Wine-of-the-week: 2006 Jean Foillard Morgon Cotes de Py Blazing minerality-captivating Cru Beajolais with fantastic earthy minerality, plenty of delicious food friendly acidity and good ripe plum-bright cherry fruit. Felt I was sipping wine with iron nails in the glass (n a good way!) Fantastic. Prefect for roast chicken. 93 points+
2002 Joseph Swan CABERNET Russian River Valley. You've all heard the dreaded words "A pinot for a cab lover"? Well, this was a Cab for a Pinot lover! Not sure about cabernet typicite, but this had piercingly pure cherry fruit, plenty of acidity, and a lovely light to medium mouthfeel. Alcohol-12.9%. What was really interesing is how this wine changed in the glass literally from moment to moment. Delicious-and long gone from stocks, I fear. 91 points
2006 Chanconne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. Quite pleasant silky coastal Pinot. Lovely mouth feel. Very fine. 90 points+
2005 Alpha-Omega Chardonnay Napa Valley. In an odd phase this night-beautifully pure Chardonnay fruit with good acidity+the Napa Chardonnay steretypical richness. Maybe a little discombulated tonight, but the components are there.
2005 Peique Tinto Mencia Bierazo. My first taste of the Mencia grape. This is an odd one. Very smooth. Utterly dry. Definitely some plum fruit, but the earthyness dominates and there is a completely unique note here-meaty, but not like a Rhone. If I had to reach for a descriptor, this bitter/meaty note is almost like prosciutto. Very strange and interesting.
Also: A question-Vintages Berkeley had one bottle left of the 2007 Edmunds St. John Gamay Noir "Porphyry." Recommended drinking window?
