Chauvenet-Chopin Nuits St Georges 1er "Argillas" 2003: Picked it up because it was only $24. Very much a 2003. Soft-textured, verging on flabby. (Is this the house style? That's what I glean from my googling.) Surprisingly tannic given the otherwise loose feel. Black fruits (like, superoverripe bing cherry) coffee, and a strongly bitter aftertaste....is this overextraction? Slightly hot....this claims to be under 14% alc, but I don't believe it. Good value at the price and better than $20-25 American pinot, but yet another Burgundy disappointment from 2003.
Chateau Pradeaux 2001 (Bandol) [from 375ml]: Lord, is this good. Tar, tar, tar and more tar, with flowers, olive, and red fruit. I'd swear it was a Nebbiolo if I didn't pour the glass myself. Incredible nose, blows away any other wine I've had in weeks. Its viciously tannic, earthy verging on metallic, with lemony acidity, and no sense of heat despite the listed 15% alc. It's hard to taste any fruit because I killed this when it was a baby, but its in there, waiting.
This wine is completely f---ing fantastic; I think I've had every Pradeaux going back to the '97 and this blows them all away. $21 half bottle ( I think), bought straight from Rosenthal.
I have to find some Tempier and see what they did in this vintage.