot gris
off dry officially but feels dry.
14% ABV
pale green 👀
🧀 rind, green apple, pear, very fresh lemon and finely chopped greens👃
full body. I'm guessing the rs helps to build it.
medium plus acidity.
creamy, tart and a bit fruity with added white pepper and maybe even ginger 👄
long lingering pleasent creamy 🎯 like tasty and slightly bitter 🍬
great wine, no doubt about it.
tasty and complex, plays with you and changes every sip, but always superb.
excelent vfm (110 nis). expensive but works hard for your money.
need to try the winery Riesling now.
had it all day on it's own while vacationing.
soft and spicy cheese platter could have helped but I'm too full. — 6 years ago
R. López de Heredia
Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2006
With the Wine Blight laying waste to her vineyards, France went from 8:1 exporter in 1870 to 6:1 importer in 1887. Legions of wine farmers faced total financial ruin. With no cure - or even a proper diagnosis - in sight, many saw no option but to flee to lands not yet affected.
The influx of institutional knowledge that flooded into former backwater wine regions like Rioja catapulted them into relevance, and soon matured into a world-class standard. The farmers had found respite, but couldn't run forever. By the time Phylloxera crossed the Pyrenees, however, there would be new ways to fight back.
French botanist Jules-Emile Planchon had a theory. If the blight was caused by a microscopic American insect as he suspected, perhaps grafted European varieties on American rootstock would be resistant. This would be confirmed by Missouri entomologist Charles Riley, and with millions of rootstocks supplied by Texas horticulturalist T.V. Munson, the Wine Blight was soon in remission.
(This is adapted from notes for Le Dû’s Wines ‘History of Wine 1453AD-Present’ seminar, where this wine was poured) — 6 years ago
Erich Salomon/Undhof
Undhof Kögl Riesling Reserve 2009
Mid Lemon in colour. Peachey flavours with a bitter finish. Full and luscious but finishes dry with 13.5% Alcohol. Nice to drink after the Grosset to compare. The following day honeyed notes. Delicious and uniquely European. — 8 years ago
Moutard Pere et Fils
Cuvée des 6 Cépages Brut Champagne 2007
Deep but bright orangey gold. Not much mousse to speak of, though that's likely a product of age (and less-than-desirable state store storage conditions). Likewise the somewhat weak bubbles. Biscuity quince and white stone fruit on the nose and palate. Still a firm backbone of acidity though, and that made it a great pair with "nouveau European" fare (trout almondine, fusilli carbonara). Would love to try it upon release. — 8 years ago
Trimbach
Alsace Riesling 2013
Prior notes from March 2020 still apply. Most enjoyable and refreshing - mandarin and lime juice notes on the palate. Diminished acid. I hope European Riesling makers continue to use screw caps. Would be difficult to find an Australian Riesling producer who doesn’t use screw caps these days. — 5 years ago
Giaconda
Warner Vineyard Shiraz
Simply magnificent. Layers and layers of nuanced spicy earthy flavors. Blew away my European guest. No Aussie fruit bomb this one, can stand toe to toe with the best Northern Rhône has to offer. — 6 years ago
D'Oliveiras
Reserva Madeira Sercial 1924
The opportunity to enjoy a small glass of this came rather unexpectedly yesterday afternoon and I’m still trying to wrap my head around the experience. I was looking over a collection of wines that needed a new home and a friend of mine who was the collection’s custodian, mentioned that he had something he had been meaning to share with me and without any fanfare, he walks back into the room with two small glasses and this ancient bottle. I hardly had any time to react before he poured me a small glass....as I looked three times to confirm that I was, in fact, drinking from a pre-war bottle of Madeira. The nose was stunning. A massive wave of confected fruit like candied citron. You know those beautiful syrup glazed orange (and other fruit) slices you’ll often see in European chocolate shops? Yeah...it smelled like that. Just a touch of VA. On the palate, this was totally mind bending. It’s almost all hazelnuts; remarkably dry; and there is pronounced acidity. The finish lasted for minutes. I can categorically state that this wine is very much alive and well but it’s a nerd’s wine as it’s super rustic and best served as an aperitif. — 6 years ago
Bernard Levet
Les Journaries Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2013
The Northern Rhône example in our little, impromptu North/South face-off during Christmas Eve dinner. This is a European bottled version of “Les Journaries” which is labeled there as “La Maestria”. Most of the grapes are sourced from Levet’s holdings in La Landonne. The bottle was opened about two hours prior and probably would have benefitted from being opened two days prior in retrospect. That being said, this was stunning...and positively feral. Underbrush, herbs, brambles, flowers, meat, anise, and cinnamon bark on the nose and on the palate. As striking as this is right now, the best is yet to come and these will deliver even more joy in 10-15 years. These wines are a beautiful little secret. If you must, drink after a rather protracted decant otherwise stash these deep in the cellar. For those wondering, we paired a 2009 Domaine de Beaurenard “Boisrenard” as the Southern Rhône example which, while massively different in style, was stunning in its own right. — 7 years ago
Domaine du Possible
L'eau à la Bouche Côtes du Roussillon Grenache Blend 2011
Love this. Juicy and carbonic with a little spice and funk at the end. Like the best European squat party as a wine — 8 years ago
Giaconda
Beechworth Nebbiolo 2011
Serious structured, european core with an australian soul. — 9 years ago
Dr. Konstantin Frank
Finger Lakes Rkatsiteli 2017
Extremely complex and full of acidity. Aromatics of lemon, Granny Smith apple, basil, wet stones and rubber. The pallet features flavors of lemon pith, peach, green apple and slate. Straw colored and lively. Hint of fruity sweetness on the finish. Nice FLX expression of this outstanding Eastern European grape! — 6 years ago
European Cellars
Novellum Chardonnay 2017
Domaine Tempier
Bandol Mourvedre Blend 2003
Not many European producers got the hot 2003 vintage right, but Tempier did. — 7 years ago
Christophe Pacalet
Chénas Gamay 2016
Orgo
Kakheti Rkatsiteli 2014
Clear butternut gold in the glass. Dried apricots and pottery on the nose. Medium full body and medium plus acidity with medium tannins. Palate of terra cotta, dry ripe stone fruit, and white pepper. A sturdy white in the orange style from one of the original wine regions. Rich eastern European, Ural/Caucasian, or southern US foods would be a great pairing. — 8 years ago
Daniel M
A trip down memory lane. I understand now why I liked it so much around 10 years ago. It's the rich smell of spices, banana and yeast. It's the strong carbonated mouthfeel and the delicate caramel notes along with a nice bitterness which sticks onto the tongue for a very long while. It's rich, it's intense and it's strong. I grew a bit tired of it's richness which is as opposed as one can imagine to the eastern European lagers I'm used to these days. Very nice moment — 5 years ago