After last Saturday evening's tasting of multiple bottles of syrah from the Rhone, it was back to the normal everyday routine for me. I did enjoy trying the wines, and sharing cellar treasures with other wine geeks was a blast. Would I drink aged Hermitage and the like all the time if I had the money and the cellar? Maybe, but then it wouldn't be as special as the rare times I get to try these kind of wines. A good bottle that compliments the food on the table is nice enough.
2005 Domaine des Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) Beaujolais Cuvée Ancienne France, Beaujolais
This was open and delicious and was an excellent match with a roasted chicken. Very minerally with complex red fruits, juicy and bright in the mouth with sneaky 05 tannins. Should just improve from here as there is good balance and lots of structure for Beaujolais. $12, a great value. 12%abv. It is quite drinkable right now, while waiting for some of the 2005 single Cru Beaujolais to open up.
2005 Thomas-Labaille Sancerre Les Monts Damnés France, Loire, Sancerre
This doesn't have the flashy nose that SB from other parts of the world has, and compared to the 04 Labaille LMD, it is riper without the high acidity of last year's version. I think it has much better balance than the 2004, though. There is a lot of grip and structure here, and the acidity is balanced by some RS, which may be why other tasters (from notes I read on Cellar Tracker) perceive a lack of freshness. There is a light grassiness and some citrusy flavors with stones and flinty minerals towards the long finish. The flavors and some complexity show up when this is open for several hours and it held up well the second day. $20 full retail.
Great match with shrimp tacos with fresh cilantro. I love cilantro with Sauvignon blanc.
2001 Edmunds St. John Syrah Wylie-Fenaughty USA, California, Sierra Foothills, El Dorado County
I was excited to try this given everything I had heard about the wines. Also, with a recent tasting of some Syrah from the N Rhone fresh in my memory, I thought it would be a good time to compare and contrast this one. Dark purple color. On opening there is some menthol tinged dark fruits, smoke, black olive, and a whiff of fresh turned garden dirt. Ripe but well structured, ample tannins and surprising acidity for the ripeness. The flavors seem a little tight and compressed right now. There is both black and red fruits noticeable to me, and the finish has a slightly bitter cherry note. Very enjoyable and I would guess very ageable.
This held up well overnight, the menthol notes were gone, the wine a tad softer but the core of flavor more open on day two. My first of hopefully many more Edmunds St John wines. With the earthy flavors and nice acidity, I could have easily believed this came from the old world , maybe a Crozes Hermitage from a warmer year?
Excellent with grilled chicken and portobello sausages, which had a mild spice that didn't overwhelm the wine's flavors.
Best,
Marc
