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Tasting Notes Blog - Printer-Friendly Version
- October, 2007
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Wednesday, October 31, 2007 WT103107-01. 06 VENEZIE PINOT GRIGIO TORREDILUNA, LECHTHALER - (ITALY) Good apple, pear, tutti-frutti, nut, peel, freshness. Pure fruit with lush grigio creaminess./ Ripe, tangy, appley, creamy. Smooth glycerol aspect of grigio. Good acidity. Good value. 15.7. WT103107-02. 06 FRASCATI SUPERIORE REGILLO, TENUTA DI PIETRA PORZIA - (ITALY) Full and ripe and large and creamy for Frascati. 13% alcohol–wow! Apple, pear, even red fruits and berries. Enticing./ Rich enough palate to answer nose. Larger than life, modern Frascati. Size matters today. Like the Verdicchio last week. Attractive, delicious, delectable, and not without a crisp edge. But I miss the levity of the traditional stuff. I suppose this travels better and goes better with the wild and crazy food of today’s influential chefs. 16.0. WT103107-03. 06 GAVI LA LUCIANA, ARALDICA - (ITALY) Fine flower, apple, pear, wax, black pepper, lentil, and sage. Real cortese di gavi./ Full flavored. Racy, nutty, stylish, deep. Good light viscosity of cortese. Real elegance. Yes, real Gavi, and at a good price. Very popular with the group. 16.2. WT103107-04. 06 OC CHARDONNAY OPALIA, CAVES DE LA CESSANE - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Apple, acetone, plastic seat cover, new car smell. An exaggeration of chardonnay essences./ Good acidity and body. But the flavor range is narrow. For the texture though, it’s a good meal-time chardonnay. 15.2. WT103107-05. 04 SAINT VERAN, DOMAINE DE LA CROIX SENAILLET - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Apple and peel, nuts and earth. Bouquet forming. Dry, austere./ Smooth- and rich-textured, with a nice nutty aspect. Moving along its development curve. 15.6. WT103107-06. 06 CORBIERES ROUSSANNE-MACCABEU, DOMAINE DU TRILLOT - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Good combo of roussanne body and richness, and maccabeu perfumes. Straw, smoke, mineral, stone fruits, loquat, exotica. Pleasant, soft, easy, delightful expression, experience./ Big, pungent, handsome, spicy, assertive, mouthfilling. Scented, floral, exotic distinctive. 16.1. WT103107-07. 06 OC VIOGNIER NORD SUD, LAURENT MIQUEL - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Strong, true, and penetrating viognier perfumes. Tropical fruit, canned peach, lychee, musk, powder puff./ Solid, bright, tropical, creamy, tangy. Fine structure, dryness, power, and length. Eminently meal-worthy. 16.0. WT103107-08. 05 OC MERLOT OPALIA, CAVES DE LA CESSANE - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Strong, forward, herbal, dense, sweet everyday Oc merlot. Red fruits, some blackberry, some vanilla./ Decent merlot for the price. Nothing to be ashamed of. Meal-worthy. 14.8. WT103107-09. 05 SICILIA ROSSO, COLOSI - (ITALY) Very ripe. Rancio even. Rich, sun-drenched warmth. Yow! This has power and rusticity, leather and flesh./ Ripe black and red fruits and black pepper. Warm spices, especially clove. Good depth and nuance. Tremendous southern warmth and generosity. 16.0. WT103107-10. 05 BIERZO MENCIA BALTOS, DOMINIO DE TARES - (SPAIN) Black plum, licorice, mineral, spice. Reduction still, as so often in young mencia wines./ Solid, penetrating, taut, youthful, angular. Black fruit, black pepper, black earth, tar, tannin. Really dark-complexioned. That’s young mencia. Give it 2-3 years. 16.2+. WT103107-11. 04 SHENANDOAH VINEYARDS AMADOR CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.) Soft and oaky, with dark chocolate and floral fragrance. Big, ripe, forceful, brambly cabernet berry and cassis, and pungent wood spices./ Big fruit, big oak. Spicy, nutty, and dramatic. Blackberry jam, black currant jelly, tobacco. Expressive, insistent. 16.3. WT103107-12. 05 COSTIERES DE NIMES DES PERRIERES, MARC KREYDENWEISS - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) 60% carignan, 20% each grenache and syrah. Subdued and austere to start, it opens and softens to reveal ripe fruit, brett. Yes, black cherry carignan core fruit./ Nicely focused black fruits and cocoa. Sleek structuring, fine depth. Tight, young, thick, and tannic still. Needs air and age. 15.6+. WT103107-13. 04 PIC SAINT LOUP - COTEAUX DU LANGUEDOC, MAS DE FOURNEL - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Rich and ripe for 04. And powerful. Good 04 structure though. Big, dense, deep, ripe. Panettone and amarone-like features. Some bouquet development forming./ Nice garrigue flair. Plump, fleshy, forthcoming fruit. 04 acidity and structure. Fine depth. Good dinner wine that will improve over the next 1-2 years. 16.1. WT103107-14. 06 MILTON PARK SOUTH AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ - (AUSTRALIA) Sleek, sweet, and easy. Lots of cherry, blackberry, cassis, and currant aromas. Plenty of power. Deep and chocolatey./ Yes, easy, sleek, round, sweetly fruity, uncomplicated. Dash of eucalyptus. Pleasant. 15.2. WT103107-15. 05 SIMON HACKETT OLD VINE MCLAREN VALE GRENACHE - (AUSTRALIA) Oh! Good power, sweetness, and succulent grenache cooked strawberry fruit. Black raspberry notes too./ Palate echoes the enticing qualities of the nose. Plentiful, well focused fruit flavors and dash of black pepper. Good acidity for balance. Rich, well powered, generously textured, mouthfilling, lasting. This is what I’ve been looking for. A good Aussie grenache at a moderate price. 16.4. WT103107-16. 05 SHENANDOAH VINEYARDS SPECIAL RESERVE AMADOR ZINFANDEL - (U.S.) Good, sweet American oak and dark fruit. Very dark fruit for zinfandel: cranberry and black cherry, not raspberry. Bold./ Bramble, cracked pepper, vanilla, cocoa. Ripe and sleek. A good value. 15.7. WT103107-17. 06 PEIRANO ESTATE THE HERITAGE COLLECTION LODI MUSCAT CANELLI - (U.S.) Orange, blossoms, spices, and cologne, discreetly presented./ Sweet, soft, honeyed, fruity, fun. Enjoyed by the group. 15.7. Wednesday, October 24, 2007 WT102407-01. 06 TRANSYLVANIA VIILE TIMISULUI FETEASCA REGALA V, RECAS - (ROMANIA) Wow! Nicely scented. Peach, mango, and nutty-spicy extras. Cedar, sandalwood–and not from wood. Nice./ Bright, lively up front, flirtatious. Balanced and aromatic. Nice and dry and useful. 16.3. WT102407-02. 06 VERNACCIA DI SAN GIMIGNANO, FALCHINI - (ITALY) Apple, straw and nuts aromatic set is accurate, potent, and assertive./ Sturdy, with vernaccia crisp, biting edge and cleansing peels astringency. 15.7. WT102407-03. 06 VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO SUPERIORE VERDE CA’ RUPTAE, MONCARO - (ITALY) Full for Verdicchio. The back label mentions lees aging. Yes, the lees autolysis effect is evident in the aroma. And good. Full, supple, rich, even authoritative./ Yes, full and lusty, with good acid support. The lees-aging process is effective and legit. Makes for a fuller wine for heartier meal time applications
than traditional Verdicchios like Fazi Battaglia. Popular with the group. 16.3. WT102407-04. 06 NIEDEROSTERREICH GRUNER VELTLINER HUGO, HUBER - (AUSTRIA) Quite fragrant, perfumed even, high toned. Talc, lime, white currant, flowers. Very finely etched./ Soft, ripe, rich white currant flavor. Fine depth. Great dryness. Mouthfilling and lively. Just perfect for a light meal. 16.2. WT102407-05. 06 MACON LUGNY LES GENIEVRES, LOUIS LATOUR - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Joyous fruit. Fat and sassy stone fruits, apple, and flowers. Yes 06 joy./ Palate is more backward. Solid and toothsome. Needs time to flesh out further. 16.0+. WT102407-06. 05 ALSACE GENTIL, HUGEL - (FRANCE ALSACE) Oh, nice, gentle, plump, viscous, aromatic gewurz influence with the support of other varietals. Bright, tangy citrus range: orange, lemon, lime./ Again, the gewurz is evident. Nice lift of riesling and perhaps muscat too. Bright, very nervy, dry, useful. Well crafted. One of the best vintages of Gentil. 16.4+. WT102407-07. 06 OC PINOT NOIR LES SALICES OAK AGED, LURTON - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Warm and ripe southern pinot with some peels extracts for framing. And some oak. Well rounded and identifiably pinot./ Good pinot fruit flavor with peels extracts, acidity, tannin, and astringency. Southern warmth, creamy sweetness, subtle oak spices. One of their best vintages at this. 15.3. WT102407-08. 05 TRANSYLVANIA VIILE TIMISULUI FETEASCA NEAGRA LA PULERE, RECAS - (ROMANIA) Full red fruit like a modern 05 from Spain or the Midi. Plus its own unique sweet black plum, hoisin sauce, and cinnamon notes./ Full bodied and nicely textured. Certainly impressive as an internationally styled effort from a region where that’s seldom seen. 16.0. WT102407-09. 05 DOLCETTO D’ALBA MONTE ARIBALDO, MARCHESI DI GRESY - (ITALY) Oh, nice, fresh, sweet, and full. But still dolcetto, still lithe and lively. Lovely, luscious blue and blackberries and ripe, lively cherry and strawberry extras./ Class and elegance. Plenty of backbone. Spicy, full, flavorful. Fennel note. Round, ripe, very lovely, forward, finely balanced. Nicely framed and packed with polished fruit. A
fine example of dolcetto. And will improve. 17.0+. WT102407-10. 04 CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA, BANFI - (ITALY) Fine dark fruit of the vintage without being tough. Exotic wood spices and savors, dark dried cherry, mulberry, orange peel, cavendish tobacco, and anise. Fine 04 and fine Classico riserva. Runs deep./ Rich and round, with wood spices again and succulent dried fruits. Classy, nervy, charming, generous, deep. Has it all. Their best ever. Very popular with the
group. 17.0+. WT102407-11. 05 COLUMBIA CREST GRAND ESTATES COLUMBIA VALLEY MERLOT - (U.S.) Rich, ripe, and sweet for Columbia Valley merlot. Good sweet oak./ Dense, chunky, very ripe fruit and full measure of oak. Needs some time to allow the oak to settle in. 15.3+. WT102407-12. 04 TRINCHERO FAMILY MONTEREY MERLOT - (U.S.) Nice oak, American but refined, not overdone. And good fruit intensity. Good Monterey acidity, clarity, cut./ Fresh Monterey fruit and good oak in balance. Nice, steady, reliable merlot. 16.0. WT102407-13. 05 CARMEN RESERVE CASABLANCA MERLOT - (CHILE) Full black currant like aroma. I’d guess cabernet sauvignon. And loganberry too; that’s more like carmenere. Fine, delicate oak./ Sweet, rich, purple fruit with great acid foil. Pomegranate, date, and fig ripe-fruit flavors like a carmenere. Some leather. Rich in fruit sweetness and fruit acidity both. Totally intense. 16.5. WT102407-14. 05 CHATEAU LA LAUZETTE DUCLERQ, CRU BOURGEOIS, LISTRAC - (FRANCE BORDEAUX) Dense, with polished edges and generous if brooding black fruits. Good, compact, plummy richness. Well focused./ Young and tight Listrac with plenty of acidity and tannin. Some attractive oaky extras. Good depth and texturing. Very promising. Give it 3-5 years. Popular with the Europhiles this evening. 16.6+. WT102407-15. 05 FREI BROTHERS RESERVE ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.) Raspberry, blackberry, cassis, vanilla. High toned and intense. Sweet, tarry, heady, gutsy, powerful Alexander Valley cabernet. The house style here./ Woody, full, tannic, big, open textured, and chewy. No 05 contrition. All ALV, all Frei. As intended. 16.0+. WT102407-16. 04 ERRAZURIZ RESERVA MAX ACONCAGUA SHIRAZ - (CHILE) Ripe, with red currant snap. Wouldn’t guess syrah. Ripe and fully extracted./ Good acidity. Sweet and tart both. Good wood contribution. 16.2+. WT102407-17. 04 VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE CAPITEL SAN ROCCO RIPASSO, TEDESCHI - (ITALY) Firm, brooding, classy black fruits plus coffee, beef bouillon, smoked meats, tobacco, licorice, dried currant, and sweet roll./ Solid, ripe, classic ripasso, just short of a full-blown amarone. Big tannin, sassy black fruits, black licorice, fruit cake. Acidity, texture, sweetness all in balance. Dense, warm, muscular; full chewiness
of ripasso. Texturally exciting, plenty to offer. Would mow down many an amarone in its path. 17.5+. Wedensday, October 17, 2007 WT101707-1. 06 MAINZ-EBERSHEIMER SILVANER TROCKEN, JANZ - (GERMANY) Good earth, peel, vinosity./ Floral and elegant in the mouth. Fine silvaner depth. Striking! 16.0. WT101707-2. 06 MAINZ-EBERSHEIMER BACCHUS HALBTROCKEN, JANZ - (GERMANY) Cool and floral with tropical fruit extras. Pure bacchus without any of the oily perfumes. Just lovely fruit focus./ Yes, cool and pure bacchus. Refinement, lift, flowers, acidity. One of the prettiest examples I’ve had. 16.4. WT101707-3. 06 RHEINHESSEN RIESLING SPATLESE FEINHERB, JANZ - (GERMANY) Pungent, racy, mineral-y, racy. Fine depth. 15.6. WT101707-4. 05 MAINZ-EBERSHEIMER SPATBURGUNDER WEISSHERBST TROCKEN, JANZ - (GERMANY) Beauty, lift, cut, perfume, pink fruits./ Bright red cherry flavor, ripe, racy, and penetrating. Dry, silky, sophisticated. Good acidity and astringency. 16.3. WT101707-5. 05 MAINZ-EBERSHEIMER HUTTBERG DORNFELDER, JANZ - (GERMANY) Sweet and spicy berry-briar. Full, and fulfilled./ Yes, spicy, sweet berries. And red cherry. Ripe, racy, lively. Nice. 16.3. WT101707-6. 05 MAINZ-EBERSHEIMER HUTTBERG DORNFELDER TROCKEN, JANZ - (GERMANY) Very cool and racy. Spicy, dense, handsome black fruits./ Racy berry fruit. Vigorous. Great acidity. 16.2+. WT101707-7. 04 MAINZ-EBERSHEIMER CABERNET SAUVIGNON HALBTROCKEN, JANZ - (GERMANY) Warm, savory, ripe./ Ripe but lively. Fine race and depth. 15.9. WT101707-8. 04 MAINZ-EBERSHEIMER SPATBURGUNDER KABINETT TROCKEN, JANZ - (GERMANY) Spicy, warm, oaky. True pinot flavor. Very black fruit. 15.5. WT101707-9. 05 MOSEL-SAAR-RUWER WEISSER BURGUNDER TROCKEN, HUBERTUSHOF - (GERMANY) Wow! Full apple nose. Crisp and incisive./ Good acidity and high trocken forgiveness. Fabulous flavor and balance. 16.6. WT101707-10. 05 MOSEL-SAAR-RUWER RIESLING CLASSIC TROCKEN, HUBERTUSHOF - (GERMANY) Cool, fragrant, lovely 05./ Very keen edged, juicy. 05 acid, extract, full fruitiness, vigor. Fabulous. 16.8. WT101707-11. 06 TRITTENHEIMER ALTARCHEN RIESLING KABINETT, HUBERTUSHOF - (GERMANY) Lovely fruits and flowers aromas. Trittenheim lithe and elegant./ Yes, refined. Great acidity and grip for a young 06. Super kabinett. 16.5. WT101707-12. 05 TRITTENHEIMER APOTHEKE RIESLING SPATLESE TROCKEN, HUBERTUSHOF - (GERMANY) Good edelfirne and fruit development./ Less grip and flair than the auslese below. Good though. Showed better on its own a couple of weeks ago. 16.4. WT101707-13. 04 TRITTENHEIMER ALTARCHEN RIESLING AUSLESE TROCKEN, HUBERTUSHOF - (GERMANY) Shows the added maturity of an extra year’s aging. Peachy and very elegant. / Very fine and full. Lovely balance of maturity and fresh fruitiness, acidity and tenderness. Must be high trocken, or with some glycerol or alcohol giving a smoothness. Fine depth. 17.2. WT101707-14. 05 LEIWENER KLOSTERGARTEN RIESLING EISWEIN, HUBERTUSHOF half bottle - (GERMANY) Crisp, brittle even, with some horseradish aroma of a young Mosel eiswein. Bright, and brimming with honeyed fruit./ Full sweetness. Acidity crystal clear too. The sweetness and acid cut of eiswein. Young. Certainly of very high must weight and true eiswein style. 18.0+. WT101707-15. 05 MOSEL-SAAR-RUWER SPATBURGUNDER TROCKEN, HUBERTUSHOF - (GERMANY) Rich and peppery. Sweet, wholesome fruit. Very fragrant./ Plump and vigorous pinot. Racy black fruits, tarragon, and tea. Fine depth. 15.7. WT101707-16. 05 BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR, HANGTIME - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Modest, burnished pinot red berries with oaky highlights./ Adequate intensity, depth, and creaminess. 15.5+. WT101707-17. 05 CHIANTI COLLI SENESI, FALCHINI - (ITALY) Good, sweet 05 fruit with great acid vigor too. Dried cherry, peel. Classic Colli Senesi warmth./ Spicy, racy, brambly. Flows nicely and touches every corner of the mouth too. Great acidity, vim. 16.0. WT101707-18. PENINSULA CELLARS DETENTION MICHIGAN SWEET RED - (U.S.) Sweet and sassy. Blueberry jam./ Kola, plum confit, red cherry. Bright, sweet, and tangy easy drinking. 15.5. Wednesday, October 10, 2007 WT101007-01. 06 PRAXIS LODI VIOGNIER - (U.S.) Scented. Flowers, nectar, horseradish. Large./ Yes, very floral. Fresh, racy, sleek, good. Speaks viognier with authority. 16.0. WT101007-02. 06 VINA ROBLES ROSEUM PASO ROBLES ROSE - (U.S.) Pretty pink fruit with some peel extract grip to keep it dry. Strawberry and peach in cream./ Both fleshy and bright. Plump red fruits plus spices. Fine depth. Good acidity and peel astringency for mealworthiness. Good. 15.8. WT101007-03. 06 PRAXIS MONTEREY PINOT NOIR - (U.S.) Fresh. Very rich for Monterey. Good acid cut too. Handsome, fleshy, spicy, smoky, perfumed nose./ Good fruit and game flavors. Pinot suavity, with just enough acid to keep it lively. Well priced. 16.6. WT101007-04. 05 PRAXIS ALEXANDER VALLEY MERLOT - (U.S.) Brilliant fruit and oak perfumes. Fine vanilla-tinged woodiness./ A rich palate featuring good fruit-oak balance. Great acidity, juiciness. 16.7+. WT101007-05. 04 BISHOP’S PEAK ROCK SOLID PASO ROBLES RED - (U.S.) Very bright, purple, and reductive in a positive sense. Good fruit. Vanilla and fruit creme./ Plump, juicy, ripe red and black fruit flavors. Good acidity. Well balanced. Fine fruit clarity. 16.2+. WT101007-06. 03 PRAXIS DRY CREEK VALLEY SYRAH - (U.S.) Good, fresh fruit. Warm climate. Like a southern Rhone syrah for its warmth. More Euro acidity than most California syrahs./ Yes, fruit elegance and acidity recall Med France syrah more than California. Fine depth. 16.0. WT101007-07. 04 BISHOP’S PEAK EDNA VALLEY SYRAH - (U.S.) Deep, reductive style I’ve found in other young Edna Valley syrahs. Cool and purple fruit./ Fine oak seasonings and plenty of fruit charm. Velvety, seductive, really plush texture. Well, the palate alone is worth the price of admission! And the nose is sure to pull out of its funk in a few months’ time. 16.3. WT101007-08. 04 SULLIVAN RED INK RUTHERFORD RED - (U.S.) 60% merlot, 23% syrah, 17% cabernet–an unusual approach. Works though. Dark-fruited for Rutherford. I guess that’s the syrah. Lovely boysenberry aroma, rich and well defined./ Yes, great fruit clarity that will mark all the Sullivan wines this evening.. Nice vanilla and toast oak touches–light touches–just right. Love the texture, and the class. 17.0. WT101007-09. 02 ARBIOS ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.) Good ruddy maturity. Alexander Valley warm but not over-heated. 02 fruit generosity. First-class oak embellishments./ Yes, welcome fruit maturity and good, spicy oak seasonings. Ample. 17.5. WT101007-10. 05 ROCCA FAMILY BAD BOY YOUNTVILLE RED - (U.S.) The Bordeaux pantheon, plus syrah (30%). Label looks like a scene from Brokeback Mountain. 05 tightness, leanness, youthfulness./ 05 style and race. Yes, tight and youthful still. Good vanilla oak. Good future. 16.3+. WT101007-11. 03 ROCCA FAMILY YOUNTVILLE SYRAH - (U.S.) Sweet, ripe, open, maturing California syrah. Chocolate-cherry./ More chocolate and cherry with good baking spice flavors from the toasted barrels. An ample, seductive wine. 16.5. WT101007-12. 04 SULLIVAN RUTHERFORD MERLOT - (U.S.) Fine, elegant, Margaux like charm, perfume, beauty. Understated potpourri of oak airs: sandalwood, incense, spices./ Again on the palate, the oak is subtle and spicy-perfumed, and melds nicely with the elegant fruit. Lots of finesse here. 17.8. WT101007-13. 03 ROCCA FAMILY YOUNTVILLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.) 03 openness and ease. Plenty rich and ripe for 03. No hollowness./ Fine oak and plump, ripe, generous fruit up front. Good drinking early...like right now! 16.7. WT101007-14. 04 SULLIVAN RUTHERFORD CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.) Deep, serious aromatic complex of blackberry and black currant plus fine oak, even cedar. Purely and precisely presented with great sophistication./ Yes, serious stuff, but not stern. Good form. Very fine-grained tannins. All about elegance and finesse. 17.9. WT101007-15. 04 EHLERS ESTATE 1886 ST. HELENA CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.) Tight for 04. Shows some St. Helena area cabernet warmth. Bouquet beginning to develop./ Sleek and classy fruit presentation with scented oak and pencil-box overtones. The tannins are still tough though. 16.7+. WT101007-16. 04 SULLIVAN COEURS DE VIGNE RUTHERFORD RED - (U.S.) Wow! The most concentrated and most intense of the Sullivans but still so pure and elegant. Fabulous French oak class, pedigree./ Dark and intense yet pure and lovely. Great acidity. So well balance it’s a thrill to taste now. Sure to age gracefully. 18.5. Wednesday, October 3, 2007 WT100307-01. 06 MUSCADET SEVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE RESERVE HAUTE CULTURE, CHATEAU DU CLERAY - (FRANCE LOIRE) 06 style, grip, brace, and cool green fruits and botanicals. And brisk, bright, piquant lemon edge./ Good acidity. Not as large as the 05s; which is something of a relief. But plenty of extract like the 02s. Charming, refreshing, persistent. Gives great pleasure. 16.2.. WT100307-02. 06 VENEZIE PINOT GRIGIO KRIS, FRANZ HAAS - (ITALY) Lovely, fresh, alert, and quite scented really. Citrus especially./ Yes, a citrus taste that’s bright, fresh, and mouthwatering. Perky and pretty, with floral accents. Definite food wine. 16.2. WT100307-03. 06 ALTO ADIGE PINOT BIANCO, ALOIS LAGEDER - (ITALY) Full green fruit and undergrowth aromas of pinot blanc. Tingly. Nice./ Good full body, structure, carriage, depth, texture, varietal character. Tangy, vigorous finale. 16.4. WT100307-04. 06 DOLOMITI PINOT GRIGIO, ALOIS LAGEDER - (ITALY) Both full and racy. Scented too./ Yes, full bodied. Powerful even. Big stuff. So big that some refreshment is denied. But this wine will have its place at the table. 16.0+. WT100307-05. 05 CHABLIS 1ER CRU, JOSEPH DROUHIN - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Full Chablis chardonnay and terroir statements. Solid, bracing, focused, and aristocratic. Citrus, calcaire, light, tight grained oak. Like Vosges./ Full, racy, classy, excellently crafted. Showing some bottle development since February. Plenty of chalky-flinty terroir. A great Chablis for the money, with room to grow. 17.2+. WT100307-06. 07 CONO SUR VALLE CENTRAL PINOT NOIR - (CHILE) Fresh, lifted, tea-like true cool-climate pinot nose. Cool zone of Valle Central? Or well shaded grapes? Or early harvest? Whatever, it works. Shades of the 06 when tasted very young./ Fresh acidity and fruit. Good texture, vigor. Better in 3-6 months. 15.9+. WT100307-07. 05 BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR CUVEE GERARD POTEL, NICOLAS POTEL half bottle - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Serious, vigorous, insistent. Bright, dense, determined. Licorice, tar, tea, cherry./ Vigorous, well focused black fruits. Grip, structure, depth, and body. Potel’s compact style. Needs time to reveal more grace, more finesse. Keeper. 16.4++. Well liked by the group. WT100307-08. 06 CHIANTI, GABBIANO - (ITALY) Good, fresh, open, spicy fruit. More aromatic range and depth than the 05 at the same stage./ Palate leaner and tarter in young. Bright red currant and cranberry–tart fruits. But plenty juicy. Seems to have the right stuff to improve. 15.7+. WT100307-09. 06 VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO, ALLEGRINI - (ITALY) Sweet and spicy and nice. Black cherry, cassis, and cola. Ripe and wild and luscious. More depth, third dimension, than the good 05. Some ripasso tarriness./ Yes, sweet and tarry fruit concentration. Good, ripe acidity too. Racy, vibrant, alluring. Good future. 16.3+. Well liked by the group. WT100307-10. 06 ALICE WHITE SE AUSTRALIA CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (AUSTRALIA) A throwback to the big, gangly Aussie reds of the Seventies, heavily oaked and ripe to the point of roasted./ Yes, a brawny lad without an ounce of finesse in its makeup, but, my goodness, what amplitude for the money. Not for shy palates. 15.6. WT100307-11. 05 VINAS DE VILA CRUZ DE PIEDRA MALBEC - (ARGENTINA) Great, subtly expressed, well-integrated oak and fruit presentation with floral highlights. Warm seasonings, spices. Fine fruit quality. Lots of class as usual here./ Racy acidity. Well textured. Fine, toasty fruit and oak. In tune with the rest of the range, and likewise a great value. 16.4. Well liked by the group. WT100307-12. 04 RIOJA CRIANZA, BODEGAS LAN - (SPAIN) Nice gingerbread-like snappiness. Firmer and darker in 04 than in 03–follows the vintage tendency. More backward, more structured./ Yes, firm in youth. And perhaps somewhat reclusive from just being shipped. But the class and claret-like nature of 04 is evident. Attractive American oak nuances too. Needs more time in bottle than the 03. 16.0+. WT100307-13. 06 COLLINES RHODANIENNES SYRAH, GEORGES VERNAY - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) A bit reduced still, but certainly spicy and nutty. And saturated. Opens with airing to reveal peppercorn, bacon, and sweet, ripe raspberry./ Yes, pepper, garrigue, berry, flowers. Cool and real northern Rhone shiraz attributes, sensuous and generous. 16.9+. The talk of the tasting. WT100307-14. 04 CAIRANNE COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES RESERVE CAMILLE CAYRAN, CAVE DE CAIRANNE - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Black and handsome. Sweet and dense. Licorice and tarry fruit. High-toned too. Garrigue City–like a Provencal sachet. Boy, I could sniff this all day! Real Cairanne./ Classic, old time Cairanne grenache-syrah intensity, laden with strawberry, black and red raspberry, peppercorn, and garrigue. Sweet and
powerful, with 04 grip and acidity, and full Cairanne tannin. Delivers now; more to come. Up to the usual Cave de Cairanne style and quality. No, wait a minute: even better than the usual. 16.8+. Very popular with the group. |
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