Tried these two last night w/ Susan & her braised lamb shanks. The shanks blew away the wine.
1. Routas IGP: Mediterranee WTW (13%; Viognier/Chard; Routas USA/SAusalito) Routas/Chateanvert) 2023: Light yellow color; rather earthy/loamy/musty perhaps TCA light Viog/pear/melony ratther ordinary nose; soft/mushy light earthy/rustic very light pear/Viog/melony rather lightweight/near vapid/insipid flavor; short lightweight bit pear/Viog finish; a pretty vapid/insipid expression of Viog. $18.00 (SFW&S)
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2. WagnerFamily Conundrum Calif (14.5%; www.ConundrumWines.com; PetiteSirah/Zin/Cab) Charlie Wagner/ConundrumWines/Fairfield 2022: Very dark color; strong grapey/bit blackcurranty/Cab slight PS/peppery some toasty/oak fairly fragrant nose; soft/mushy/flabby strong grapey/blackcurranty/Cab rather simple flavor w/ modest soft tannins; a grapey/fruity red but little of interest; utterly boring; a definition of a commercial/quotidian red. $18.00 (KK)
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More conundrums from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. Ch.Routas was founded in the Coteaux Varois in 1993 by Charles Beiler. Those early wines were pretty good & very good values. It was purchased in 2005 by the SirDavidMurray family. At one time, I believe Bob Lindquist was part of the operation as a consulting winemaker.
I hadn't seen Routas on the shelf for yrs, so thought I would give it a try. Shouldn't have bothered.
When I first opened it, it had a very slight mustiness I thought might be TCA. But a smell of the cork didn't show any of TCA.
The Conundrum was not a bad wine....just incredibly dull & little of interest.
Tom