Happy Halloween Happening Now Tasting: Clos de Torribas Reserva 2017, Penedes

 

This Halloween Happening Now Tasting ought to get highly personal. Back in those days long long ago as a young student of numerous subjects I happened to consume this very Catalan on a regular basis. Of course different vintages back then. I could image that I must have been young, not all too poor (because this one wasn't out of the lowest shelf ... actually I think back then it was even more expensive than nowadays ... which is hard to comprehend) and of course quite dumb back then. The latter might not have altered all too much I am afraid. Unfortunately I have no witty explanation why I showed such bizzare behaviour to rebuy this Tempranillo that often. Probably too long ago. I haven't had it since ... and now I am quite curious what I've been drinking in those not so good old days. That's why I'd like to give it a go ...

Happy Halloween Happening Now Tasting: Konni & Evi Silvaner Spätfüllung 2021, Saale-Unstrut Landwein

2024s, yes at least one tradition musn't go down drain, Happy Halloween Happening Now Tasting will lead my tongue into unchartered territories of my so called home country ... or so. The wines of Saxony-Anhalt resp. Saale-Unstrut (consciously excluding the few hectares of Thuringia and perhaps others) never been in my personal palatal limelight. I just hope today's wine will not ignite solid Halloween vibes! Let's hope for the best! Konni and Evi's aka Konrad und Eva from Laucha-Burgscheidungen - approx. 30 km west of Leipzig - produce interesting - alledgedly, because I never laid tongue on a wine by them ... obviously - natural wines from Silvaner and some others I really ... anyway, I digress! The Silvaner Spätfüllung (late bottling) from 2021 appears to be a  blend of grapes from old vines in Steigraer Hahnenberge, Wünschetal and Ziegental ... all vineyards speak unimbigous Greek to me. Let's just give it a go with lowest possible speed an see what will happen ...

Lap No 1

Alluring attire: juvenile amber with quite a lot of sparkle and surprisingly no dusty sediment

Conk vibes: are quite intense and spicy; cumin, curcuma, white pepper, perhaps caraway, plenty of orange zest, proper touch of saline, vital smoke, unfortunately some sensations of chewing gum and nice crisp quince … so far quite some subtle nose

Oral pleasure:  state of the art sheer acid attack, almost lush fruity flavours of oranges and quince, strong curcuma, hint of cloves, definitely some ginger, seemingly strong spice from granite and loads of salt and pepper … quite expressive, however totally dominated by the acid

So far a rather nasally pleasure - a quite profound one actually - but I stay most positive, let’s just give it some time …

Lap No 2 (about 23 1/2 hours later)

Conk still with plenty of suspenseful vibes: more cumin, a bit less curcuma and much more ginger incl. peel, a bit more lemon peel and less orange peel - overall a bit more relaxed and even more subtle - not too shabby

Today convincing oral pleasure: still quite snappy, however by far not as acid dominated as the day before - somehow Geuze kinda acid, gentle fruit flavours of oranges, lemons and even more quince, ginger stronger, curcuma a bit more shy, the entire spicy side is a bit more reserved aka integrated - overall amazingly crisp Silvaner packed with character, acid still challenging ... just saying

Happy Halloween Happening Now Tasting: Granny's Precious

 

Like in the previous years I'd like to indulge my tongue with straight forward palatal confrontations in Happening Now style! This year with a little selection straight out of Granny's cellar! Let's just survive ... my tongue, I mean ;-)

Happy Halloween Happening Now Tasting: Viñedos del Jorco „El Jorco” 2017, Cebreros

After almost an entire year packed with palatal confrontational therapy – meaning confronting myself with plenty of wines made from grape varieties I am not particularly fond of – today aka tonight is the perfect time to give myself another (confrontational) one. And which grape could be more suitable than my good old palatal arch enemy: Grenache (don't take it all too serious please, but I haven't had all too many enjoyable wines produced from Grenache, even less I was able to "manage" or "handle") … aaanyway, let's hop off all the way to extendet metro Madrid to Cebreros and see what kind of Grenache aka Garnacha I will challenge my tongue this time.

Happy Halloween Happening Right Now Tasting - Cà dei Frati I Frati Lugana 2018

My Halloween “Happening Now Tasting“ tradition is back (at least this year). I guess an introduction for "this" is not really necessary! It is certainly highly famous. And the photo says more than enough … Let's get the job done ...