A 10 Year Retrospective Tasting: 2013 Vintage

The ‘A Retrospective Tasting: 2013 Vintage’ organised at Berry Bros & Rudd and led by fine wine expert Michael Dabbs, offered an exquisite opportunity to understand the evolution of wines from around the world after a decade. The tasting notes below capture the details of our sensorial exploration.

Apéritif: Wiston Estate Winery, Cuvée Brut, Sussex, England, en magnum – ($144 – rating: 4.6 / 5.0)

Our journey began with the Wiston Estate Cuvée Brut, a testament to the finesse of English sparkling wine. The palate offered a refreshing interplay of green apple and lemon zest, underpinned by subtle toasty notes, reflecting the wine’s decade-long evolution. A delightful start!

Wine 1: Champagne Pol Roger, Brut, France – (en magnum $253 – rating: 4.5 / 5.0)

Our exploration continued with the Champagne Pol Roger, Brut. With its fine perlage and complex nose combining citrus, brioche and almond nuances, it was a charming testament to Champagne’s longevity. Its refreshing acidity and creamy texture on the palate affirmed its well-aged elegance.

Wine 2: Chablis, La Forest, 1er Cru, Vincent Dauvissat, Burgundy, France – ($252 – rating: 4.8 / 5.0)

The Chablis La Forest, 1er Cru by Vincent Dauvissat impressed with its vibrant minerality and evolved stone fruit flavours. A fine balance of acidity and salinity revealed the decade-long ageing, with the vibrant citrus finish underlining its finesse and maturity. A real beauty and one of the highlights of the night!

Wine 3: Meursault, Sous La Velle, Anne Boisson, Burgundy, France – ($198 – rating: 4.2 / 5.0)

Anne Boisson’s Meursault, Sous La Velle, carried an enticing nose of hazelnut, honeyed apple and a whiff of vanilla. The palate showed signs of development with rich fruit and a buttery complexity, yet perhaps lacking a bit of the vibrancy of its youth.

Wine 4: Nuits-St Georges, Aux Murgers, 1er Cru, Domaine Sylvain Cathiard, Burgundy, France – ($583 – rating: 4.6 / 5.0)

The Nuits-St Georges, Aux Murgers from Domaine Sylvain Cathiard was a beautiful expression of aged Burgundy. The bouquet of red cherries, dried herbs, and an earthy undertone was incredibly inviting. The palate’s robust tannins had mellowed to give way to ripe red fruit flavours, punctuated by a peppery finish.

Wine 5: Kusuda Wines, Syrah, Martinborough, New Zealand – ($186 – rating: 4.5 / 5.0)

The Kusuda Syrah was an excellent example of New Zealand’s prowess in red wines. A nose of black pepper, violets, and plums enticed. The palate, an evolution of rich, dark fruit, vanilla, and soft tannins, showcased the graceful ageing of this New World Syrah.

Wine 6: Flaccianello della Pieve, Tenuta Fontodi, Tuscany, Italy – ($169 – rating: 4.8 / 5.0)

Tenuta Fontodi’s Flaccianello della Pieve displayed the charm of Tuscan wines. A complex nose of dark cherries, tobacco, and leather led to a palate where structured tannins met well-integrated flavours of dark fruit and spice, still fresh and vibrant after a decade. Another one of my favorites that night.

Wine 7: Barolo, Monprivato Cà d’Morissio, Riserva, Mascarello, Giuseppe & Figlio, Piedmont, Italy – ($583 – rating: 4.7 / 5.0

The Barolo from Monprivato Cà d’Morissio, Riserva, was classic Piedmont. The nose offered tar, dried roses, and a hint of truffles, while the palate delivered beautifully evolved tannins mingling with vibrant cherry flavours and a savoury undertone, rounding off with a lasting finish.

Wine 8: Château Latour, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France en magnum – ($1411 – rating: 4.6 / 5.0)

The Château Latour from Pauillac was a superb representation of Bordeaux’s longevity. The nose was a symphony of blackcurrant, cedar, and truffle. The palate revealed softened tannins balancing against preserved fruit, tobacco, and graphite notes, which lingered long on the finish. This wine has still feel young and could do with another decade of aging.

Wine 9: Sassicaia, Tenuta San Guido, Bolgheri Sassicaia, Tuscany, Italy – ($389 – rating: 4.4 / 5.0)

Tenuta San Guido’s Sassicaia provided an engaging experience with its bouquet of red fruits, sweet spice, and a hint of bell pepper. The palate, though slightly faded compared to its younger self, still offered an attractive balance between fruit, spice, and ageing notes of leather.

Wine 10: Cardinale, Napa Valley, California, USA – ($250 – rating: 4.7 / 5.0)

Closing the evening was the Cardinale from Napa Valley. The powerful and rich nose of cassis, eucalyptus, and chocolate carried through to the palate, where the dark fruit core met with hints of mint and cocoa. A lasting finish marked this as a successful exploration of aged California Cabernet.

Michael Dabbs’s adept guidance through the nuances of these decade-old wines helped us appreciate the beautiful transformation that well-crafted wines undergo with time. From the New World to the Old, this retrospective tasting was a masterclass in the longevity and enduring elegance of quality wines.