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Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Old Port Wine Diaries. Each month, we’ll highlight bottles purchased and enjoyed from Old Port Wine. This space is dedicated to sharing experiences, critiquing wines, and offering personal opinions on the current inventory.

 

Pescel Doquet Grand Cru Champagne – 88 Points

A solid Champagne for the price, but it falls short when compared to other Grand Cru level wines. It lacked the ‘wow’ factor and didn’t deliver the power and complexity I expected. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable and quality Champagne, definitely worth exploring given its significantly lower price point compared to standard Grand Cru offerings.

 

2013 Michel Magnien Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers – 92 Points 

This bottle boasts an incredibly seductive bouquet, brimming with bright red fruit, strawberries, raspberries, crushed rose petals, a touch of perfume, and leather. Initially, the palate seemed to be on the decline, presenting as thin and lacking structure. However, over a few hours, it evolved beautifully, revealing sweet red fruits, subtle white pepper, high acidity, and firm tannins. The finish remained somewhat lacking, but the captivating aromas alone made this Burgundy a worthwhile experience.

 

Christophe Thorigny Brut Vouvray – 90 Points

This Vouvray is a delightful repeat choice, perfect for light-hearted summer evenings. It’s light, refreshing, and highly affordable, making it a great crowd-pleaser. The bright acidity and crisp flavors make it an enjoyable, easy-drinking option that never disappoints.

 

2003 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese – 94 Points

The standout bottle of the month, despite not being from Old Port Wine. The cork was in excellent condition, and the wine was even better. The nose was an enchanting mix of ripe apricot, honey, peaches, and minerals, bursting with life. While the acidity was good, it wasn’t exceptional. This Riesling was the perfect celebratory bottle for my birthday, thoroughly enjoyed and truly unforgettable.

 

2018 Auguste Clape Cornas – 91 Points

This Cornas promises great potential. Over two days, it showed deep purple, almost black hues. The palate was dominated by licorice, pepper, and plum, finishing with a lengthy, silky smoothness. Despite not showing its best, this powerful wine left a lasting impression. A wine I look forward to revisiting.

 

2022 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc – 90 Points

This Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc dazzled with a floral-forward nose filled with white flower petals, granite, and a hint of nuttiness. Rich and full-bodied on the palate, it took me by surprise. With a higher ABV, it’s noticeable but balanced. It will be fascinating to see how this wine evolves over the coming years.

 

2021 Burn Cottage Moonlight Race – 91 Points

Burn Cottage continues to impress with this vibrant Pinot Noir. The Moonlight Race offers firm tannins, bold red fruit, and an unmistakable spice, making it an incredible value. This wine’s complexity and lively character showcase the exceptional winemaking happening in New Zealand. A personal favorite for its quality and price.

 

2017 Domaine Alain Chavy Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clavoillons – 91 Points

This Puligny-Montrachet delights with its nutty, earthy nose, accented by oak and green apple. Bright acidity and a solid length make it highly enjoyable, with a lingering nutty finish. This bottle is drinking beautifully now and will continue to impress for a few more years.

 

2016 Chateau Musar – 90 Points

A thoughtful gift from a great friend, making it hard to critique. My first taste of a younger Musar, it was decanted for five hours and tasted periodically. It revealed notes of sour cherries, oak, subtle spice, and sweet ripe red fruit. While thin on the palate and challenged by volatile acidity, it was overall a young, easy-drinking wine.

 

2021 Beaux Freres Pinot Noir – 93 Points 

Arguably the finest Oregon Pinot Noir I’ve experienced. This wine excelled on all fronts, offering aromas of blueberries, raspberries, and white pepper. Juicy on the palate with firm tannins and well-rounded structure, it showed its best at 3+ hours but was surprisingly approachable shortly after opening. A bright future for this wine, and a definite addition to my collection.

 

2023 Peter Michael L’Après-Midi – 91 Points

Incredibly complex, this Sauvignon Blanc stands out as one of the most intricate I’ve had the pleasure of tasting. Layered with apricots, spruce, lemon, and vanilla, it is bursting with flavor and intensity. Fresh from the 2023 vintage, this wine would benefit from 1-3 years of aging to truly settle and reach its full potential.

 

Final Thoughts: As I reflect on July, it’s difficult to find any negatives regarding the bottles we opened. Each one was enjoyed in great company and often accompanied by pleasant summer weather. Whether it was celebrating the 4th of July, my birthday, or sharing a mid-week bottle with a friend, July was undeniably a success. Here’s to more fun and fantastic wines in August. Cheers to July! – Carson McEvoy

 

Top Three Wines:

1. 2003 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese
2. 2021 Beaux Freres Pinot Noir
3. 2013 Michel Magnien Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers

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