2007 Vila Francioni Chardonnay Santa Catarina (Brazil)
Some consider this Brazil’s best chardonnay. White flower and mineral aromas overwhelmed by excessive oak. A bit too sweet from insufficient acidity. Good body, discreet bitter finish. A stab at Meursault, but on steroids.
2006 Viña Aquitania Sol de Sol Chardonnay Malleco Valley
Some consider this Chile’s Best chardonnay. Less oaky but still too much. Exotic spice nose with mineral accents. Good acid/sweet balance, quite pleasant.
2006 Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir Marlborough
Attractive raspberry and floral nose. Light, spicy (cloves), smooth, quite nice, though a little too spicy.
2006 Cono Sur 20 Barrels Pinot Noir Casablanca Valley
Subdued nose of ripe fruit. Light to medium bodied, with some dried meats, generic red fruit and sous bois. Pleasant but too new world.
2007 Saint Clair Pioneer Block No. 5 Wood Block Pinot Noir
Lovely pinot nose with red fruit, sous bois and the slightest edge of dishrag providing a welcome note of authenticity. Good weight and balance, the most Burgundian among this group of new world pinots, easily my favorite.
2007 Bodegas Chacra Pinot Noir Barda Rio Negro (Patagonia)
A biodynamic estate. Pleasant and elegant red fruit and spice nose but sweet edge from over ripe fruit. A bit too spicy. Needs more acidity, surprising given the latitude.
2004 Viña Quebrada de Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley Domus Aurea
Very ripe plum and red berry nose slathered in oak. Puckering tannins, powerful fruit, but way too hot and international for my taste. Pass.
2003 Seña Aconcagua Valley
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère and Cabernet Franc. Nose shows molasses, red berries, sous bois and oak. Silky mouth feel, classy fruit, good acid/sweet balance, but still too ripe for my taste. Much finer than the preceding.
2005 Mongeard-Mugneret Fixin
No nose, must be closed for the weekend. Mouth feel is silky and smooth, red fruit is simple but lovely. Needs more time to develop.
2005 Mongeard-Mugneret Savigny-les-Beaune
Again no nose. Similar to the Fixin, except with more structure, promising more for sometime down the road.
2003 Chateau La Grave Fronsac 13.5%
A blend of 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc from a biodynamic Bordeaux estate, something less than common (see http://www.wineterroirs.com/2008/06/la_grave.html). Served at the recommended 16C, no nose to speak of. Mouth shows pleasant merlot chocolate/espresso with somewhat generic red fruit. Some tannins, good acidity, despite the vintage. As it gradually edges towards 21C, it becomes more generous on the nose, with tannins becoming dusky and lots of chocolate with some mint (think After Eight). I think I don’t "get" this, though I enjoyed the 2003 d’Aiguilhe, with a similar blend.
