These two wines were both monsters in the alcahol stakes, the doyen weighed in at 16.5% (although I have heard reports that it is infact 17%
), the Dead Arm 15%.
2001 Arakoon Doyen: Black purple colour, upon opening I get huge amounts of alcohol on the nose and a fairly large dose of brandied cherrie. On the palate I just cannot get past the intense alcohol, its just not balanced. After about 2 hours in the glass this started to improve, more chocolate, vannila and coffee started appearing on the nose, when VERY small sips were taken I could handle the alcohol intensity on the palate.
For me, purely a interest wine, it is not the kind of thing you want to pop open to enjoy over an evening, open it to stun and shock people
. Personally I much prefered the 2000 for pure hedonistic pleasure. My freind took the rest of the bottle home to try over a few nights, will let you know how it changes.
2001 Darenberg Dead Arm: Wow, upon opening what a great wine, massive nose of ripe black fruits, mocha and vanilla, on the palate this is very big, similar flavour profile to the nose and competely mouthfilling, not the alcoholic intensity if the Doyen, finish was very long. Unfortunately as the night progressed the alcohol came more to the fore and dominated on the nose...it then took a change again and the palate became slightly leaner...this is a chameleon of a wine. I dont know where it is going but I will stash a couple in the cellar to find out.
After those two monsters we could only handle a couple of glasses of the Seppelt DP 37 Tokay, a great wine and an absolute steal at the price, big rich nose of caramel and toffee, completely coats the mouth and the finish is very long...
A word of warning...my wine drinking buddy Steve and I usually get through at least 2-3 bottles per person and are still "reasonably" lucid, this night we only finished 1.5 bottles between us and both felt a bit fuzzy...these high alcohol wines really knock you around!! Dont drink Doyen and drive! (I took a taxi)
Take care, Adam
