WTN: Four

2004 Domaine de la Mordorée Lirac La Dame Rousse
I bought this for my wife because she usually likes warm Southern wines but I was a bit disappointed in the gritty acid/tannin component that sliced through the moderate fruit and made it seem a bit off kilter. I know this is not a blockbuster cuvee and it is not a blockbuster year. So should I assume this is on the downslope or will it in fact age into something better?

2006 La Spinetta Moscato d’Asti Bricco Quaglia
This may be goofy stuff but I thought the succulent fruit and somewhat refreshing finish were good fun and perfect for the casual Pakistani meal.

2002 Gimonnet Champagne Fleuron
Solid and ‚correct’ but a bit unispiring. Would have rather drunk more of the Moscato to tell you the truth.

2007 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Kabinett
I found this dissapointingly broad, simple, and soft. Not heavy at all, but still soft. I see others have loved this wine and perhaps we didn’t give it enough time for the character to emerge. Admittedly I have not been a huge fan of this wine in previous vintages, but usually because I found the combination of sour crispness and a broad frame to be offputting. But at least I remembered it having more character than this bottle.

goofy stuff

Would that more vintners around the world might turn their attention to the mass production of goofy $10 moscato & $12 prosecco.

The more moscato & prosecco I drink, the more I wonder why I ever spent in excess of $10 or $12 on a bottle of wine.

I've struggled (and failed) to find a bad moscato d'asti, but that one form Spinetta stands out as being a small fraction better than the norm - definitely one that I'll buy again.

regards

Ian

Never been totally sold on Gimmonet, though they have lots of fans.

My experience of the Donnhoff is quite different, I thought the '07 was crisp and precise (to use the buzzword of the day), not heavy or soft in any way.

[David M. Bueker]

I like Gimmonet but not in the cultish way that Terry Theise would expect (or want).

The 2007 Leistenberg Kabinett is the first edition of the wine I have purchased since 2001 (when I purchased everything). It's rich for a kabinett, but with 5-7 years it should be very convincing if it doesn't fall victim to Leistenberg disease (a complete loss of character with no development).

I've struggled (and failed) to find a bad moscato d'asti, but that one form Spinetta stands out as being a small fraction better than the norm -

Which is interesting because the rest of their lineup is kind of spoofy modern, no?

I like Gimmonet but not in the cultish way that Terry Theise would expect (or want).

Over on Disorder people have chimed in with comments about Gimonnet greatly expanding production and losing the quality in the process.

The 2007 Leistenberg Kabinett is the first edition of the wine I have purchased since 2001 (when I purchased everything). It's rich for a kabinett, but with 5-7 years it should be very convincing if it doesn't fall victim to Leistenberg disease (a complete loss of character with no development).

This confirms my suspicions, in many ways.

[David M. Bueker]

Gimmonet has not so much expanded production (they have some but not a huge amount) as expanded the separate cuvees. They make a bunch of different wines now, and it really has stripped some of them.

I've struggled (and failed) to find a bad moscato d'asti, but that one form Spinetta stands out as being a small fraction better than the norm -

Which is interesting because the rest of their lineup is kind of spoofy modern, no?

Perhaps - but (and please don't tell Otto ) the reds are really quite enjoyable, albeit a little more expensive than the enjoyment I get from them.

For their Moscato, there is (IMO) a fraction more complexity and textural creaminess, whilst retaining the joyful Moscato d'Asti nature.

regards

Ian

Gimmonet has not so much expanded production (they have some but not a huge amount) as expanded the separate cuvees. They make a bunch of different wines now, and it really has stripped some of them.

Ok, makes sense. Upon reflection I see that the specific Disorderly comment cited high yields at Gimonnet and was made by Dressner so who knows where it came from.

[David M. Bueker]

Wait till Dressner sees Andrew Jefford's comments on the 1996 Larmandier-Bernier Vertus ("a failed experiment"). The anti-anti-dosage train is picking up some steam (first Stevenson, now Jefford).