My sister turned the ripe old age of 20. She likes Riesling but doesn't like even slightly sweet ones - weird girl. So I took over a Trimbach Cuvée Frédéric Emile 1999 which was really nice. It was too young, but it did have a nice deep, lemony, mineral nose that was elegantly austere. The palate was also nicely austere with the fruit a bit shy at the moment. It isn't the greatest CFE ever made, but it is a perfectly acceptable one.
Today Finland turned into an 89 YO youngster. To celebrate, Suvi and I met up with a couple friends and opened up a couple interesting bottles.
Palacios Pétalos del Bierzo 2005 was a youthful wine, very ripe and fruity, but not over the top. It had some nice vegetal and earthy aromas also. The palate was very primary but accessible now. A nice wine that I'll be buying again. Palacios's Bierzos tend to be utterly spoofulated, but the basic Pétalos seems to be pretty fine stuff.
We had another Spanish 2001 also, but I wasn't paying attention to the bottle. A pity, as it was red berried, a bit bretty, unspoofulated and not too sweet. Quite a nice drop, though simple, and were the price right I might buy a couple for when a casual drop is needed. I'll edit, if I ever find out what it was. I used to take notes much more diligently. Sorry.
Tyrell Riesling QbA 1997 AP303/4/98 10,5% was sent to me by French and Logan - a very nice German Riesling specialist in England. Mr. Logan told me this is the best QbA he's ever tasted. I'm not sure if it's the best ever, but it is a bloody brilliant one! Tyrells own Karthäuserhof, but it doesn't say Karthäuserhof on the label. Why not?
Well, the nose is typical Ruwer in its floral and pleasantly austere steely notes but it also has some passionfruit. The palate is pleasantly tart, light, a little sweet with nice fruit. Amazingly intense and complex for a QbA. Interminable aftertaste. Maybe Mr. Logan was right - it might just be the best QbA I've tasted also. Bloody brilliant.
-O-
