Piol 2005 Terra Alta Sacra Natura (Catalua) Surprisingly advanced, but perhaps due to that advancement drinking even better than it did in its flavorful but noisy adolescence. Dark fruit with a significant lean towards maturing, pie-like complexity, black earth, and a nutty/spicy zing doing some light lifting underneath. Fun. (1/09)
Brick Angel 2006 Littlefoot St. Barthelemy (Napa Valley) Half petite sirah, one quarter each zinfandel and syrah, 15.1%. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. (1/09)
P&G Vatan Chateau du Hureau 2005 Saumur-Champigny (Loire) Blackberry in vibrant bursts not always seen among Loire redsbut not to worry, theres soil, herb, and bite still to be found, along with a significant dusting of black pepper. Forceful. Very good, with potential. (1/09)
Brusset 2004 Cairanne Coteaux des Travers (Rhne) Fruity and forward, to the extent that Id be hard-pressed to identify it as a French wine, much less of its place. Theres little structure, but I wouldnt go so far as the call the ripe strawberry bubblegum fruit formlessits just that theres mostly the simple fact of the initial burst of yum, and then, well, not much else. This feels like a laster rather than an ager, and maybe not even the former. But why wait? Certainly one drinks this because its big and fruity, and because one considers those the sine qua non of wine construction. (12/08)
JM Burgaud 2006 Rgni Vallires (Beaujolais) Straightforward gamayness, light and red-pink-purple-fruited, with an engaging appeal. Theres not really much more to say. Its good. Its tasty. Its highly drinkable. Its no more than that, though. (1/09)
Costires & Soleil Slectionn par Laurence Fraud 2005 Plan Pgau Vin de Table (Rhne) Corked. (1/09)
Bergstrm 2006 Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve (Willamette Valley) Open a bit longer than the ideal, perhaps, because the stemmy greenness has come to dominate the nose. The palate is pure enough, with good acidity and a crisp, red-fruited microburst of fruit, but the finish returns to tones of green and brown. Iffy. (1/09)
Brick Angel 2006 Littlefoot St. Barthelemy (Napa Valley) Half petite sirah, one quarter each zinfandel and syrah, 15.1%. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. (1/09)
P&G Vatan Chateau du Hureau 2005 Saumur-Champigny (Loire) Blackberry in vibrant bursts not always seen among Loire redsbut not to worry, theres soil, herb, and bite still to be found, along with a significant dusting of black pepper. Forceful. Very good, with potential. (1/09)
Brusset 2004 Cairanne Coteaux des Travers (Rhne) Fruity and forward, to the extent that Id be hard-pressed to identify it as a French wine, much less of its place. Theres little structure, but I wouldnt go so far as the call the ripe strawberry bubblegum fruit formlessits just that theres mostly the simple fact of the initial burst of yum, and then, well, not much else. This feels like a laster rather than an ager, and maybe not even the former. But why wait? Certainly one drinks this because its big and fruity, and because one considers those the sine qua non of wine construction. (12/08)
JM Burgaud 2006 Rgni Vallires (Beaujolais) Straightforward gamayness, light and red-pink-purple-fruited, with an engaging appeal. Theres not really much more to say. Its good. Its tasty. Its highly drinkable. Its no more than that, though. (1/09)
Costires & Soleil Slectionn par Laurence Fraud 2005 Plan Pgau Vin de Table (Rhne) Corked. (1/09)
Bergstrm 2006 Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve (Willamette Valley) Open a bit longer than the ideal, perhaps, because the stemmy greenness has come to dominate the nose. The palate is pure enough, with good acidity and a crisp, red-fruited microburst of fruit, but the finish returns to tones of green and brown. Iffy. (1/09)