We have the 2006, the 2009 and the 2010, perfect for a vintage comparison! This wine evokes honey, butter and toasted oak. Lots of fruit in the mouth and enough acidity to balance everything.
2006 was a fabulous vintage for this wine! This wine has a bright golden yellow colour, with a pungent spicy honeyed nose with a whiff of toasty oak and a slightly buttery hint. On the palate there is again honey with smoky toasty oak, masses of fruit with good body and structure. Excellent length, with a nice cleansing acid streak and a hint of sweetness on the finish.
Like the previous vintages, the 2010 wine evokes honey, butter and toasted oak. Lots of fruit in the mouth and enough acidity to balance everything. Summer 2010 was not as hot as 2009 so there is more acidity and slightly less alcohol in this one than in the 2009.
Ben says (August 2016):
2006 - this is still fabulous. The notes above are as accurate as they were when written. This wine has no right to be so good after ten years but it really is! Very easy to drink but beware of the 14%ABV.
2009 - the nose is far more mature than the 2006. Because of this, we opened a second bottle for comparison and it seems to be the case throughout. With the honey, butter and oak there is some farmyard aroma. On the palate, however, this is as rich and buttery as you could desire. Tasting between a newly opened bottle and the one that was opened five days previously, there is little difference. The oak really does help preserve this wine wonderfully. Despite the 13%ABV the wine is very well balanced.
2010 - This is very similar to the 2009 but with less of the farmyard aroma on the nose. At 12.5%ABV this is the lightest of the three vintages but all that means is that the flavours come into their own even more. The oaking is perfect and the Pinot Gris flavours are lovely.
It is hard to choose between the three vintages but, for me, the 2006 edges it closely followed by the other two.
