Tasting Notes - France, Other

NV Fontedicto Pirouette 6 Vin de Table

100% Carignan (pirouette 6 is code for 2006 btw)

Very interesting wine - extremely reductive nose on opening farmyard animal and plain stinky masking  barely noticable hints of clove spice and dark plum - cleans up considerably 1hr after decanting to an earthy barnyard rather than old cowshed, still not exactly pretty - but! - lovely on the palette, rich warm generous dark fruit spicy well balanced, grippy integrated tannins with quite a chalky mineral core - hold your nose and drink up

1943 Chateau Le Caillou Monbazaillac

This 67 year old wartime vintage sweet wine is pretty amazing - likely to be Sem/Sav blend though can't be sure label says 11.1% and believed to be re-corked in 1989

Colour is extremely dark brown more akin to a PX but with orange gold tints at the rim - nose is quite closed on opening with an odd copper metallic covering - caraffing opens it briefly with lovely coffee toffee notes but then seems to noticably close down again - after 20-30mins double caraffe it again which cleans the metallic note and the wine begins to evolve majestically with rich ginger bread spice, dark heather honey, roast nuts, toffee and caramalised brown sugar - soaring intense and complex - on the palette medium to full weight still beautifully rich and sweet with incredible tangy mouthwatering acidity balanced and persistent - all caramel and spice on the finish and long oh so long - this is a very cool wine indeed