Pouilly Fuisse, Clos Reyssie	1994	Dom. Valette

3/98. Acquired in auction Jan-97 for $47 (imported for $73 net).
I rarely buy (or refrain from buying) (B) wines based on Mr. Parker's recommendations. But this time I admit I bought three bottles solely on his 'awesome' critique. Parker compared this "Reserve Particulier" wine to the best of the Cote d'Or and proceeded to give it a 96/100 mark.
Opened this bottle for Friday night 'homeish' dinner of geffilte-fish, chicken soup, and lamb in lemon and peas for main course.
COLOR: Deep yellow, looks viscous and fat.
NOSE: Assertive and heavy bouquet of vanilla, overwhelming any other aromas this wine could boast. The last thing that can be said is that this wine lacks nose, but the obvious oak is heavy-handed indeed.
TASTE: Similar to the nose. The wine is obviously rich and concentrated but is totally immersed in wood. At least for my palate its taste borders on the unpleasant!
LENGTH: Again, vanilla essence...
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Medium bodied. Rich, fat, concentrated. Every aspect is overshadowed by the apparent new oak. Heavy, short on fruit, lacks in perceived acidity, extremely over-oaked. Way out of balance.
OVERALL: Very good (in absolute terms) but a big disappointment for me. How on earth can anyone mark it 96/100 is beyond me.
MARK: 16/20.aaaaaaaaBUY MORE? No.

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Copyright 1996-2003.
Jacob "Yak" Shaya.