We are tasting Grand Siecle, Bricco del Drago, Ürziger Würzgarten and a fantastic sweet wine from Martinelli.

Fortunately the Laurent-Perrier NV Grand Siecle is an older bottling which is perfect to drink now. It has a fine perlage and an opulent nose with lots of slightly sweet blossoms like Japanese cherry blossoms but no nutty notes. The Champagne is perfect balanced with a long finish and very mineral. This makes it one of the best non-vintage champagnes alongside Krug Grande Cuvée. 19.3/20 points.

The Cascina Drago 1970 Bricco del Drago is one of the rare cuvées with Nebbiolo and Dolcetto, both grape varieties with a lot of Tannin. It is ripe now with red currants, herbs, some forest floor, moss, melted tannin and acidity which gives the wine freshness and structure. 17/20 points.

If you like traditional sweet Riesling on a high level then Alfred Merkelbach 2018 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese is the wine for you. The wine starts with a stinker and needs aeration, then the nose offers powdered sugar and lime. The wine is clean, very mineral and very youthful with a medium long finish and a bit of sulphur. 17.8/20 points.

Jackass Hill is the steepest vineyard in California with old vines of Zinfandel and Muscat Alexandria. The Muscat was planted in 1890. The Martinelli 2015 Jackass Hill Muscat Alexandria Russian River Valley reminds of a Gewürztraminer Selection de Grains Nobles from Alsace. As all wines from Martinelli, it has a high alcohol level (16.8%) which you won't notice. The wine is very dense and sweet with nutmeg, rose petals, a full-body, a long finish, and a spicy sweetness. 18.5/20 points.