Having firmly committed to spending the month of May at home and recovering from March and April’s travels (among which was my first trip to India: an absolute stunner – I’m completely won over!), I nonetheless remember May as a series of increasingly debauched episodes culminating in the breakneck week of Vinexpo.
Highlights included the ’38, ’58, ’78 birthday party of a trio of friends with the very healthy ratio of 2-3 bottles per person, spending time with two pillars of the Spanish wine industry – Miguel Torres and Pablo Alvarez – as well as Jean-Luc Pepin of de Vogüé, Hein Koegelenberg of La Motte and Greg Lambrecht of Coravin, launching the Almásy Collection, joining the Knights of Alba and announcing my appointment as faculty of the Vinitaly International Academy. Meanwhile have been delving further and further into my Visual Tasting Notes project, on which more in the coming months!
Torres Ancestral Vines Forcada 2016 floral honey, biscuit, citrus, Ricola herbs; juicy mid-palate; broad aromas, taut finish. Part of Torres’ ancestral vines project that is an excellent argument for why the “godforsaken grapes” are worth chasing down the rabbit hole (and as Miguel Torres can tell you, that rabbit hole is deep).
Domaine de Vogüe Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru Les Amoureuses 1999 dried strawberries, chipre, wet rock; closed fist, sensuous middle with satin tannins. Fought it out with the Bonnes Mares and Musigny and came out swinging.
Vega Sicilia Unico 2009 bright, tense, assertive; huckleberry, toothstaining, fine, sweet spice. Not yet released but beyond glorious already.
La Motte Hanneli R 2012 smoked violets, blue moonbeams, really spicy, piquant fruit, Slightly more middle weight, but bright and upright. Proof positive that South Africa is a real contender in the Syrah arena.