2007 Mas Grand Plagniol Costières-de-Nîmes [blend of Grenache Blanc and Roussanne] (Costières-de-Nîmes AOC, southern Rhône, southeastern France) cork closure, 13% - imported to USA by Winewise, Oakland, California – appears deep gold, smell fantastic depth upfront, cellars, white grape juice, berries, taste thick texture, noticeable upfront, broad, taste wide and flat, some light tartness, light sweetness, light salt, and a bit of black pepper, metal and rocks on finish, there is lots of glycerin feel in the mouthfeel but the taste is much more parchy and dry, I rather like it, and the contrast makes consuming a bottle interesting, particularly so at room temperature on day two, nice wine for $13, but I probably wouldn't pick it up again at that price
2007 Gilles Robin Crozes-Hermitage Les Marelles [60 percent roussanne, 40 percent marsanne] (Crozes-Hermitage AOC, Northern Rhône, southeastern France) cork closure, 13.5% - imported to USA by Martine's Wines, Novato, California - appears medium gold, smell herbal tea, sharp and vibrant, nice nose, mouthfeel is shockingly focused, some thickness, but seductively achieved, taste firm flavor, flowers, black and white pepper, nice midpalate but amazing spicy firm tasty spicy finish, this wine is seductive in its firmness, paired excellently with sauteed chard, an excellent firm wine and an interesting contrast to the Costières-de-Nîmes. Worth the splurge of $27.
2007 Edmunds St. John (By Hook or by Crook) Gamay Noir Bone-Jolly Witters Vineyard (El Dorado County, Sierra Foothills, California, USA) screwcap closure, 12.9% - smells vibrant pungent berry, light earth, very cherry, taste intense and delicious, prickly at firtst, cherry and dirt, prickly and fresh, noticeably delicious—one of those neat wines that reminds me of my earliest wine drinking experiences, where I would be 3/4ths the way through a glass just drinking, and pause and think—wow this is really delicious—this is one of those wines, set the notepad aside and pick up the glass, it is noticeably delicious—what else is there to say? Paired excellently with an impromptu dish of kale, olives, hardboiled eggs thrown together. The berry and cherry also inspired me to go out and acquire a cheesecake—delicious. Well worth the $17 I paid.