Pops

To celebrate Pop things, The Chairman opened a bottle of NV Veuve Clicquot ‘Cuvee Saint Petersbourg’ Champagne, he acquired Duty Free.  Sold from Australia, I understand this to be a private cuvee for  the Russian market, given an extra year of age.  Whether it’s on lees or on cork, I don’t know, but I suspect from the way it tasted it was the latter.  A little more toasty-earthiness to the bready autolysis and a little more breadth than usual.  The cork had compressed a tad, but out it went – Pop!

 It was my shout next and with The Young One and The Youngette One, it was Pop’s shout, a 2007 von Kesselstatt Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Spatlese.  Still young and floral with honeysuckle notes, this was carried a little by the sugar.  It had the sweetness of a spatlese for sure, and also the weight, and it too was a treat.

The P-Prince popped out a couple of interesting wines too.  Pinot Noir with a connection and a difference.  A 2009 Cristom ‘Mount Jefferson Cuvee’ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from Oregon, in the red fruit spectrum with red floral fragrances developing a little secondary undergrowth touch, and not totally clean.  This has over 30% whole bunch, but you wouldn’t know it, as it was supple and aromatic rather than into the complexing layers of herb, stalk and structure.  The last one I had was more pure and fine.  

Its comparison stablemate was a 2010 Farrside by Gary Farr Geelong Pinot Noir.  At least 50% whole bunch and it was clear.  Plenty of grip and substance, but still with sweetness of fruit.  Better and more finesse than a 2009 I had a little while ago.  There’s some serious stuff going on here and it worked well, with primary fruit a joy.

These latter two ines are made by those who are regarded as the more serious Pinot Noir producers in their respective countries by many, the fathers or Pops of the style.