Mixed Bag Vol. 14

This wine reveals a youthful exuberance, yet it charms with its inherent beauty. On the nose, there's a hint of oxidation, offering aromas of slightly bruised yellow fruits, quince, and a subtle chalkiness reminiscent of sea pebbles. Delicate notes of tilia honey and sunflower oil add complexity and some layers here. The palate is voluminous with a medium-to-full body, showcasing a slight oiliness and a well-defined structure. It concludes with a neat, slightly bitter finish, evoking the taste of crushed apple seeds. While it's still developing, this wine promises even greater elegance and complexity as it matures.

Returning to bottles like this is truly a blessing. Opening it early in the evening was inspiring (thank you, Maksym), allowing us the clarity and energy to fully appreciate its nuances. The nose is exquisite, with aromas of chalk, Jerez, cider, mushroom soup, damp cellar, honey, and almonds. It intriguingly balances pomp and austerity, offering remarkable concentration and intensity. The palate is pronounced, rich, and surprisingly fresh, with an impressively long finish where flavours seem to evolve endlessly. Truly magnificent.

This wine remains much the same as it did a year ago, still exhibiting a moderated funk in its stride, which I find delightful. It offers a juicy, effortlessly enjoyable experience, balancing elevated spice with fruity notes. It's so approachable that finishing a whole bottle is easy. The palate presents a medley of olives, spices, barberry candy, dogwood, wild strawberries, and earthy undertones.

This is one of my favorite expressions of Muscat. It beautifully balances the classic characteristics of the grape with a complexity that remains approachable and easy to drink, a hallmark of Tom's winemaking. And it's not vulgar! It offers enticing aromas of fallen apricot, dried herbs, tropical fruits, white flowers, and a hint of slightly rotten orange zest. The palate is round and rich, with nearly perfect balance, showcasing a pleasing acidity, minerality (sic!) and seamlessly integrated VA.

This wine exhibits an intriguing evolution in the glass, presenting a mix of gains and losses along the way. Initially, it offers notes of volatile acidity, apricot yogurt, and persimmon. As it opens up, it transitions into aromas of tea, dried yellow fruits, and fennel, with a captivating, subtle flor-like note. On the palate, it is fresh, with gentle tannins and a finish reminiscent of Jerez. Compared to the Matassa bottle, I find Doma a bit too focused and narrow, but its unique character remains interesting.

Puffy and charming, this wine delights the senses. It combines the sweet notes of caramel cake and cream soda with burnt crème brûlée, citrus, baked apple, cheese, and bakery aromas. It boasts good volume and neat acidity, which skillfully balances over 11g of residual sugar, resulting in a highly approachable and generous wine. It's round and friendly, and while it may lack some complexity and depth, its charm shines through, especially in a blind tasting. It's no surprise that many mistook it for a bottle of Champagne.

This is a great wine. The 2018 vintage appears slower to mature compared to 2017, suggesting it may benefit from more time. Nonetheless, Lahaye's style captivates me, with its natural qualities existing in harmony, balanced by more conventional notes. Most notably, his Champagnes possess a pronounced vinous character. The nose is intense, offering aromas of cider, Jerez, bruised apple, lemon tart, pickles, and candies. It's stylish, concentrated, and evolving, yet in my opinion, still a bit too young.

As a lover of well-crafted sweet wines, I thoroughly enjoyed this delicious beauty. It offers captivating notes of date fruit, raisins, coffee, rye bread, nuts, and a hint of volatile acidity. Despite its intensity, the wine maintains perfect harmony and balance, thanks to its good acidity. It's multilayered, complex, and deep, truly a delightful experience.

I confess to opening this wine too early, missing out on its full potential. Despite this, it was undeniably delicious. It presents a touch of austerity yet remains stylish, vinoous, nuanced, and complex. The delicate aromas of honey, damp cellar, red berries, bruised apples, chalk, and a hint of pickles are enchanting. It boasts great acidity and is compact and intense, with a neat mineral backbone. Remarkable.