Sottimano, Barbaresco, 'Curra', 1999
Rather dark cherry red color, not showing much sign of age. Cedary-menthol-balsam on the nose, echoes on the palate along with the addition of plum and a tannic kick. Beyond a softening of tannin structure, I cannot see where aging this longer would benefit this (modernly) constructed wine. B/B+
Donnhoff, Oberhauser Brucke, spatlese, 1999
A lemon yellow gold. Spring flowers with a touch of lavender honey. Guava paste in the mouth, with a softish acidity, feeling in a mature phase right now. Soursop and elderberries on the finish. B+ (in the FWIW department, Donnhoff's wines wash the palate in a similar way to Childaine's)
FX Pichler, Wachau, Loibner Berg, Gruner Veltliner, smaragd, 2005
Clear bright gold color. White pepper on the nose, along with fermenting cabbages, and spring blossoms, perhaps a touch of honeysuckle. Kumquats, lemon oil on the lingering finish along with smoky walnut oil. An excellent match with brined-roasted turkey. Slight bit of heat on the end. Very good, although not quite excellent, lacking a little in 'cut'. Some green (as in unripe) watermelon toward the finish with air. B+/A-
Robert Arnoux, Nuits-St-Georges, 'les Poisets', 1999
Cherries, Asian spices, a bit primal on the brooding nose. Deep and dark in feel, a masculine pinot with dark cherry, damson plum, and baking spice finish. Youthful. Keep for awhile. B+
Domaine Pavelot, Savigny-les-Beaune, 'Gravains', 2004
Pale dried red rose color. Dusty strawberry and shitake mushrooms on the subtly aromatic nose. Light strawberry-raspberry-morello cherry fruit along with iron rust and dried orange peel on the zesty finish. A lovely little wine, and the kind you could finish in one setting by yourself without knowing it. B+