1970S WINES FOR EDWIN’S BIRTHDAY - La Bracceria, Greendale Avenue (14/7/2021)
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2019 Livio Felluga Friuli Colli Orientali Pinot Grigio - Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali
Nothing earth-shaking, but this was a very pleasant, food-friendly Pinot Grigio. The nose was certainly very pleasant, with notes of stone fruit and beeswax, some white flowers, nectar maybe, and then a little twist of flinty mineral at the sides. The palate was nice too. Less fruit-forward, showing little shades of stone fruit and melon, a nice of florals, and then a deeper spine of mineral and citrus blooms orange zest leading into a sprightly finish just kissed with a touch to spice. There was some weight and heft on this, along with a nice bright acidity, all lending to a nicely food-friendly mouthful. (91 pts.) -
1970 Gaja Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
A mature gem. It had a lovey old Babaresco nose, with drifts of red cherries and berries, roses and violets, spice and smoke, even a touch to honey, all playing against a lightly savoury backdrop or broiled meats and forest floor. It was really lovely on the palate too. Not a blockbuster, but really elegant, with fine-boned tannins and fresh acidity strung through still lovely notes of red cherries and wild berries, these liberally seasoned with dashes of spice, earth and just a hint of those florals moving into an orange peel finish. Absolutely lovely stuff, drinking beautifully now. A touch lighter than the great vintages, but boy this was super for its year. (94 pts.) -
1978 Domaine Jaboulet-Vercherre Corton-Bressandes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru
This was really good. Given the vintage, it may have been mixed with some Rhone varietals, but it nevertheless made for a really nice drop. The nose was matured but pleasant, with drifts of earth and meat, spice and wilted flowers, trailing behind a core of dried cherries and berries, maybe a of herbs. Old but attractive. The palate was lovely. Clearly old, but still very alive, with bright tingly acidity and fine-boned tannins framing still bright flavours of dark cherries and berries, earth and meat, and a cute little infusion of spice and herb leading into a nicely lengthy finish. With the weight and creamy depth this had, this really tasted like a cross between Burgundy and Rhone. Really good stuff though, and drinking superbly well now. (93 pts.) -
1976 Domaine Michel Gaunoux Pommard 1er Cru Les Grands Épenots - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru
Very nice, especially for its age. This had a mature Burg nose of earthy sous bois, menthol and wood spice swirling around a core of dark cherries and berries, and then a lift of violets. Lovely stuff. The palate was perhaps just a tad less exciting, but still lovely nonetheless, with dark cherries and red fruit, and then sweet floral touches, all these seasoned with a sprinkle of herb and nice bit of spice dancing into a lively finish. Really alive, and punching above its weight. Yummy. (93 pts.) -
1978 Pio Cesare Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Decently good, but perhaps a half-step or more behind some of the lovely 1970s wines we had on the night. The nose was very funky, gym-sock-like when opened, but slowly fanned out into nicer notes of meat and earth, dark berries and cherries, tars and wilted roses. I liked the palate more than the nose. Fresh, lively, with velvety tannins and really bright wrapped around a core of dark cherries and berries touched with haw flakes and dried figs, roses and smoke. Deliciously moreish. All in all, a good wine, fairly yummy with food on the night - but it did feel quite a bit tired than the fabulous last bottle I had a decade ago. (92 pts.) -
1970 Château Rausan-Ségla - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Really enjoyable - this was what a mature Margaux should taste like. It had really nice left bank nose, with cassis and blackberries, maybe a touch of florals, these laced with bits of earth and tobacco, earth and bramble. Delicious on the palate too, with fresh acidity and fine tannins making a lovely backdrop for juicy notes of cassis and berries, earth and just a little soupçon spice leading into a satisfyingly fresh finish. Just a tad thinner than the strongest vintages, but this was superbly satisfying. Drinking at absolute peak now as well. Lovely. (92 pts.)
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