Always liked Haut-Marbuzet, but some claimed it wouldn't age. 31 years and counting on this '95, it's in fine shape, nothing left to prove,can easily hold more.

A little tight on opening,bright,mature & nuanced, classic Bordeaux with finesse & lead, ultimately gentle, subtly concentrated

Decay's not an issue; loved the focus & grip on the finish. Fully ready but lively, not at all urgent to drink it up.Prime time wine, not much more I could ask for. 13% alc, $21 retail then

#wine #bordeaux

Evidently, resistance is futile. Philadelphia is conquered by robots. I am not sure this was a good thing.

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#Ubereats #robots #philadelphia

This 04 Reserva (mostly Touriga Nacional/Touriga Franca) from Portal with the pretty door label is big, listed at 15%, but it's held surprisingly well for a well-priced red aged 20+ years (low-$20s today). Fruity on the edges, it's not jammy.

If age has done anything, it's mostly on the structure--there's not much backbone or vibrancy. If a bit flat, it's a long way from decayed. Call it a win for the price, the age and handling its high alcohol well, a tasty pizza wine.

#wine #douro

I'm a Tannat fan. It's spread beyond the more obvious places like Uruguay and Madiran to Virginia, Greece and beyond.

Alpha Estate in Greece has been making nice ones. Black fruits, a touch of earth and a relatively bright, juicy finish make this a fresh success. In what I would call Alpha's style, this has a polished and balanced feel. Ten years on, it shows no signs of needing to be drunk soon.

14%, $40-ish for new vintages
#wine #greece #tannat

1/2
Haven't popped a 2001 M. Grunhaus Abtsberg Auslese in a few years, but it's right on track to age, well, indefinitely! It's an intriguing mix of off-dry richness and acidity that is hard to get right, but it manages, with time. The peach overlays are eventually knifed by that acidity as it comes into far better balance the next day, giving it a more obvious backbone and tension. It seems like a different wine then, always prime time and delicious.

To part 2 in reply

#wine #riesling

This Lisboa region 2013 Touriga Nacional from top producer Chocapalha remains fresh and supple, silky and laced with blue fruits. Mostly easygoing at this age, it still wakes up with air, shows some bite and improves notably. In fact, it seems gloriously young, sensually textured and vigorous at times. The brightness, most of all, makes it seem fresh and alive.

The oak rounds it off while the floral aromatics are completely enticing. 14%, $45-ish

#wine #portugal #touriganacional #lisboa

This single-vineyard Cab Franc from the Finger Lakes starts with minor green notes. The veggies are more aggressive on the nose, not offputting. Then, it evolves into a controlled, olive flavor profile.

The light and bright demeanor (with a touch of tannin) mostly makes it lively, persistent and most of all--silky & surprisingly fresh with a juicy finish. It's on the thinner side, but it's beautifully balanced, a perfect food wine. 12.8%. $40-ish

#wine #fingerlakes #cabernetfranc