Domaine Jo Pithon, Savennieres, 'la Croix Picot', 2004
Bronze-gold color. Lanolin and wet wool socks along with oaky hints. Lanolin and lemon-cleaning oil, Murphy's Oil soap, oak splinters, but with a fine acid structure. Feels almost white-Bordeauxish. Still, this wine is not without its merits, and actually tastes pretty good next to homemade guacamole. B/B-
Barone Cornacchia, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, 'Vigna le Coste', 2004
Black purplish, deep red. Sappy black cherry, berry liquore, full bodied and youthful. Some baking spices on the end. 1-2 years further aging will make this come round nicely. Better than the 2001 I've had at about the same tiem in it's evolution. B+/A-
Raul Perez (Castro Ventosa), Bierzo, 'El Castro de Valtille', mencia joven, 2006
Rubyish red colored. Nose of fruited saline earth, jumping forth with a blossoming freshness. Ripe berries, sandbox, and an oyster-shell dustiness on the finish. With airtime, a bit of burnt rubber, but without the extreme medicinal character that gamay can take on. Serious QPR. A-
Domaine du Vissoux, Moulin a vent, 'les Deux Roches', 2005
Purplish red. Beautiful nose of crushed violets. Silken red fruits, a bit of sour plum, and slight kombu seaweed glutamate feel on the end. Smooth, long finish. Drinking well now. A-