Long forgotten in some backwoods Colorado wine shop's mini-fridge, and procured for about half of market rate after 15 years of bespoke provenance rolling through alpine summers and frigid winters. The fresh flavors long having evolved... euphemistically "matured" into deep nutty butterscotch and aged gouda and pear cider on the palate, and a deep gold on the eyes. In all honesty, this Phoenix like anomaly pairs extraordinarily with an aperitivi of parm and salumi after a day's cross country skiing in single digit mountain air. — 5 years ago
Wow! Not “typical” Sancerre at all! Rich, intense, wild are terms that come to mind, but it doesn’t cross over into the weird category all the way. Yes, there is an orange wine lean here, but there’s still that flinty and floral quality I expect. Add a touch of yeastiness, fresh herb, bruised apple/apple skin, and a mushroomy like “umami-ness,” and you have a very interesting and delicious wine. Think Sancerre meets orange wine meets cider. — 7 years ago
Apple, a little tart. Like a cross between cider and white wine. Delightful. — 4 years ago
Had I Edinburgh — 7 years ago
Asta is a trendy neighborhood restaurant in Boston's Back Bay. The menu is simple insofar as you choose from five or eight courses. We opted for five. The first course was a warming cheddar and beer soup. A ginger squid and foam dish was unusual and tasty in equal measure. Then came a sweet potato with an apple cider vinegar sauce. The apex was slow cooked beef that looked like it had been done sous-vide. Something called Interstellar was a bonus course - a parsnip purée with cocoa and popping rocks - a dish for the New Year. The treacle pudding was rich, comforting and delicious.
We opted against the wine pairings, instead ordering this Schioppettino from Friuli. Apparently this winery rescued the varietal and champions it. Not sure if this is true... it is light bodied but has earthy characteristics. Like a cross between Gamay and Syrah. Quite tasty and high acidity, which helped when pairing with a curious selection of dishes. — 7 years ago
Now, this is a Champagne worthy of my last year in my current decade.
It’s not inexpensive but, there’s a reason for that.
From the moment I put my nose to the glass, I got a a sense of warm, inviting delicacy. There is; cream, soft ginger, fall green apples, mango, guava, slightly sour lemons, lime zest/candy, perfectly, ripe pineapple, white peach, green melons, lightly bruised pear, marmalade jam, as soft as white spice can be, grey volcanics, good chalkiness, vanillin, sea spray, lovely, melted caramel notes, yeast, bread dough to baguette crust, non funky cheese rind, toast, silvered almonds to nut skin with white & lilies, jasmine and spring flowers.
The palate enters like Tango dancers & cross-fades into ballet. Perfect richness, mousse & micro-oxygenation with gentle, absolute, perfect acidity. The minerality is fine, delicate & straight up in my wheelhouse. Cream, understated, melted butter, ginger, fall, Granny Smith apples, mango, guava, slightly sour lemons, lime zest/ peel/candy, perfectly, ripe pineapple, white peach, peach, tangerine, green melons, lightly bruised pear, some apple cider, marmalade jam, honeysuckle, herbaceousiness, a shade of mint, as soft as white spice can be, delicate, grey volcanics with limestone, good chalkiness, vanillin, sea spray, lovely, melted caramel notes, yeast, bread dough to baguette crust, non funky cheese rind, toast, silvered almonds to nut skin with, orange blossoms, white & lilies, jasmine and spring flowers. The long, amazing, well balanced finish is simply Mozart.
The 02 is a blend of 39% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay & 21% Pinot Meunier. This bottle spent at least 12 years in Krug's cellars, receiving its cork in autumn 2014.
Photos of; the House of Krug, their very tall & countless stainless steel tanks they hold still wine(s), fermenting or library bottles in their caves & Krug Clos du Mesnil Vineyard. — 5 years ago
GV
Delightful Scottish cider with a lovely elderflower taste that provides a hugely enjoyable drink. — 3 years ago