09 January 2017

Festive Wines Part 2

During the end of new year's celebrations I had the chance to drink some utterly deliciously complex and rewarding wines from Austria, France, Germany, Spain, South Africa and Cyprus. Among them, FX Pichler's Smaragd Gruner Veltliner ''M'', Humbrecht's Rangen de Thann Riesling and Mullineux's Syrah Granite stood out as amazing expressions of these three varieties marking my name day with flavour and diversity..

Deutz Blanc de Blancs 2008

Light yellow. Flowers, lime and stone fruit on the nose combined with nutty aromas. Quite complex. Mineralic with tension on the palate, creamy texture and long finish. Very classy wine. 92/100 (distributed in Greece by Deals)

F.X Pichler Gruner Veltliner M 2015

"M" stands for "monumental" and serves to signify this fantastic Grüner Veltliner of exceptional complexity and concentration. Grapes for "M" are usually harvested two to three weeks after the fruit for the vineyard-designated wines. Seductive nose with quince, pear and spicy notes. Structured and full bodied it has tremendous depth of fruit, perfect balance and extra long finish. Expressive despite its youth, will definitely improve. 94/100 (distributed in Greece by Deals)

Van Volxem Gottesfuß Riesling 2014

Classic lemon-green German Riesling colour. Lemon blossom, can you smell the slate mineral notes?, raisins on the background. Rather exotic aromas still very elegant. Pure, precise with razor-sharp acid definition, medium body and steely finish. Terrific Riesling from 120 years old ungrafted vines. 93/100

Zind-Humbrecht Rangen de Thann Riesling 2014

Another kind of Riesling for sure! Dark volcanic soils. Ripe pears, some dark fruit like plums, tropical fruit and earth notes synthesise a lovely aromatic spectrum. Ripe, quite full body despite its only 12.5% abv, textural and layered with so much to reveal over the next 10+ years. Stunning! 95/100 (distributed in Greece by Oinosis)

Mullineux Syrah Granite 2011

My wine of the night showed a gorgeous perfumed nose with violets, exotic spice, juicy black fruit and well integrated oak. Beautiful on the palate, more old world in style, firm but refined and classy this is an outstanding effort from Mullineux. Plenty of life ahead. 96/100

Artadi El Pison 2006

Curious about this one since I have never tasted it before. A contrast to the elegance of Granite with ripe blueberries, toasty oak and liquorice. I found it more interesting though on the palate with solid and fine grained tannins, depth of fruit and long finish. Very good for sure but not thrilling. 93/100

Ekfraseis Vaseiliadis Winey Io (botrytis Xynisteri 2015)

From more than 70 years old vines and at 1500 m of altitude this is a unicorn wine from Cyprus. Late harvested in November under noble rot attack with the healthy fruit sun-dried. Both of these elements are then blended and in 2015 just 100 mini bottles were produced. Ripe orange marmalade nose with quince, dried apricots and papaya. Sweet and round on the palate with 215 gr/lt residual sugar, well balanced and long. Good first effort needing a dose of extra elegance. 91/100