Yesterday, I met Antti + family over some Martin Zwick inspired recipes (carbonara and torta di mele):
- 1997 Couly-Dutheil Chinon Clos de l'Olive - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (9/15/2008)
34,70€; 12,5% abv; 5,3g/l acidity. A ripe but not jammy scent, obviously Cabernet. Juicy and very moreish palate, good acidity despite obviously being a warm year wine, lovely leafiness. It all seems just what a warmer year Chinon should be, and I did like it enough that I'll probably get another bottle or two, but I still think it slightly lacked personality: I feel I should get more from Chinon. But it was a lovely drop anyway, so not much use complaining about that. - 2005 Château Guiraud - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (9/15/2008)
Though the scent was very oaky at first it also had a lovely, bright and pure lemon scent (as opposed to a stronger, earthier orange-peel botrytis). Sweet, but well structured so the lemony brightness prevailed. The aftertaste becomes simply sugary, sadly, as the rest of the wine (oak excepted, of course
) was very enjoyable. I was expecting a much heavier wine from '05 so I was pleasantly surprised at how much refreshing notes this also had. I think I would very much enjoy this in a decade or two.
A bunch of recent arrivals, recently taken off the list and soon to arrive at Alko:
- 2005 Deux Montille Meursault "Casse Tête" - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault (9/15/2008)
Note in focus - 2005 Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Grand Cru Bougros - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru (9/15/2008)
Note in focus - 2005 Ridgeview Merret-Cavendish - England, West Sussex (9/13/2008)
12% abv. A very charming sparkler: a rather red toned nose of apples, ripe but mineral. Fine mousse. A bit softer with plumper fruit than I remembered, but still good structure. Long aftertaste. - 2007 Freie Weingärtner Wachau / Domäne Wachau Riesling Smaragd Terrassen - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau (9/13/2008)
11,09€; 13% abv; 6g/l RS; 6,8g/l acidity. Light gold. A very ripe nose, verging on the tropical, with some spice and honey mixed in with the lovable minerals. Quite full bodied, good acidity, but very ripe. Very primary now, I am sure I would have enjoyed it more in a few years. - 2005 Éric Texier Côtes du Rhône - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (9/12/2008)
13,5% abv. A pretty scent of red berries and some lactic notes, too, and herbs. Good structure of soft tannins and quite noticeable acidity for such a warm year but with ripe fruit, too. Long. A really charming CdR: not a a gobby, sweet example, but an honest one instead! Lovely! - 2006 Pieropan Soave Classico Calvarino - Italy, Veneto, Soave Classico (9/10/2008)
12,5% abv; 23,60€. Upon opening this was very strongly mineral. It became rather ripe and red toned in fruit (red apples and strawberries) but also with a good twist of lemon and green jasmine tea. Quite full bodied though gladly unoaked and with lovely grip and moderate acidity. Though moderate in alcohol and light on its feet, there is an interesting, almost oily sensation on the mineral and incredibly long aftertaste. This manages to balance the brightness and richness very well. Very good. - 2005 Domaine Charles Audoin Marsannay Clos de Jeu - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay (9/6/2008)
22,90€; 13% abv. Quite dark. It has decent Pinosity but is rather ripe and dark toned: strawberry cola. It smells a bit woody (like actual freshly cut wood, not so much the usual vanillary oak notes). Quite full bodied, fair acidity, some lovable vegetal notes to counter the fruit; strong tannins. I don't know if it is just the year or the style the producer goes for, but it was quite a heavy wine for Marsannay. But the aftertaste has a burst of freshness and becomes light on its feet - like a squirt of lemon suddenly put into a heavy dish! I like some aspects of the wine, but am not convinced of it now. Needs a few years.