to humid rains: a soggy fest. But wine still maketh glad in these times.
Whetting the appetite, we begin with the Domaine Gaujal de Saint Bon, a picpoul from the Languid Hills, which is a lightly neutral white with melon and snow-pea leaf greens on the finish. Decent for what it is and for the price (something under $10).
And now comes the mixture, no themes present but surely something for everyone. The Sella, Bramaterra, 2004 offers a perfumed nose of rose and light cherry wash. This is a decidedly feminine-styled wine with a light rendering of cherry wash over calcium and virtually no tannins to speak of. Has less staying power of the Lessona stablemate and would be a welcome addition to lunch tables anywhere.
Next, a Bordeaux. Anathema to some, I know, but I-liiike-it. Especially this one, Chateau Moulin Saint Georges, Saint Emilion, 2000. Holding up to the light, this offers a fire orange ember glow to accompany the ruby. Pretty! Nose of musky blackberry and freshly turned earth. Lovely balance here, with blackberry juice, ash notes, slight earth held aloft by a perfect weight. May not be a keeper, however, as the next day I revisited this and it lost some of its charming.
Moving east, the Bernard Faurie, Saint Joseph, 2003 is opened. Youthful colored purplish dark red. Definately ripe year syrah, with the similarities to California only beginning. Aromas of mentholated plums and Chinese salted plum, this becomes thick and ponderous on the palate with blackberry and plum jam with a low-acid backdrop. Becomes tiring with time. Big difference between this and the 2001 VV I had a couple of months ago, which I adored. Hoping the 2004 will be (much) better.
Jumping north, passing through Burgundy with Christophe Perrot-Minot's, Nuits-St-Georges, Bas de Combe, vieilles vignes, 2004. Pretty and forward nose of summer fruit basket: cherry, kirsch, and strawberry. Light to medium bodied, with spicy Cherry Herring flavors, this is in a very good place right now. Nothing green here. Very heavy bottle, fwiw.
Over the alps to Castel Sallegg, Alto Adige, moscato Roso, 2000. Color changes from a dried red to a slight walnut brown when being poured. Roses and sun-dried straw on the exhuberant nose. In the mouth shows dried rose, candied orange rind, and a bitter Campari note on the end. Lots of figs and nutmeat as well. Interesting to taste a rarely seen variety.