Domaine Georg Rafael
Adobe Guadalupe
Rafael Red Blend 2011
[Tasted on April 12, 2024 at Home]
Purchased in Mexico. 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Nebbiolo. Black, blue and red fruits, with earth, graphite, fig, vanilla and cacao. Nice balance and depth with firm tannins. — 6 months ago
Georg Breuer
Berg Schlossberg Riesling 2008
Another Breuer I got to follow over three days. While it was incredible, I felt the bottle could have been better. The 08’ Schlossberg I had 4 years ago was spectacularly fresh, tight even; and the pair of older 07’ Kellers I had this trip were both fresher; plus this bottle fell off on day 3 while the 09’ Roseneck peaked.
This bottle was best on day 1. It had aromas of smoke, sea spray, nectarines, green apples, lemon rinds, chamomile which kept growing with air, heaps of spices, fresh honey, and a touch of petrol. The palate was super dense and intense, with a screaming acidity and palate-staining stoniness. Huge finish that just seemed endless. Paired with a roasted bone marrow and parsley dish, it was just insane.
Day 2 saw little evolution from day 1. The petrol character totally disappeared, and a mild bitterness appeared. On day 3 the wine just felt tired and not quite at the level of the previous days. All things considered, it was a beautiful riesling, but just didn’t live up to the expectations of its legendary status. — 2 months ago
Rafael Cambra
La Forcallà de Antonia Forcallat
12€, buena RCP. Ligero y elegante. — 3 months ago
Bodegas Rafael Palacios
Louro do Bolo Valdeorras Godello 2022
Phenomenal winemaking on display here by any measure, let alone at the price point. Crisp and stony, seashell and sea spray, citrus and underripe stone fruit, edging into tropical tones with structural grip and creamy lees tying it all together. Godly godello — 6 months ago
Tommasi
Rafael Valpolicella Classico Superiore Corvina Blend 2017
Nice dinner wine — 9 months ago
Aaron Tan
Followed this wine across three days, and I’d say it was an excellent example of Roseneck. Poured out with a mostly bright green-yellow colour, with touches of light golden hue on some angles in the light.
On day 1, it had aromas of flint, sea spray, apples, fresh honey, and a touch of petrol. Palpable minerality on the palate, almost painfully so. Not the weightiest, but it sure had intensity. Notable sparkly acidity.
On day 2, I had an 08’ Schlossberg to compare with and this was clearly the more filigreed of the two. The 09’ Roseneck was lighter, more mineral, and less complex. It felt greener even - perhaps it was picked earlier in light of the warm vintage. Comparison aside, the nose evolved a little from day 1, with the petrol hints disappearing altogether, the honey note becoming more like honey candy instead of fresh honey, and the appearance of white florals. The palate was again sparkly, with a palate-staining minerality.
I felt day 3 was the best showing of the 09’ Roseneck, with the fruit and floral notes taking a back seat, and the salinity just dominating. Notably, it looked fresher than the 08’ Schlossberg on this day. The palate was just all about that sea spray. The palate was wild - tasted a lot like salted limes doused with fresh honey. The finish was super mineral with hints of lime zest and green apples. Just pure energy!
I’ve seen quite a number of tasting notes on CL noting that the 09’ Roseneck’s possibly close to its peak but I’m inclined to believe otherwise. — 2 months ago