Post
by PhilW » 15:11 Tue 10 Jun 2014
Having done a number of larger tastings recently, the more informal (though precisely managed - thank you to the decanting team) smaller tasting with a group of friends was very enjoyable, and good to meet Oscar again. I had not tried any '58s previously (with exception of a '58 Calem colheita), so it was also very interesting, with a diverse set of producers.
Overall, my impression was that of a good, but not blockbuster year, but now mostly past its prime. Four wines stood out clearly to me, and looking at my tasting notes my scoring should really have been FG top, Df second, D and Mz third-equal; not that this would have altered the results. Notably for me, this is the fourth time in a row where I have scored Fonseca top in a blind horizontal, yet I don't seem to learn and did not guess it as Fonseca.
My only minor disappointment was a relatively poor showing by the W58, a wine I had been wanting to try for a long time (due to a combination of my love of Warre, and other people's tasting notes), but which my notes somewhat confusing describe as "old, tired, lightly oxidised" but also "freshness underneath" - perhaps a hint of what it can be. It will just have to stay on my list to be tried again one day!
Overall, an interesting tasting, and very enjoyable company. Thanks to all for arranging and managing.