WTN: Sips

Over the past couple weeks I have been out of touch – its not often I am away from a computer and the internet. Not as bad as I’d have thought.
‘Drove 2,000 miles, helped my Mom celebrate her 84th, battened down the hatches for the arrival of Fay but she skirted our Florida home, spent time with my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter as well as my brother.
‘Partied a little, laughed a lot.
And had a few wines; brief impressions follow:

1991 Sullivan, Cabernet Sauvignon:
Ah, for the days when wine was 13.1% alcohol and tasted like its variety; this is quite nice – clean, correct, mellowed by time and has lots of life – all those harsh tannins have melted away. A good wine; not great, but then, good is often good enough.

1998 Vieux Telegraph:
Finally showing some signs of life after a pretty extended slumber. Salted meat is the lasting impression; some red plum and lavender; well structured. Many days ahead; there were times when I wondered.

2005 Alesia, Syrah Fairview Ranch:
Like flash grilled London broil; meaty, juicy, chewy – and that’s what I had it with; delicious.

2006 Paolo Bea, Santa Chiaro:
A blended white wine fermented on the skins and left in stainless without regard for temperature; brilliant stuff with bright flavors, a tannic texture and remarkable complexity. Trying to dissect or describe these aromas and flavors is futile; smelling and tasting them, captivating.

2005 Luneau-Papin, Muscadet Pierre de la Grange:
Bright, nuanced wine with more depth than expected and crystalline acidity. Remarkably delicious and all the more so for its $8 price.

1999 Juge, Cornas SC:
Showing more linear this time than the last and could do with a few more years in the cellar; still, roasted meat, garrigue smells accenting cooked fruit aromas; weightless in the mouth but intense with flavors similar to the nose and decent length. Feminine Cornas.

Best, Jim

[David M. Bueker]

1998 Vieux Telegraph:
Finally showing some signs of life after a pretty extended slumber. Salted meat is the lasting impression; some red plum and lavender; well structured. Many days ahead; there were times when I wondered.

Well that's a good sign.

1999 Juge, Cornas SC:
Showing more linear this time than the last and could do with a few more years in the cellar; still, roasted meat, garrigue smells accenting cooked fruit aromas; weightless in the mouth but intense with flavors similar to the nose and decent length. Feminine Cornas.

May I ask what's the point?

May I ask what's the point?

Sometimes, one has a date.
Best, Jim

[David M. Bueker]

May I ask what's the point?

Sometimes, one has a date.
Best, Jim

Mine does not drink Cornas (of any style), so a moot point for me.

Mine does not drink Cornas (of any style), so a moot point for me.

Understood.
I know we joke about this but honestly, feminine Cornas (or Cote Rotie, etc.) is one of the incarnations of syrah I truly love. Its the paradox, I think; deep, rich wine that comes across with a texture that one wouldn't guess from words like deep and rich. Great stuff.
Best, Jim

[David M. Bueker]

I can understand (and agree with) where you are coming from with Cote Rotie, but I look to Cornas for more rustic expressions of Syrah.

I can understand (and agree with) where you are coming from with Cote Rotie, but I look to Cornas for more rustic expressions of Syrah.

Most folks do.
I'm a little odd that way.
Best, Jim

2006 Paolo Bea, Santa Chiaro:
A blended white wine fermented on the skins and left in stainless without regard for temperature; brilliant stuff with bright flavors, a tannic texture and remarkable complexity. Trying to dissect or describe these aromas and flavors is futile; smelling and tasting them, captivating.

I hate reading notes like this!

I gotta get back to San Francisco so I can snag another bottle from Terroir Wine Bar (this was the wine that beame an expensive puddle in the gutter last month.)

2006 Paolo Bea, Santa Chiaro:
A blended white wine fermented on the skins and left in stainless without regard for temperature; brilliant stuff with bright flavors, a tannic texture and remarkable complexity. Trying to dissect or describe these aromas and flavors is futile; smelling and tasting them, captivating.

I hate reading notes like this!

I gotta get back to San Francisco so I can snag another bottle from Terroir Wine Bar (this was the wine that beame an expensive puddle in the gutter last month.)

The note on the Chambers Street site said its the perfect turkey wine (as in Thanksgiving), and I see no reason to argue that. But it ain't for everyone and that's a fact.
Best, Jim

Mine does not drink Cornas (of any style), so a moot point for me.

Understood.
I know we joke about this but honestly, feminine Cornas (or Cote Rotie, etc.) is one of the incarnations of syrah I truly love. Its the paradox, I think; deep, rich wine that comes across with a texture that one wouldn't guess from words like deep and rich. Great stuff.
Best, Jim

Jim,

If you like the feminine side of syrah, I would suggest that you try the Ch. Tahbilk syrah. I would say any of the three levels, ut for sure the 1860 vines. IMO it stands up to the Penfolds Grange. Talk about opposite poles, masculine vs feminine! For me comparing the two was an eye opener.

If you like the feminine side of syrah, I would suggest that you try the Ch. Tahbilk syrah. I would say any of the three levels, ut for sure the 1860 vines. IMO it stands up to the Penfolds Grange. Talk about opposite poles, masculine vs feminine! For me comparing the two was an eye opener.

You're scarin' me, Bob.
Oz?
That's been tabu for a very long time for me.
Best, Jim

Jim, where would you say the 2005 Luneau-Papin Pierre de la Grange is on its journey up and eventually over the hill?

Thanks for the post, the Santa Chiara sounds great. Will reserve some at Chambers for my next trip to NY. While you were away, I posted on a very lovely 2002 Blanc de Lynch-Bages that, for some reason, I thought you'd like.