Last night saw a group of tasters gather for a tasting of the prestigious Krug 1995 Champagne. We had also gathered more wine to taste after the said wine.
The Krug was a good opener although it left people a little bewildered as to how it could justify the price tag of $450. It was beautifully balanced with yeasty slightly zesty nose. The oak was present and the bead was small and evaporated with little fuss and excitement in the mouth.
The next wine was a Rudi Pichler 2005 Reserve Gruner Veltliner. Now this was something special. It had all of the mouth texture of a Gewurztraminer and the subtleness of Pinot Gris with the acidity of Riesling and was so layered and lingering it was the topic of conversation for some time.
This was followed by a Portuguese white that was interesting but not memorable enough to write about.
The fourth wine of the night was Cullen's Diana Madeline 2001. The whole evening was really brought about to see if this wine was corked or not and whether the rest of the case was worth hanging on to. Well it wasn't corked, far from it in fact, but was so big that it overpowered everything on the dinner table.
Unless you are able to find Kangaroo or Venison to have with this wine don't bother opening it. The fruit was opulent, lush and big. The eucalyptus and American oak evident on the nose and everything was in balance but unless you like Blackberry Jam then this wine is not for you. It was another typical big Aussie Red!
Well the night progressed and fortunately turned back to European wine. We tasted Clos de L'Ob
ac 1993 from Priorat, Spain.
For most around the table this was the wine of the night.
It was also the most discussed and the conversation lasted almost as long as the taste of the wine. This wine was so layered that we were describing the different components and subtle flavours and mouth feel for a long while after. It was definately European with some earthyness to it but the fruit and oak were all measuered and perfect.
We finished the night with two wines from France but that is another story saved for another day.
By Jayson Bryant
1 comment:
Krug fan though I am, I'm inclined to agree with your comments as applied to the vintages in general. The whole point of Krug, in my opinion, is the weighty intensity of the Grande Cuvee, brought about by skilful blending of numerous terrific reserve and recent wines. The vintages have always seemed a little pallid and one-dimensional by comparison; lovely wines but as you say, carrying a bewildering price tag.
A bit like colheita Ports, I suppose. Usually disappointing.
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