WTN: Noland brothers taste southern France

Noland Brothers taste southern France

This tasting was chosen to match up with our entree of the evening, a rustic chicken dish.

Tasting was done blind and all wines were opened and tasted immediately.
Participants included Tom Noland (scribe), Carol Noland (Tom's wife), Bob and Ruth Noland, and James Noland.

Wine A. Deep ruby red with a shy nose of blackberry and dark fruit. Dark bitter fruit and medium acidity on the midpalate and a medium-long tannic finish of bitter fruit. Need foods and definitely would classify as a rustic wine. This wine evolved the most in the glass and became smoother and fruitier with time but the initial impression was this wine was a bit rough.

Wine B. Deep garnet red with red raspberry, plum and bacon on the nose. On the midpalate this wine showed good structure with balancing acidity and fruit. Medium-long finish of juicy brambly fruit.

Wine C. Deep ruby red (all the wines were similar in color with deep reds to purples) with a brambly nose with hints of bacon. Nice midpalate feel with dark fruit, nice acidity and dark fruit. A bit tannic with an iron taste on the medium length finish and the comment was it needs some air time.

Wine D. Deep crimson with an expressive boysenberry, black cherry nose. Beautiful juicy purple plum fruit nicely balanced with acidity and smooth tannins on the midpalate. Long finish of smooth delicious juicy brambly fruit. Best sipper of the group.

And the winner by a nose is Wine D (Wines B and D were tied for best wine with two voters):

Corrected voting Results:
1. Penya Wine D (Bob) Last minute wine added due to number of tasters.
2. Maris Wine B (James) Entry for James
3. Le Cirque Wine C (Bob) Entry for Bob
4. Bertrand Wine A (Tom) Entry for Tom

Wines D and C were Bob's wines
Wine B was James' wine
Wine A was Tom's wine

Quite a good selection, lots of these reds around here!

Yes, and all of these wines are good QPRs. I think all were $15 US$ or less.

I think we will have to have a non-drinking scribe next time Several corrections are in order:

Wines C and D were tied for best wine with two votes each.
Wines B and D were Bob's wines.
Wine C was James' wine.

The only wine left over next day was the Gerrard Bertrand (Wine A). I did try it and to me it was basically the same as the previous day with a very limited nose, rustic entry (not in a good way), bitter mid palate and sour short finish. Food did not help this wine so I hope this was a defect (although I did not detect any) or bottle variation and not the normal expectation. I should mention however that my previous experiences with this producer are that the wines are not a style I prefer.