- N.V. Masia Can Tutusaus Cava Vall Dolina Brut Nature - Spain, Catalunya, Cava (11/25/2008)
11,5% abv. No vintage on the label, but the importer stated that it is actually all from a single vintage and this was from 2005. A lovely, very fresh scent, very mineral with lots of grass/clover scents. Dry, crisp, pure and refreshing. It can be argued that this isn't a hugely complex bottle of fizz but I absolutely adored its precision, cut and the generally understated and elegant character. I love it. - N.V. Serge Mathieu Champagne Cuvée Tradition Blanc de Noirs Brut - France, Champagne (11/25/2008)
In may '08 I found this to have been a broad shouldered, heavy Champagne with full-on Pinosity. I guess this bottle must have been a blend based on different years, because this was mineral, crisp, lighter in body but still substantial, elegantly floral. Crisp and mineral aftertaste but in no way fruit deficient. I found this much more to my taste than my previous taste. - 2007 *Loimer Grüner Veltliner - Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal (11/25/2008)
Obviously Grüner from the first sniff: stereotypical as it may sound, it was full of white pepper and green fruit, ripe but gladly more elegant than the '06. Vivacious, pure and crisp palate but with a bit of weight, too. Very nice and very much fun! - 2005 Tenimenti Luigi d'Alessandro (Manzano) Fontarca Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (11/25/2008)
A blend of Chardonnay and Viognier. A very floral nose, quite in-your-face. The full bodied and buttery palate shows too much oak. Medium-low acidity but not cloying. I disliked it, but I am sometimes too sensitive to oak - it might have interest for those who can stand more oak than I. - 2005 Serra dei Fiori (Giacomo Bologna) Langhe Il Fiore - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC (11/25/2008)
A blend of Chardonnay, Riesling, Liseiret and Nasceta (I hadn't heard of the last two before...). Nicely mineral scent, no oak that I can see, attractive but a bit anonymous scent. More full bodied that I expected from the scent, ripe and fruity but also well enough structured to be moreish. The only problem is that it is a bit forgettable. - 2003 Poderi Aldo Conterno Langhe Nebbiolo Il Favot - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC (11/25/2008)
Obviously warm year aromas, yet also obviously Nebbiolo! Cherry and tar, some oak but not nearly as much as when I last tasted it just after release. Full bodied, sweeter than my ideal for Nebbiolo yet with better acidity than I remember. I'm still not totally convinced about it, but it has gone in a much better direction since release. - 2004 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Monferrato Pin - Italy, Piedmont, Monferrato (11/25/2008)
Having recently tasted the '01 and '98 Pins, I wonder if they have changed their oak regime? This seemed to have been far less oaky than the other two: still big and powerful with lots of dark fruit aromas and yes there is oak but not in as overwhelming amounts as the '01 and '98. Full bodied, dark, tannic yet crunchy - but still too much of everything except elegance. Going in a better direction compared to my tastes of previous vintages, but not quite there for my tastes. - 2004 Giorgio Pelissero Langhe Long Now - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC (11/25/2008)
My goodness! This is enormous! Overweight and overdone. Huge oak, dark fruit, little sense of either Nebbiolo or Barbera or Piemonte or anything at all in fact. Generic bigness. Avoid. - 2006 Azienda Agricola Sukula Langhe La Langhetta - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC (11/25/2008)
A project of the Finns Jyrki & Riikka Sukula, with some involvement (I didn't catch what) by Giorgio Rivetti of La Spinetta fame. Nebbiolo, Barbera & Dolcetto. An attractively bright scent of red berries/cherries, shows more Nebbiolo character now than Barbera or Dolcetto. The palate, however, is shockingly different to what I expected from the scent: sweet fruit, full body, darker fruit character than expected, more a Barbera-like tang than the nose promised, but with good structure. Nice wine, but in a bit of a schizophrenic mood just now. It doesn't seem to have the levels of oak and modernity that I associated with Rivetti, and I think I might enjoy it once it calms down a bit. - 2006 Tenimenti Luigi d'Alessandro (Manzano) Syrah Cortona - Italy, Tuscany, Cortona (11/25/2008)
Reductive upon opening. Correct but nothing special, serviceable. Pure Syrah aromas but frankly a bit boring. I won't turn down a glass, but neither will I seek this out. - 2006 Ébano 6 Ribera del Duero - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero (11/25/2008)
Extracted, fake and smooth; sweet and artificial. Packed too full of everything. I didn't like it. - 2004 Bodegas y Viñedos Ébano Ribera del Duero Crianza - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero (11/28/2008)
Since my last almost a year ago, this has shed much of its oak. It is still a big and burly wine, dense and concentrated, but it is less offensive. Well made and a bargain for Ribera del Duero at 20€, but not to my taste. - 2006 Azul y Garanza Navarra Seis de Azul y Garanza - Spain, Navarra (11/25/2008)
Cab Sauv 60% - Merlot 40%. The nose is very, very expressive with Provencal herbs to the fore. Very ripe but lifted. Good grip, tannic but almost massively fruity. A bit much for me, but not really spoofy either. - 2004 Azul y Garanza Navarra Desierto - Spain, Navarra (11/25/2008)
Cabernet Sauvignon. Massive, yet somehow it retains some interest: lifted scent of dried herbs and dried red berries. It is extremely full bodied, well structured (how do they get good acidity in a wine grown in a desert? Acidification? Yet the acid doesn't taste "spoofulated" or at all out of place...). I can well imagine that the oak would have been obfuscating to me a couple years ago, but it seems to be in the background now as it isn't vanillary and sweet. Very ripe, but it still has some interest for me. I don't think I could have more than a glass of this now as it is big, but it certainly exceeded my expectations. Big but in some ways elegant, too.
