Whisky Review – Bunnahabhain 16 Old Particular

Bunnahabhain 16 Old Particular [Link to Douglas Laing]


Region: Islay
ABV: 48.4%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Refill Hogshead

 

Colour: Pale Straw

Nose: Honey, apple, grass, oily, pineapple, malt, orange water, icing sugar

Palate: Pineapple, malt, citrus peel, slight acidity, sugar, nuts

Finish: Medium finish, malty, faint smoke, mineral water

Score: 80/100


Overall rather pleasant, smooth, and rather basic dram. Not overly complex, nice citrus, tropical fruit and nutty profile. A nice touch of smoke towards the finish as well. Glad to have try it.

Whisky Review – Glenmorangie Lasanta

Glenmorangie Lasanta [Link to Glenmorangie]


Region: Highland
ABV: 43%
E150: Yes
Chill-filtered: Yes
Cask Type: Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry Casks

 

Colour: Amber

Nose: Red fruit jam, mineral, berries, burnt orange peel, cinnamon, dried fruits, wax

Palate: Raspberry, malt, wood, mineral, wax

Finish: Long finish, mineral

Score: 69/100


Not sure what grade of sherry casks Glenmorangie decided to use, but surly they aren’t ones of high grade. Overall the whisky just felt poorly “put-together”. Lasanta is said to mean ‘warmth and passion’ in Gaelic, which is exactly what I can’t feel from this expression. Felt like it was made with a “that will do” attitude, really basic, off-balance with loads of mineral throughout, you do notice the sherry influence, but it’s just not a nice composition. Wouldn’t recommend.

Whisky Review – Springbank Local Barley 11, 16

Springbank Local Barley 11 [Link to Springbank]


Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 53.1%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon

 

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Dried Apricot, peach, fibrel cereal, ethanol, smoked plum, white flower, salted butter, green tea, citrus rind, tic tac vanilla

Palate: Ashy peat, butter, salt, lemon curd, faint dried cherry, cured meat

Finish: Long finish, sweet cereal, mineral

Score: 87/100


Springbank Local Barley 16


Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 54.3%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: 80% ex-Bourbon, 20% ex-Sherry

 

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Syrupy, white grape, faint buttery smoke, dried apricot, vanilla, anise, popcorn

Palate: Smoked meat, tar, peat, lemon, mineral, honey, vanilla

Finish: Long finish, ash, orange peel, more mineral

Score: 85/100


The local barley expressions are supposed to show the terrior of the barley. The 11 year old is made with made with Bere barley from Aros Farm, while the 16 is made with barley grown at Low Machrimore Farm in Southend.

Overall I liked the 11 more than the 16, its more complex, better integrated aromas and flavour. They both took a while to open up, showing a very similar profile.

I wish Springbank would have aged both barley types in similar ex-bourbon casks and age, and label the barley on the label (kind of like how wine labels are, showing the vineyard and varietal). That way would be the closest we can do to try out different profile of the barley.

Whisky Review – Springbank 12 Cask Strength 2017 Release

Springbank 12 Cask Strength 2017 Release [Link to Springbank]


Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 54.2%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: 70% ex-Sherry, 30% ex-Bourbon

 

Colour: Gold

Nose: Cherry Syrup, menthol, malt, raspberry, leather, metallic, floral, honey, ginger, dried fruits, light peat

Palate: Pepper, raspberry jam, citrus, malt, leather, crushed stone, ginger, orange peel

Finish: Long finish, ginger, mineral water, faint peat

Score: 86/100


Rather solid release from Springbank as usual, really enjoy the sherry centric influence, the nose really shows both casks working well in harmony, each contributing their signature notes, with touch of peat in the backbone. The palate is also very sherry forward, loads of red fruits and leathery notes, leading up to a spicy finish. Would recommend this bottle if you liked the Springbank 10.

Wine Review – Chateau Latour Grand Vin 1990

Chateau Latour Grand Vin 1990


Country: France
Region: Pauillac, Bordeaux
Grape: Bordeaux Blend
ABV: 12.5


Decanted for 2 hours, evolving ever since.
Nosed on both Zwiesel Enoteca Bordeaux Premier Crus, and Zalto Burgundy glass.

Colour: Dark garnet core, brick rim.

Nose: Sweet tobacco, worn leather, red currants, dark cherry, dried rose pedals, floral perfume, Chinese sun-dried tangerine peel (Chenpi), wood spices.

Palate: Dry, medium acidity, medium+ silky tannins. Dried plum, red currants, chenpi, mineral, blackberry.

Finish: Long finish, tobacco, sweetness.

Score: 89+/100


One of the legendary vintages of Bordeaux, 1990, from one of the top winery – Chateau Latour. Decanted for three hours. The 1990 Grand Vin opens up with a powerful bouquet of dried rose pedals, sweet tobacco, and worn leather. Followed by waves of matured dark and red fruits, and a distinctive sun-dried tangerine peel aroma (Chenpi), and a faint suggestion of spice.

The palate is silky, still packs abundant of fruits, the Chenpi note from the nose carries over, touch of minerals, with a lingering finish of sweetness that almost massages your throat.

To be honest, this was actually a rather “underwhelming” wine, after having the 1982 previously, this is a few notches down on the power and layers of complexity of the 1982. The wine is still holding strong after 8 hours since the initial decanting. Hopefully 10 more years this wine will develop more complexity, as I still have another half-bottle lying in the cellar.

Glenelly Estate Grand Vin 2010

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Glenelly Estate Grand Vin 2010


Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Grape: 36% Shiraz, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot
ABV: 14.5


Colour: Dark purple core, medium brick on the rim.

Nose: Black raspberry, dusty, blueberry, cassis, leather, smoke, touch of spice.

Palate: Full bodied, medium tannins, medium acidity. Savoury, dried tomato, blackberry, pepper, clove, cherry.

Finish: Long finish, sour cherry, mineral, integrated oak.

Score: 82/100


Really well integrated wine with good structure. On the savoury and rustic side, could do with more quantity of fruits on the palate, drinking very well now.

DiamAndes Gran Reserva 2008

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DiamAndes Gran Reserva 2008


Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Grape: 75% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 14.5%


Colour: Medium+ purple core, lighter on the rim.

Nose: Cassis, prune, blackberry, violet, touch of smoke, cedar.

Palate: Medium body, medium+ tannins, medium acidity. Wood, blackberry, mineral, tar, touch of nuttiness.

Finish: Long finish, mineral, liquorice.

Score:81/100


Fairly integrated wine, perhaps if it was consumed 2-3 years ago it would’ve held onto more fruits. The wine is reasonably complex, full of dark fruits, smoke, cedar notes on the nose. The palate is very mineral forward, with blackberries, tar, and touch of nuttiness that reminds me of Oloroso sherry, with a long finish.

Jean Biecher & Fils Alsace Grand Cru Schoenenbourg Riesling 2014

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Jean Biecher & Fils Alsace Grand Cru Schoenenbourg Riesling 2014


Colour: Straw

Nose: Pear, sliced green apple, concentrated honey, yuzu, beeswax, touch of worn leather and mineral note.

Palate: Dry (touch of residual sugar), medium body, medium+ acidity. Lemon, citrus peel, crushed stone, grapefruit, pineapple.

Finish: Long finish, green apple, lemon, mineral, dried pineapple.

Score:84+/100


Rather amazing Riesling, incredibly concentrated. Very rich nose, full of citrus and honey, with nice minerality to up the complexity. The palate is dry but I feel a touch of residual sugar, rich, loaded with fruits and minerals, followed by a lingering finish. Got a great structure, I wonder how well this will age, showing lots of complexity already in its youth. Could drink now, or hold for 2-4 more years.

Domaine Duseigneur Laudun 2009

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Domaine Duseigneur Laudun 2009


Decanted for 2 hours.


Colour: Dark garnet core, light brown rim.

Nose: Violet, black raspberry, black cherry, animal notes (not to barnyard extend), meaty, forest floor, graphite, white flower.

Palate: Dry, full body, medium+ fine tannin, medium+ acidity. Black cherry, plum, mineral, crushed stone, cranberry, forest floor.

Finish: Medium finish, black fruits, saline, iron.

Score:83/100

Chateau Gaudrelle Cremant de Loire Brut (2013 Bottling)

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Chateau Gaudrelle Cremant de Loire Brut (2013 Bottling)


Colour: Pale Gold

Nose: Honey, peach, lemon peel, light butter, yeast.

Palate: Dry, medium bubbles Light citrus, medium- acidity. Honey, grass, crushed stone, peach.

Finish: Medium finish, mineral, grass.

Score:74/100


Purchased in late 2013, forgot about it, finally opening it tonight. In the stage of still retaining some freshness but you get a sense of maturity. The nose isn’t very intense or complex, same goes for the palate. Citrus with a touch of stone fruits, honey plays a part in the character as well; mineral driven palate, richer than expected, followed by more citrus and stone fruits. Overall fairly decent cremant, for $20CAD it’s a very good buy.