Florida Jim
Florida Jim
Wine impressions 11-9-24
2017 Dirty & Rowdy, Mourvèdre Evangelho - open, beautifully shaped wine with that slightly feral character that Mourvèdre can carry. Ready but no rush.
2018 Dirty & Rowdy, Mourvèdre Evangelho - pretty closed, even with decanting. Time to sit on these awhile.
2019 Dirty & Rowdy, Mourvèdre Evangelho - open but very young. These Mourvèdres are really quite special but I’ve yet to have one that showed any age. Even so, I’ll buy Hardy’s Evangelho every year - happily.
2022 Dominique Gruhier, Epineuil Cuvée Juliette - this is about as delicious as Bourgogne gets under $40. Fresh, lively, complex, structured, precise and balanced. Absolutely lovely now with a great future.
2020 CVNE, Rioja Crianza - slightly rustic but excellent fruit and structure with good balance. At $12, back up the truck.
2019 Vincent, Pinot Noir Armstrong Vineyard - even more open and generous than the Ribbon Ridge ‘19 but deeper, more complexity and showing very well indeed. Just superb.
2018 Caparsa, Chianti Classico - a charming expression of the area with mouth-watering goodness. Lovely.
2023 Sainte Celine (Brocard), Chablis - fruit driven yet still true to its place. Less fruit forward and, to my taste, even better on day two. $17 at Trader Joe’s.
2000 Carruades de Lafite - this bottle was beguiling; Bordeaux without question; resolved and almost tender - I couldn’t help pouring more. Exquisite.
2019 Cantin, Irancy - another exceptional Bourgogne at around $30. Firm yet open and a fine grained delivery. Yum.
2019 Cantin, Irancy La Grande Côte - even more complex and fine than the preceding wine but showing younger. Needs time and will be worth it.
2022 Terres Dorees, Morgon - a lovely drop. Of its place, bright fruit and nice balance. Good Beaujolais is such a joy.
2018 Gulfi, Nerobufaleffj - about as impressive as Nero gets. Density without weight, precise yet complex, a worsted texture and character to burn. Really good.
2019 Louis Michel, Chablis Forets - this has shown open since release and true to its place and the house style. Not the concentration of the Grand Crus but so well executed that it often impresses more. Lovely wine.
2019 Louis Michel, Chablis Vaudesir - open enough to get a sense of the feminine delivery so typical of this vineyard. Lots of concentrated fruit, oyster shell and mineral but it all needs time to coalesce. Huge future.
2019 Louis Michel, Chablis Les Clos - barely showing enough to understand that, in a decade or so, this will blow you away. The density here is evident and the volume in the mouth, at this stage, is almost too much. Hold.
2021 Calluna, Estate Blanc - a Sauvignon/Semillon blend that references Bordeaux Blanc but does not copy it; more intense and concentrated but not weighty or ponderous. I suspect this will develop nicely over time, although I like it enough now to make aging in my cellar unlikely.
2021 Desvignes, Morgon Javernieres - firm, structured and, IMO, atypical of Morgon - but not atypical of this producer in this vineyard. Needs time - hold.
N/V Tarlant, Champagne Brut Zero - firm and crisp with excellent minerality but not much fruit showing right now. I have no idea if the fruit will develop over time but right now, while very good, it’s stern.
2017 Louis Michel, Chablis Grenouilles - proof positive the god lives in Chablis. Endless depth and nuance. A masterpiece!
2021 Chavy-Chouet, Bourgogne Rouge La Taupe - lively, focused fruit (maybe a bit lean), evident backbone and nice balance. I like this wine but don’t love it - ‘would be interesting to have the ‘22. ‘Lots of respect for the producer and vineyard but this vintage may not be its best - or maybe I’m just early.
2020 Pieropan, Soave Calvarino - I do love this wine; IMO as good as Soave produces. Rich but focused and a peacock’s tail or aromas and flavors with superb length.
2022 Vincent, Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge - such a joyful wine and yet still well structured and shaped. No need to open it but every reason to. Excellent.
2021 Rock & Vine, Cabernet Sauvignon Three Ranches - I am not a cab guy and certainly not Central Coast cab guy but credit where due - no gobs, no big alcohol, no oak overlay, just well made, fruit driven cab with some structure. Not complex or intellectual but nice drinking.
1992 Fieldstone, Vintage Port - simple, uncomplicated, fairly sweet port from Alexander Valley. One glass was ample.
2022 Frederic Esmonin, Bourgogne Les Genevrieres - excellent; fruit filled, good structure, even a little development, I think and a complete wine. A delight to drink.
N/V Guy Larmandier, Champagne Cramant - my kind of bubbles; a lovely fruit, brioche and mineral melange with just the right bead and sneaky depth and sustain. Grand Cru, indeed.
2018 Remoissenet, Meursault - nothing heavy handed here just a minerally, ripe fruit delivery with the very clear aroma of Meursault. Nicely layered, good textures, fine acids and charm.
2022 Thymiopoulos, Xinomavro Young Vines - slightly pale, lightly tannic, lightweight red wine with excellent fruit, good complexity and fine length. 13% abv, $16 and quite good - showing well now. My thanks to Dan Kravitz for the suggestion - this will be a yearly case purchase. I am also told that the up market Xinos from this house are pretty good.
Best, Jim
2017 Dirty & Rowdy, Mourvèdre Evangelho - open, beautifully shaped wine with that slightly feral character that Mourvèdre can carry. Ready but no rush.
2018 Dirty & Rowdy, Mourvèdre Evangelho - pretty closed, even with decanting. Time to sit on these awhile.
2019 Dirty & Rowdy, Mourvèdre Evangelho - open but very young. These Mourvèdres are really quite special but I’ve yet to have one that showed any age. Even so, I’ll buy Hardy’s Evangelho every year - happily.
2022 Dominique Gruhier, Epineuil Cuvée Juliette - this is about as delicious as Bourgogne gets under $40. Fresh, lively, complex, structured, precise and balanced. Absolutely lovely now with a great future.
2020 CVNE, Rioja Crianza - slightly rustic but excellent fruit and structure with good balance. At $12, back up the truck.
2019 Vincent, Pinot Noir Armstrong Vineyard - even more open and generous than the Ribbon Ridge ‘19 but deeper, more complexity and showing very well indeed. Just superb.
2018 Caparsa, Chianti Classico - a charming expression of the area with mouth-watering goodness. Lovely.
2023 Sainte Celine (Brocard), Chablis - fruit driven yet still true to its place. Less fruit forward and, to my taste, even better on day two. $17 at Trader Joe’s.
2000 Carruades de Lafite - this bottle was beguiling; Bordeaux without question; resolved and almost tender - I couldn’t help pouring more. Exquisite.
2019 Cantin, Irancy - another exceptional Bourgogne at around $30. Firm yet open and a fine grained delivery. Yum.
2019 Cantin, Irancy La Grande Côte - even more complex and fine than the preceding wine but showing younger. Needs time and will be worth it.
2022 Terres Dorees, Morgon - a lovely drop. Of its place, bright fruit and nice balance. Good Beaujolais is such a joy.
2018 Gulfi, Nerobufaleffj - about as impressive as Nero gets. Density without weight, precise yet complex, a worsted texture and character to burn. Really good.
2019 Louis Michel, Chablis Forets - this has shown open since release and true to its place and the house style. Not the concentration of the Grand Crus but so well executed that it often impresses more. Lovely wine.
2019 Louis Michel, Chablis Vaudesir - open enough to get a sense of the feminine delivery so typical of this vineyard. Lots of concentrated fruit, oyster shell and mineral but it all needs time to coalesce. Huge future.
2019 Louis Michel, Chablis Les Clos - barely showing enough to understand that, in a decade or so, this will blow you away. The density here is evident and the volume in the mouth, at this stage, is almost too much. Hold.
2021 Calluna, Estate Blanc - a Sauvignon/Semillon blend that references Bordeaux Blanc but does not copy it; more intense and concentrated but not weighty or ponderous. I suspect this will develop nicely over time, although I like it enough now to make aging in my cellar unlikely.
2021 Desvignes, Morgon Javernieres - firm, structured and, IMO, atypical of Morgon - but not atypical of this producer in this vineyard. Needs time - hold.
N/V Tarlant, Champagne Brut Zero - firm and crisp with excellent minerality but not much fruit showing right now. I have no idea if the fruit will develop over time but right now, while very good, it’s stern.
2017 Louis Michel, Chablis Grenouilles - proof positive the god lives in Chablis. Endless depth and nuance. A masterpiece!
2021 Chavy-Chouet, Bourgogne Rouge La Taupe - lively, focused fruit (maybe a bit lean), evident backbone and nice balance. I like this wine but don’t love it - ‘would be interesting to have the ‘22. ‘Lots of respect for the producer and vineyard but this vintage may not be its best - or maybe I’m just early.
2020 Pieropan, Soave Calvarino - I do love this wine; IMO as good as Soave produces. Rich but focused and a peacock’s tail or aromas and flavors with superb length.
2022 Vincent, Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge - such a joyful wine and yet still well structured and shaped. No need to open it but every reason to. Excellent.
2021 Rock & Vine, Cabernet Sauvignon Three Ranches - I am not a cab guy and certainly not Central Coast cab guy but credit where due - no gobs, no big alcohol, no oak overlay, just well made, fruit driven cab with some structure. Not complex or intellectual but nice drinking.
1992 Fieldstone, Vintage Port - simple, uncomplicated, fairly sweet port from Alexander Valley. One glass was ample.
2022 Frederic Esmonin, Bourgogne Les Genevrieres - excellent; fruit filled, good structure, even a little development, I think and a complete wine. A delight to drink.
N/V Guy Larmandier, Champagne Cramant - my kind of bubbles; a lovely fruit, brioche and mineral melange with just the right bead and sneaky depth and sustain. Grand Cru, indeed.
2018 Remoissenet, Meursault - nothing heavy handed here just a minerally, ripe fruit delivery with the very clear aroma of Meursault. Nicely layered, good textures, fine acids and charm.
2022 Thymiopoulos, Xinomavro Young Vines - slightly pale, lightly tannic, lightweight red wine with excellent fruit, good complexity and fine length. 13% abv, $16 and quite good - showing well now. My thanks to Dan Kravitz for the suggestion - this will be a yearly case purchase. I am also told that the up market Xinos from this house are pretty good.
Best, Jim
