CWD: What did you drink last night (or whenever)?

originally posted by Claude Kolm:

I loved the 2019 Barale and bought a fair amount for daily drinking. I thought the 2020 enjoyable enough (for a one-bottle sampling, but no thought of restocking), and I am one who usually objects to high alcohol. But Barbera, to my taste, requires a hot vintage to be at its best.

I think 2019 is all gone from shelves here. A warm summer evening may not have been the ideal time to drink this 2020. Although I did have some enjoyment, if not enough to restock. Which maybe means we had similar reactions.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by Claude Kolm:

I loved the 2019 Barale and bought a fair amount for daily drinking. I thought the 2020 enjoyable enough (for a one-bottle sampling, but no thought of restocking), and I am one who usually objects to high alcohol. But Barbera, to my taste, requires a hot vintage to be at its best.

I think 2019 is all gone from shelves here. A warm summer evening may not have been the ideal time to drink this 2020. Although I did have some enjoyment, if not enough to restock. Which maybe means we had similar reactions.
It's too bad about not being good enough to restock, because here is SF the price is attractive -- $17; I think the 2019 was $14, but shipping costs these days . . . .
 
originally posted by Claude Kolm:
... because here is SF the price is attractive -- $17; I think the 2019 was $14, but shipping costs these days . . . .

Not bad at all. I'm seeing $22-25 for 2020 in Nyc.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by Claude Kolm:
... because here is SF the price is attractive -- $17; I think the 2019 was $14, but shipping costs these days . . . .

Not bad at all. I'm seeing $22-25 for 2020 in Nyc.
Italian wines generally are cheaper in NYC than SF, but Barale is a DI to SF. It's also cheaper in SF than in Paris.
 
originally posted by Claude Kolm:
originally posted by Rahsaan:
Excessive alcohol seems to be a common theme/complaint here these days, which is perfect timing, because I've been afflicted with two offenders these past days.

Yesterday it was the 2020 Chidaine Clos du Breuil Montlouis which had some attractive features, being ripe firm and powerful, full throttle wine with elegant light citrus flavors. But, eventually the weight and the 14.5% alcohol were too much. I haven't tracked the wine every vintage, but my memory of Clos du Breuil is an energetic crisp wine. Things have changed.

Today the 2020 Barale Barbera d'Alba Castlé, sporting a 15% alcohol label, showed some nice aspects with ripe fruit and hints of mineral precision underneath. But more overwhelming were the flavors that began to lean porty. And the overall high octane quickly became tiring, as I suspect it would even in the depths of winter!
But Barbera, to my taste, requires a hot vintage to be at its best.
This statement is absolute nonsense, Claude. Perhaps to *your* taste, but that does mean that you like high alcohol wines. Barbera at 15% is a travesty.

Before global warming, I was a barbera grower in Piemonte (Costigliole d'Asti). I can assure you when the Brix hit a potential 14% the wines no longer had a desirable balance. Worse still, was the use of oak on the part of many growers. Fortunately that has abated to some extent.

I suggest you get a bottle of 2019 Principiano Barbera d'Alba, which is 12.5% ABV. Everything is in balance. Really a lovely wine. His 2018, which was 13.5% was nowhere near as balanced.
 
Mark, I'm not saying that I like high alcohol wines or high-alcohol Barbera -- quite the opposite. And indeed I much preferred the 2019 from Barale which was "only" 14% -- already high for me. But it worked for me in 2020 to the extent that I found the wine tolerable, unlike the great majority of 15%(+) (or even 14%) alcohol wines of any origin or grape that I taste.
 
I really gave this a chance. Mosse was a real revelation a decade ago, my first experience of what I’d call the natural style of making Schist Chenin, and the wines were those of joy and seve.

But IMO this is a flawed wine, generically natural with only the hints of ruined fruit poking out, and dosing at bottling with a bit of SO2 can’t cure or hide those faults.

I don’t know what happened here. Generational handoff failed? An anomaly? Was ‘19 better?

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originally posted by Claude Kolm:
Mark, I'm not saying that I like high alcohol wines or high-alcohol Barbera -- quite the opposite. And indeed I much preferred the 2019 from Barale which was "only" 14% -- already high for me. But it worked for me in 2020 to the extent that I found the wine tolerable, unlike the great majority of 15%(+) (or even 14%) alcohol wines of any origin or grape that I taste.

OK. Still, there is a huge difference between saying a wine is tolerable rather than requiring a hot vintage to be at its best.
 
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by Claude Kolm:
Mark, I'm not saying that I like high alcohol wines or high-alcohol Barbera -- quite the opposite. And indeed I much preferred the 2019 from Barale which was "only" 14% -- already high for me. But it worked for me in 2020 to the extent that I found the wine tolerable, unlike the great majority of 15%(+) (or even 14%) alcohol wines of any origin or grape that I taste.

OK. Still, there is a huge difference between saying a wine is tolerable rather than requiring a hot vintage to be at its best.
In making that statement, I was thinking of 2003, where I recall impressive Barbera, especially one from Bruno Giacosa (which I think did not have high alcohol but did have high ripeness). But I have to admit, too, that I generally am not a fan of Barbera and do not drink widely of it.
 
2013 Helmut Dolde Silvaner Brauner Jura: Thanks to His Corpulence for his role in getting this wine into my life. I don't know much about Silvaner, but this is sheer pleasure. Super acid driven, but with corresponding depth to balance. One of those wines that manages to be both complex and happy. Apropos of another thread, I don't buy Montrachet and even Corton Charlemagne has become an indulgence, but vinous life is plenty rewarding with bottles like this in it.

2016 Lapierre Morgon: This wine was initially pretty dull and even lifeless. Eventually it perked up, gaining characteristic Lapierre flavors (to me, there's usually an apple-skin quality that's unique to this domaine). That said, this isn't better than it was at release. It's becoming a refrain, but I'm not sure that Lapierre rewards aging in most vintages.
 
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
2013 Helmut Dolde Silvaner Brauner Jura: Thanks to His Corpulence for his role in getting this wine into my life. I don't know much about Silvaner, but this is sheer pleasure. Super acid driven, but with corresponding depth to balance. One of those wines that manages to be both complex and happy. Apropos of another thread, I don't buy Montrachet and even Corton Charlemagne has become an indulgence, but vinous life is plenty rewarding with bottles like this in it.

Awesome. Is 2013 BJ under cork or sc? I am out of his 2013s but still digging out both WJ and AR in 2014 on occasion. Both are under sc and if you think natural cork gives you the worst of variation, think again. The best bottles of both are brilliant and as you describe, perhaps a little broader in 2014.
 
originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
2013 Helmut Dolde Silvaner Brauner Jura: Thanks to His Corpulence for his role in getting this wine into my life. I don't know much about Silvaner, but this is sheer pleasure. Super acid driven, but with corresponding depth to balance. One of those wines that manages to be both complex and happy. Apropos of another thread, I don't buy Montrachet and even Corton Charlemagne has become an indulgence, but vinous life is plenty rewarding with bottles like this in it.

Awesome. Is 2013 BJ under cork or sc? I am out of his 2013s but still digging out both WJ and AR in 2014 on occasion. Both are under sc and if you think natural cork gives you the worst of variation, think again. The best bottles of both are brilliant and as you describe, perhaps a little broader in 2014.

This was screwcap, which does make me nervous even though I can't recall a very bad screwcap experience.
 
lamy saint-aubin derrière chez edouard vv 17 was a fine accompaniment to a ris de veau fricassée.

on its own, a wine to sit and sniff: broad, fragrant yet not sweet on the nose, while in teh mouth -- as is typical of teh lamy reds i have swilled -- it is savory, almost fat free, yet does want for texture.

total magic with teh sweetbreads.

fb.
 
originally posted by fatboy:
lamy saint-aubin derrière chez edouard vv 17 was a fine accompaniment to a ris de veau fricassée.

on its own, a wine to sit and sniff: broad, fragrant yet not sweet on the nose, while in teh mouth -- as is typical of teh lamy reds i have swilled -- it is savory, almost fat free, yet does want for texture.

total magic with teh sweetbreads.

fb.

Does *not* want for texture?

I have never tried a Lamy red. Hmmm. Temptation. Seems like should be good Pinot dirt on paper.
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
originally posted by fatboy:
lamy saint-aubin derrière chez edouard vv 17 was a fine accompaniment to a ris de veau fricassée.

on its own, a wine to sit and sniff: broad, fragrant yet not sweet on the nose, while in teh mouth -- as is typical of teh lamy reds i have swilled -- it is savory, almost fat free, yet does want for texture.

total magic with teh sweetbreads.

fb.

Does *not* want for texture?

I have never tried a Lamy red. Hmmm. Temptation. Seems like should be good Pinot dirt on paper.

can confirm, Lamy's Derrière Chez Edouard cuvées merit attention. (He has a VV as well).
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:

Does *not* want for texture?

I have never tried a Lamy red. Hmmm. Temptation. Seems like should be good Pinot dirt on paper.

*not* is teh word. very much so.

i need a proofreader.

fb.
 
machard de gramont bourgogne rouge les grands chaillots 2019 was sold to me while i was traveling by a dude who said all teh right things -- "savory, structured, elegant, none of teh heat of teh vintage, etc.".

had i read teh small print, i'd have seen teh 14.5% alcohol. but i didn't. instead, with teh thoughts of "savory, structured, elegant, none of teh heat of teh vintage, etc." filling my chubby mind, i popped, poured (a suspicious, inky red/black) and sniffed (prunes and booze) before taking a first, suspicious sip (more booze, chunky anonymous red fruit) and experiencing a (fat) sinking feeling.

only then did i read teh small print.

teh cork was duly popped back in, and in teh interest of science, i just dutifully retried. see above. as a table wine this is not for me.

oddly enough, teh same producer's 2019 aligote was great: fresh, lithe and stony, with just the right balance between lemon juice and aligote chub.

fb.
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
I really gave this a chance. Mosse was a real revelation a decade ago, my first experience of what I’d call the natural style of making Schist Chenin, and the wines were those of joy and seve.
Don't know how "natural" it is (my guess would be quite), but if you're interested in Schist Chenin, Mullineux's Schist, Granite and Iron bottlings from Swartland would be a good start.
 
2010 Jouan Chambolle was underwhelming. Rather lean and sour, lacking fruit, and felt a bit hollow and advanced. A 2010 Morey St. Denis VV from the same purchase/case/storage was exceptional a few weeks ago, so this was particularly disappointing.

OTOH, 2019 Gonon Les Iles Feray was absolutely thrilling and I don't have an itch to buy higher end Cornas/Cote-Rotie when I have a stash of that at home.
 
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