This wine from Maculan is just incredible! I thought the 2003 was good, but the the 2004 is mind-blowing. It was like drinking the 2004 Can Feixes for the first time. WOW!!! The Maculan has an incredible natural richness (not from oak); it’s almost like a hint of botrytis like a Chenin Blanc from the Loire. I think it is the Tocai in the blend; the rest is Pinot Grigio and Pinot Blanc. After the richness you get a nice tingly, crisp finish (hello, 2004).
So after drinking this, the Can Feixes, and a Vacheron Sancerre (which had been opened for a day and was still racy as hell), I am ready to declare 2004 a stellar vintage for whites. It made suffering through 2003 OK.
I think 2003 was hard for all of us.
Just checked and the 2004 is now out here, north of your border. Looking forward to uncorking it. The bortrytis thing though – is that good?
I guess I am overstating the botrytis thing. I just think the 50% Tocai (which I normally associate with dessert wines) gives it a unique (but extremely subtle) kind of richness. But it’s mostly just a great quaffer and food wine.