David Fletcher
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EN
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Boris Buliga
A horizontal tasting of David Fletcher.
We may have forgotten, but civil aviation still exists. And yet, we're always amazed when someone, like an Australian (you know, that country near New Zealand), packs up their life and moves to Piedmont. Okay, maybe the act of moving isn't so astonishing—it's probably the details and the motivation that make it intriguing. And, as you might have guessed, it's somehow related to wine.
For me, the last year was largely about gradually immersing myself in the perfumed world of the beautiful—sometimes delicate, sometimes structurally overwhelming, but always stunning. So I can completely (or at least partially) understand the aspirations of this mentioned Australian gentleman. Lately, I've also been thinking more often about my relatives in Piedmont, who, by the way, seem to have plenty of space for visitors.
And this brings us to the culprits of my vinous empathy—Alessio and Vasyl—who gathered some convives to savour the fruits of Mr. Fletcher's meticulous labour (or, considering his roots, perhaps MacFletcher's—but don't take my word for it). The atmosphere of the abandoned railway station, where the wine is made, seemed to seep into the wine itself, merging the old with the new, all interpreted through the restorative hands of a New World winemaker in an ancient region.
Phew, I've gotten carried away. Let's get closer to the point.
| Wine | Place | rms Average score calculated using the root mean square method, reflecting the collective assessment of a wine by participants. | wavg Weighted average score for the wine, where each participant's rating is adjusted for their wine assessment expertise. | sdev Standard deviation measures the controversy of a wine's reception. A lower value signifies greater consensus among participants. | fav Count of participants who selected this wine as their evening's favourite. | out Number of participants who identified this wine as their least favourite of the evening. | price Price of the wine, if available. | volume Volume of the bottle in litres. | QPR Quality-price ratio, indicating value for money. A higher number denotes better value. Available when price is known. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 🏅 7th | 3.8978 | 3.8636 | 0.0389 | 0 | 0 | – | 0.75 L | – |
| 🥉 3rd | 4.1631 | 4.1642 | 0.0048 | 0 | 0 | UAH 3,890.00 | 0.75 L | 0.9186 🤔 | |
| 🏅 6th | 4.1135 | 4.1239 | 0.0086 | 0 | 0 | UAH 1,990.00 | 0.75 L | 0.9453 🤔 | |
| 🏅 5th | 4.0528 | 4.1478 | 0.0225 | 0 | 0 | UAH 1,890.00 | 0.75 L | 1.0190 😊 | |
| 🏅 4th | 4.1443 | 4.1604 | 0.0046 | 0 | 0 | UAH 2,690.00 | 0.75 L | 0.8769 🤔 | |
| 🥇 1st | 4.3023 | 4.3821 | 0.0200 | 0 | 0 | UAH 4,490.00 | 0.75 L | 1.0818 😊 | |
| 🥈 2nd | 4.2012 | 4.2060 | 0.0100 | 0 | 0 | UAH 4,290.00 | 0.75 L | 0.7634 😐 |
Davoche Clafoutis Grenache 2021
- Region
- France » Vin de France
- Type
- red still, dry
- Producer
- Davoche
- Vintage
- 2021
- Grapes
- Grenache
- Alcohol
- 13
- Volume
- 750 mL
This wine secured the 🏅 7th place in our wine tasting lineup.
I'm not certain whether it's due to bottle variation, a shift in my own perception, or differences in serving, but this time the wine is less captivating, though still intriguing—especially after ample time in the glass to reveal its nuances. It presents notes of cacao and a touch of VA, with the fruit somewhat obscured and leaning towards a more aged quality, complemented by hints of pine. While the acidity isn't particularly high, the wine retains a silky and approachable character. It’s pleasant, but definitely seems to need a bit more time to fully come into its own.
Georges Remy Les Quatre Terroir N°20 NV
- Region
- France » Champagne AOC
- Type
- white traditional sparkling, brut nature
- Producer
- Georges Remy
- Vintage
- NV, based on 2020
- Disgorged
- 2023-07
- On lees
- 24 months
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
- Alcohol
- 13
- Sugar
- 0
- Volume
- 750 mL
This wine secured the 🥉 3rd place in our wine tasting lineup.
This wine is vibrant, complex, and continuously evolving. The intricate nose showcases aromas of pastille, chausson aux pommes, wet limestone, wet chalk, salted butter, red currant, and subtle vegetal notes. On the palate, it is lively with a precise mineral backbone and hints of Jerez in the finish. The oak integration is particularly noteworthy—distinct yet never overpowering, adding depth without opulence. Vinous and delicious–I hope to give it another try in the future.
David Fletcher Langhe Chardonnay 2023
- Region
- Italy » Piedmont » Langhe DOC
- Type
- white still, dry
- Producer
- David Fletcher
- Vintage
- 2023
- Grapes
- Chardonnay
- Alcohol
- 13
- Volume
- 750 mL
This wine secured the 🏅 6th place in our wine tasting lineup.
After its journey, this wine clearly benefited from some time to settle, becoming much more open and approachable over the past three months. I'm eager to observe its development in the coming years, so hopefully, my willpower holds strong. The nose is delightful, offering a harmonious blend of smoke, lemon, plums, vanilla, and butter, all beautifully balanced without any element overpowering the others. On the palate, it maintains this balance with a well-structured, fresh profile that is slightly buttery yet also mineral. It's truly great stuff.
David Fletcher Langhe Nebbiolo 2022
- Region
- Italy » Piedmont » Langhe DOC
- Type
- red still, dry
- Producer
- David Fletcher
- Wine
- Langhe Nebbiolo
- Vintage
- 2022
- Grapes
- Nebbiolo
- Alcohol
- 14
- Volume
- 750 mL
This wine secured the 🏅 5th place in our wine tasting lineup.
This Langhe is both stylish and enticingly youthful. The nose is a dream, filled with rose petals, sour cherry, briar, earthy notes, woody herbs, and a hint of marmalade. On the palate, it is fresh and well-structured, with a slightly tight feel and powdery tannins. Captivating flavours of briar, damp earth, mushrooms, a touch of tar, and fennel. It's delightful now, but clearly, it will benefit from more time in the cellar to truly shine.
David Fletcher Barbaresco Recta Pete 2021
- Region
- Italy » Piedmont » Barbaresco DOCG
- Type
- red still, dry
- Producer
- David Fletcher
- Vintage
- 2021
- Grapes
- Nebbiolo
- Alcohol
- 14
- Volume
- 750 mL
This wine secured the 🏅 4th place in our wine tasting lineup.
Compared to the younger Langhe, this wine is more perfumed and developed, offering a captivating array of aromas: sour cherry, red flowers, hibiscus tea, tar, blood, and a hint of dust. On the palate, it's impressive, with powerful tannins that are well-balanced despite its youth. There are flavors of coffee and a subtle metallic note. The finish reveals a pleasant sweetness, though overall, it still feels a touch too green. Nonetheless, it remains stylish and serious—an intriguing wine with promise.
David Fletcher Barbaresco Roncaglie 2021
- Region
- Italy » Piedmont » Barbaresco DOCG
- Type
- red still, dry
- Producer
- David Fletcher
- Vintage
- 2021
- Grapes
- Nebbiolo
- Alcohol
- 14.5
- Volume
- 750 mL
This wine secured the 🥇 1st place in our wine tasting lineup.
This wine is truly unique and offers a sense of novelty. The nose is somewhat inky and perfumed, revealing notes of plums, raspberries, cacao, red flowers, oriental spices, incense, and mint. On the palate, it carries a lot of greenness but maintains a sense of delicacy and balance, with a delightful sweetness in the finish. It is long, delicious, nuanced, and complex—richly packed with potential. I can't help but wonder how it will further develop over the next five or more years.
David Fletcher Barbaresco Faset 2021
- Region
- Italy » Piedmont » Barbaresco DOCG
- Type
- red still, dry
- Producer
- David Fletcher
- Wine
- Barbaresco Faset
- Vintage
- 2021
- Grapes
- Nebbiolo
- Alcohol
- 14
- Volume
- 750 mL
This wine secured the 🥈 2nd place in our wine tasting lineup.
Despite its youthful exuberance, this wine already shows its beauty. Even after two hours in a decanter, it remains both green and powerful. The captivating nose offers a bouquet of flowers, tar, dark fruits, earth, and mushrooms. On the palate, it features high acidity and powerful, chewy tannins. It's undeniably packed with potential and not quite ready to drink today, but the aromatic allure makes it hard to resist.
Raw scores
| Wine | Elvira K | Dmytro Kh | Serhii K | Vasyl V | Alessio | Julia K | Kateryna Z | Boris B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.15 | 3.90 | 3.60 | – | 3.60 | 4.00 | |
| 4.20 | 4.20 | 4.20 | 4.10 | 4.20 | 4.20 | 4.00 | 4.20 | |
| 4.10 | 4.20 | 4.20 | 4.20 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.20 | |
| 4.10 | 4.00 | 3.90 | 4.30 | 4.20 | 3.80 | 4.00 | 4.10 | |
| 4.15 | 4.00 | 4.20 | 4.20 | 4.10 | 4.20 | 4.10 | 4.20 | |
| 4.20 | 4.10 | 4.40 | 4.40 | 4.50 | 4.10 | 4.30 | 4.40 | |
| 4.10 | 4.10 | 4.20 | 4.20 | 4.30 | 4.40 | 4.10 | 4.20 |