Domaine de Terrebrune, Bandol, (blanc), 2006
Bright glistening pale gold with glycerin streaks. This has a soapy cilantro and grassseed aroma. Cilantro repeats in the mouth, and a light citrus tone comes forth and finishes with a white pepper-jalapeo seed finish. Decent acidity, but has a short finish and comes across as rather one-dimensional. 13% B+
Chateau Renard Mondesir, Fronsac, 2003
Dark cherry red colored, with plummy lavender aromas. Deep plum, sweet and smooth, ripe and rich, but without resorting to charactacture. Very nice, especially for $13. 13.5% B+/A -
Raymond Usseglio, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2001
See-thru maroonish cherry red. Black olive tapenade and Japanese salted plum aromas, which come across on the palate as well, finishing with some cigar box, cedar and licorice. The tannins clamp down quickly on this one, leaving the finish a little short. Possible that the tannins outlive the fruit on this one? 14% [from the back label: 75% grenache, 15% syrah, 10% mourvedre] B/B+
Franois Childaine, Montlouis-sur-Loire, 'les Bournais', 2005
Color of dull brassy gold. Demerra sugar and quince on the nose. Honeyed quince, fresh-pressed cane juice, with a soft ripe honeydew finish. Lovely, and much better than this vintage's Tuffeaux, which was very fat and flabby. This is more lithe and watery, like the essence of fresh drawn well water. 11.5% A-
Lucie et Auguste Lignier, Morey Saint Denis, 2004
I keep drinking these 2004 red Burgundies and wonder what the hell other internet reviewers have been smoking. Let me say, THERE'S NO GREEN HERE. So if you want to eat your veggies, look eleswhere. This vintage has been all about pleasant drinkable pinot noir. Yes, they are lighter and won't keep long-term, but for the prices who can complain? This is full of spicy red fruits, bright raspberry, some musky aromas, and well-integrated oak in a light-to-medium bodied package. A deal at $25. 13.5% B+
Bright glistening pale gold with glycerin streaks. This has a soapy cilantro and grassseed aroma. Cilantro repeats in the mouth, and a light citrus tone comes forth and finishes with a white pepper-jalapeo seed finish. Decent acidity, but has a short finish and comes across as rather one-dimensional. 13% B+
Chateau Renard Mondesir, Fronsac, 2003
Dark cherry red colored, with plummy lavender aromas. Deep plum, sweet and smooth, ripe and rich, but without resorting to charactacture. Very nice, especially for $13. 13.5% B+/A -
Raymond Usseglio, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2001
See-thru maroonish cherry red. Black olive tapenade and Japanese salted plum aromas, which come across on the palate as well, finishing with some cigar box, cedar and licorice. The tannins clamp down quickly on this one, leaving the finish a little short. Possible that the tannins outlive the fruit on this one? 14% [from the back label: 75% grenache, 15% syrah, 10% mourvedre] B/B+
Franois Childaine, Montlouis-sur-Loire, 'les Bournais', 2005
Color of dull brassy gold. Demerra sugar and quince on the nose. Honeyed quince, fresh-pressed cane juice, with a soft ripe honeydew finish. Lovely, and much better than this vintage's Tuffeaux, which was very fat and flabby. This is more lithe and watery, like the essence of fresh drawn well water. 11.5% A-
Lucie et Auguste Lignier, Morey Saint Denis, 2004
I keep drinking these 2004 red Burgundies and wonder what the hell other internet reviewers have been smoking. Let me say, THERE'S NO GREEN HERE. So if you want to eat your veggies, look eleswhere. This vintage has been all about pleasant drinkable pinot noir. Yes, they are lighter and won't keep long-term, but for the prices who can complain? This is full of spicy red fruits, bright raspberry, some musky aromas, and well-integrated oak in a light-to-medium bodied package. A deal at $25. 13.5% B+