Florida Jim
Florida Jim
Wine impressions 1-27-25
N/V Perrier-Jouet, Champagne Grand Brut - pleasant but not more; a bit thin for my tastes and not especially dry.
2021 Guigal, Côtes du Rhône - a pleasant wine with the character of the AOC, a nice texture and some complexity. Okay.
2015 Cowan Cellars, Syrah Bennett Valley - light to mid-weight, more charm than power, true to its place but at 13.5 abv, considerably more feminine than this variety usually shows in its environs.
Has thrown considerable sediment since bottling but showing well.
2022 Sainte Celine, Chablis - although the name does not appear on the label, this is from Brocard. Obviously Chablis, but with a bit more sweet fruit than expected. On the second day, that baby fat falls away and the minerality emerges. Retail at Trader Joe’s is about $17/bottle.
One of the best Chablis values in the market.
2022 Grandbazan, Albariño Etiqueta Ambar - fresh, full aromas; medium weight, detailed flavors and a good finish. Lovely wine; about $27.
2023 Dom. Zafeirakis, Assyrtiko Indigenous Yeasts - floral, stony and deep smells and flavors, excellent complexity and a lovely, mid-weight texture with good sustain. A wine of character. I suspect this will develop short-term but is really good now. About $26/bottle and I’ll go back for more.
2022 Michel Bregeon, Muscadet - this disappoints; somewhat sour, thin and without energy (things one should never say about Muscadet). Not even in the same world as the Pepiere, Briords I’ve been drinking lately. About $19.
2023 Zlatan Otok, Bilo Idra Marina Cuvée - 12% alcohol, a blend of indigenous Croatian varieties, grown organically on very steep and mostly rocky hillsides of red clay and limestone at about 350 meters elevation. Fermented and raised in stainless and retails at about $15.
Crisp, juicy, refreshing, salty/mineral driven, light weight but intense stuff with all the energy one could ask. A revelation to me and very shortly, a case purchase. Screw cap.
A second bottle is even more convincing - a little known gem.
2023 VK Winery and Gallery, Skrlet - Skrlet is an indigenous Croatian grape variety and this is hand harvested, fermented native in stainless and aged in stainless on the lees. It’s 12% alcohol, tastes of yellow fruits and minerals and is denser, more “serious” than the preceding wine. But IMO, it does not have the energy and verve of the preceding wine. Good but not more; $20. Screw cap.
2022 Etienne Sauzet, Bourgogne Hautes Côte de Beaune Jardine du Calvaire - reticent nose with light French oak tones; clear Chardonnay flavors that are disjointed, angular, and at times shrill, but seemingly holding depth and power in reserve. Quite acidic. For the moment, not something I want more of - for the future, who knows. But at $60/bottle, not something I will rebuy - not even at half the price.
2022 Dominique Gruhier, Bourgogne Epineuil - excellent, precise, generous and supple. At less than$30/bottle.
Best, Jim
N/V Perrier-Jouet, Champagne Grand Brut - pleasant but not more; a bit thin for my tastes and not especially dry.
2021 Guigal, Côtes du Rhône - a pleasant wine with the character of the AOC, a nice texture and some complexity. Okay.
2015 Cowan Cellars, Syrah Bennett Valley - light to mid-weight, more charm than power, true to its place but at 13.5 abv, considerably more feminine than this variety usually shows in its environs.
Has thrown considerable sediment since bottling but showing well.
2022 Sainte Celine, Chablis - although the name does not appear on the label, this is from Brocard. Obviously Chablis, but with a bit more sweet fruit than expected. On the second day, that baby fat falls away and the minerality emerges. Retail at Trader Joe’s is about $17/bottle.
One of the best Chablis values in the market.
2022 Grandbazan, Albariño Etiqueta Ambar - fresh, full aromas; medium weight, detailed flavors and a good finish. Lovely wine; about $27.
2023 Dom. Zafeirakis, Assyrtiko Indigenous Yeasts - floral, stony and deep smells and flavors, excellent complexity and a lovely, mid-weight texture with good sustain. A wine of character. I suspect this will develop short-term but is really good now. About $26/bottle and I’ll go back for more.
2022 Michel Bregeon, Muscadet - this disappoints; somewhat sour, thin and without energy (things one should never say about Muscadet). Not even in the same world as the Pepiere, Briords I’ve been drinking lately. About $19.
2023 Zlatan Otok, Bilo Idra Marina Cuvée - 12% alcohol, a blend of indigenous Croatian varieties, grown organically on very steep and mostly rocky hillsides of red clay and limestone at about 350 meters elevation. Fermented and raised in stainless and retails at about $15.
Crisp, juicy, refreshing, salty/mineral driven, light weight but intense stuff with all the energy one could ask. A revelation to me and very shortly, a case purchase. Screw cap.
A second bottle is even more convincing - a little known gem.
2023 VK Winery and Gallery, Skrlet - Skrlet is an indigenous Croatian grape variety and this is hand harvested, fermented native in stainless and aged in stainless on the lees. It’s 12% alcohol, tastes of yellow fruits and minerals and is denser, more “serious” than the preceding wine. But IMO, it does not have the energy and verve of the preceding wine. Good but not more; $20. Screw cap.
2022 Etienne Sauzet, Bourgogne Hautes Côte de Beaune Jardine du Calvaire - reticent nose with light French oak tones; clear Chardonnay flavors that are disjointed, angular, and at times shrill, but seemingly holding depth and power in reserve. Quite acidic. For the moment, not something I want more of - for the future, who knows. But at $60/bottle, not something I will rebuy - not even at half the price.
2022 Dominique Gruhier, Bourgogne Epineuil - excellent, precise, generous and supple. At less than$30/bottle.
Best, Jim
