1995 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée Vintage Reserve
1995 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée Vintage Reserve
When I was out and about in search of Dom Ruinart Rose for Valentine’s Day, I happened upon a couple of great deals. The Billecart-Salmon (reviewed here) was my first and this 1995 Gloria Ferrer was the second.
I have been on the lookout for this bottling, as it is always a well rated* wine that sells for a relatively small price. The vintage concerned me, as I knew the current release was a much younger 2002. I went ahead with the purchased because I figured, how often does one get to taste 15 year old bubbly for $23.99? Plus, I can always try to find a bottle of the more current vintage. In hindsight, I should have waited and tried them side by side, but oh well, c’est la vie.
* Ratings for this wine ran from 88 to 92 points.
This wine is made from the first pressing (second best juice to the free run) of hand-picked grapes and is comprised of approximately two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay. It is aged in the bottle for 5 years before disgorging and they also offer a late-disgorged version, though I will say I’ve never seen a bottle in the Atlanta market.
The wine itself is past prime, with a very heavy sherry aroma and taste to the wine. Honestly, between you and me, I sort of liked it. I don’t think most folks would enjoy this particular wine at this age, as there was basically no fruit character left. It was caramel covered, sherry-soaked toast that had been broiled to within an inch of its life. The autolytic and oxidated notes were all that remained and that was just fine by me.
I doubt anyone else will spot a bottle of this anywhere, but I will say if you see a current vintage (2002), I’d definitely buy it. I believe the wine is typically released at 8 years of age and from what I can gather, it should be capable of lasting at least 3 to 4 years past release, but not much further. According to their website, the current retail from the winery is $35, which is nothing to sneeze at, but still a bargain for this quality of wine. Based on what I could find in the professional trade and on CellarTracker, this particular release went sailing past the finish line of good taste between 2 and 5 years, depending on which opinion you happen to like most.
Haiku
Past her prime for sure
Still holds some appeal to me
The light is dimming
Thank you for stopping by and taking time out of your busy day to read what I have to say. I hope for your return, your comments and welcome your questions. Until then, drink well, drink often and share the wealth, especially the warm and fuzzy kind.
Cheers!
