Marc Morey, Bourgogne blanc, 2005
Good clean fun with simple lemon oil, followed by a calcium wash. This remains good for 3 days hence, and probably a good bargain. B+
Thunder Mountain, Chardonnay, Cinega Valley 'DeRose Vineyard', 1999
Cloudy, nearly occluded deepish medium gold colored. Yellow fruits, hazlenut, slight bit of seaweed and glutamate unami elements emanate, coming forth more forcefully with air. Feels like very non-interventionist winemaking. Very interesting and instructive. Thanks Marc! From a winery no longer extant. A-
Leroy, Volnay, 'Clos des Chenes', 1998
Being a little more forthcoming than a previously tried bottle doesn't make it becoming better. A little game of rock-paper-scisors here with a feeling the oak stave will smash the soft fruit. Pity. B
Chateau Gruaud larose, Saint Julian, 1986
Open for bid-ness and drinking well right now with all the right, or, should I say, Left Bank stuff in place. A-
Daniel Bocquenet, Nuits St. Georges 'Aux St. Julian', 2004
Fresh cranberry nose echoing on the palate with light sour cherry and a refreshing acidic finish. Takes on tarry elements the next day. Slight in body, but this is good with food and a little better than my note might suggest. B+
Chateau Climens, Barsac, 1995
Medium gold colored with a slight bronze highlight. Tropical pineapple & guava in the nose and mouth, finishes with a vitamin and botrytis. Needs a touch more complexity to round it out better, but still very good. Like a pwer-packed pina colada. A-
les Cretes, Vallee d'Aoste, Petite Arvine, 2004
Bright light gold with some green. Asian pear and lime aromas, followed on the palate with light elderflower and green mango. There's a little sweetness here, but with a lightness and mild acidity that cuts any cloyness. Delicious. high B+
Librandi, Rosso Val di Neto, 'Magno Megonio', 2001
Beautifully aromatic nose of dried rose, oregano, and slightly subdued hibiscus. Red Zinger herb tea, with cherry peel, dried herbs (esp. oregano) along with some light dried citrus. Scouring tannins on the finish and the bright garnet color suggest this could use another 2-4 years to smooth out. An interesting medium-bodied southern Italian red, from indigenous grapes (100% Magliocco). A-
L'Oustal Blanc, Minervois, 2002
Dark, almost opaque black red. Inhaling a nose of charred meat in a soy sauce marinade, with dried oil-cured olives and musky scents. Dark cherry pomegranite juice, oil-cured olives reappearing, along with old tires, and plummy-black cherry. Feels a little flat on the palate due to lowish (or almost nonexistant) acidity, so not the most refreshing wine, but definately a wine of the southland. B+
Domaine Chignard, Fleurie 'les Meriers', 2005
Medium-dark garnet red with a violet edge. Strawberry and spun cotton candy aromas, with a little note of swamp cabbage. Sweet strawberry and cough lozenge, with an iodine finish. Simply satisfying. Could use another 1-2 years to settle out some roughness. A-
Callaghan, Kevins Cuvee, Cochise County, 2002
From SE Arizona, an intriguing blend of 67% Malvasia/33% Sauvignon Blanc. Medium deep, flat gold colored. Smashed nectarines and yellow flowers on the very obvious and explosive nose. Ripe nectarine, bitter almond, and a spicy, almost jalapeno pepper finish, along with a little banana creme pie. There's enough acidity here to keep things in check, but the 14.2% alcohol makes this feel a little weighted toward the end. B/B+
Elio Grasso, Langhe Nebbiolo 'Gavarini', 2004
Transluscent garnet. Red fruits and tar, with a slight medicinal quality to the aroma. On the palate one finds red currants, cranberry, and freshly spread asphalt sealer. There's good acid level, a slight astringent twig on the finish, along with a little quinine. A good bistro nebbiolo for the $14 pricetag. B+