Alter
Alter
Ribeiro Brancellao Sousón
Vino afrutado muy fresco. Aroma y fragancia frutal. Ácidos, dulces y amargos todos moderados y equilibrados. De lo mejor blanco que he disfrutado — 8 months ago
Château Beaumont
Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
A good solid Haut-Médoc" is how I described the 2020 Beaumont when I tasted it from barrel. I've no need to alter that summation. A mixture of red and black fruit on the nose, this feels cohesive and detailed, not powerful yet it engages the senses. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit. There is just a slight bitterness that lends tension, quite sharp with black cherry, orange rind and cedar notes towards the finish. It's not going to win the wine of the vintage but it's a…well, I told you at the beginning. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023) — 3 years ago
Château Canon
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2018
The 2018 Canon was picked starting on September 7 and finishing on October 9. Given a two-hour decant, it reveals a surprisingly precocious bouquet, more exuberant than I recall from barrel, offering predominantly black fruit, though the floral element is now amplified and masks the crushed limestone I observed previously (for how long?) The palate delivers multilayered black cherry and blueberry fruit, wrapped up in supple tannins and such a cashmere texture that it feels deceptively approachable when in truth, it has the substance and persistence to merit long-term aging. I wagered that it is the best Canon since the watershed 2015. Don’t expect me to alter that view. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2021)
— 5 years ago
Torre Varano
36+6 Aglianico del Taburno
First bottle was corked. Not “hey, does this taste corked to you” but “Holy mother of all boxes, what a stink.” Smelled of wet cardboard and garage, tasted like newspaper. But second bottle, from same case, was sublime and reminded me why I bought and also why Aglianico needs time. 10 years and just starting to come into its own. Black berries, plums, and strong but integrated tannins. This would have been a fantastic example in a class of how a corked bottle can alter a wine. — 2 months ago
Fado Terres de Alter
Trincadeira Blend
In my next life I want to be a fado singer. In the meantime, this easy drinking, lemon forward, hints of herbs (tarragon, thyme) will completely suffice. Surprised by the low marks. — 3 years ago
Egon Müller
Scharzhofberger Kabinett Riesling 2016
A somm-recommended bottle after being consulted on which vintage might be the most open of the Egon kabi’s, and right he was. The 16’ was singing! Very Egon with the notes cassis, salt/slate, and a touch of cream. Definitely sweeter and richer (less of a classic kabi) than the Haart Ohligsberg Alter Reben kabi, but still very energetic and quaffable. Plus, I can’t look pass how singular these wines are (see notes on the other mentioned wine on a little related rant). — 4 years ago
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Reserve Ethos Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
This wine will alter your ethos for the better. One sip will have your spirits lifted, shifted, and higher than the ceiling. Drink it. I dare you. — 5 years ago
Domaine Cazes
Alter Côtes du Roussilon Villages Red Blend 2014
50% Syrah, 40% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache. Great texture. Berries, leather, anise. Tad of bitterness on finish, in an Italian kind of way. — 6 years ago
Château Palmer
Alter Ego Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
Big and pretty and opened about 10-15 years too early. Second day was a huge improvement from the relatively closed nose on day 1. Can feel a bit of the alcohol on the finish. Modern and very well made - especially great Cab Sav on the finish. — 2 months ago
Weingut Günther Steinmetz
Alter Satz Red Blend 2019
Beautiful wine - a blend of grapes so obscure the index of Jancis Robinson’s “Wine Grapes” reference will provide clues to only one of them. Highly aromatic - dried herbs & licorice - and a sweet sappy core. Cherry liqueur, buttressing acidity, medium finish. Good structure and balance. Lovely work. — 4 years ago
Pheasant's Tears
Kakheti Rkatsiteli 2009
@Max Schau mal die Farbe… 10 Jahr alter Weißwein — 5 years ago
Mehofer
Alter Weingarten Gemischter Satz Wagram Müller-Thurgau Blend
Love this Gruner! Clean and crisp, smooth finish. — 6 years ago
Frankland Estate
Alter Weg Riesling 2018
Been a fan of this cuvee since it's inception. To me, this is about as close as Aussie riesling gets to its German counterpart. Neither a good or bad thing, but I love that link between two countries I adore in this wine. That said, this was one of the best Aussie rieslings I've had all year.
German inspired methods on Western Australian fruit. From Frankland Estate's website:
All riesling grapes are harvested as cool as possible and pressed immediately, slow press cycles allow for soft and long extraction. Blocks and picks are kept separate and some juice from most blocks is fermented in barrel format for interest and comparison purposes. Picking decisions are made on ripeness and fruitfulness, with the main aim of working with natural balance yet intentionally look for greater ripeness with this wine and as a result greater degree of phenolic influence and texture. Juice is sent to tank to settle overnight (without enzyme or any additions). A cloudy juice is run to a combination of 1000ltr and 500ltr barrels. Fermentation is spontaneous and temperature controlled to some degree but temperature range is generally higher than tank fermentations. Post fermentation barrels are topped and left un-sulphured through to spring time quite often if residual sugars are high fermentation will be left to start again in spring as juice warms. Sulphur will be introduced when a decision is made on the vitality/fruitfulness of the wine and residual sugar is seen to be in balanced with the wine. Wine was left in barrel for 10 months (January).
The resulting wine is textural, spicy, and generous. Doesn't quite have the extract of German rieslings, but there's length, balance, and most importantly, it's uniquely its own wine. I feel that the provenance of the fruit shines through all that winemaking - that crunchy fruit-first with more green apple/citrus than stone fruits, steeliness, and light whiff of smoke/petrol. It's also remarkably clean for a barrel-treated wine (say compared to Koehler-Ruprecht or JB Becker). Enough with the rant because the takeaway is that it's delicious! — 7 years ago
Austin Hohnke
Great for natural and biodynamics, but once you’ve had the GG’s leaves you wanting. At Dai Nemici. — 2 months ago