1999 Belle Pente, Pinot Noir Murto Vnyd.:
A beautiful nose – all earth, leaves and smoke, overlaying black fruit and stone; much the same in the mouth with bright acids, feminine textures and vivid intensity; quite long and refreshing. Made me think more of Clos de la Roche than Oregon but, I’m not complaining. As it opens in the glass this wine “youngs-up” as the fruit takes on sweetness and the structure becomes more youthful. By the last glass it gave the impression of many years to go before peak. An interesting experience and a good bottle.
2001 Boxler, Pinot Blanc:
Juicy, fresh, tangy and remarkably long for the variety; much better than expected and really an uplifting sort of experience. Yummy with shrimp puffs and equally so on its own.
1999 Dujac, Chambolle-Musigny:
Not at peak but showing some secondary development, refinement, excellent balance and so Chambolle; an elegant, layered wine that will always be feminine in delivery. Lovely with cheese soufflé.
2002 Ridge, Lytton Springs:
Big assed zin./petite with a bit too much new American wood for me. But these often integrate with time and I would expect this to do likewise given another 8-10 years. Has the stuffing to live well past that. Beef brisket with raisin sauce helped.
We had opened a bottle of 2005 Philippe Faury, St. Joseph a week ago (7 days) and not finished it. There was one glassful left in the bottle that had been recorked but left on the counter. Absolutely delicious with warmed fruit and fresh herb smells; a rich, bright, smooth mouth feel that has nice complexity and a salty minerality but is still completely integrated with a long finish. Not the slightest indication of oxidation or other effects from being open so long. Wow!
2004 Gorrondona, Bizkaiko Txakolina:
From clay and slate soils in the Basque region of Spain, this is hondarrabi beltza fermented in stainless; it is one odd critter with a nose of smoldering rosemary, thyme and fresh spearmint with just a hint of red cherry; the same in the mouth except the sweet cherry element is dominant, crisp, juicy, lightly tannic and a bit drying on a fairly long finish. Too herbaceous for me but an interesting wine and one that seems to be aging at a slow pace. Not bad with cheeses.
More integrated and smoother on day two but retaining much of its herbal character – more Chinon-esque now.
2002 Nigl, Grüner Veltliner Senftenberger Piri:
Open and generous from the first pour; round in the mouth with intense veltliner flavor, good acidity and nice length. Not as austere as previous vintages with a richness I seldom see in Nigl wines so young. Very good and only 12% abv.
1998 Lafarge, Bourgogne:
In contrast to the Dujac mentioned above, solid, rustic, masculine pinot with medium tannins and big flavors. 12.5% alcohol and yet a ‘big’ feeling wine. For accompanying stews and roasts. Good.
2002 Allemand, Cornas:
Red plum, cherry, olive, a slight charred note and herb on the nose; lovely sweet fruit with olive and leather accents in the mouth, some tannin, quite elegant and despite the smells and flavors of Cornas, little of the power and rusticity; medium length finish. Not the most concentrated nor complex Cornas but certainly charming in its own way and, I think, an example of the vintage that shines on account of the winemaker. Delicious with sausage with white beans and kale.
Best, Jim
