This and That.

Jeff Grossman

Jeff Grossman
I go swimming in distant seas. Alas, mostly I just see distant sea-shells.

Dom. Capmartin 2022 Madiran "L'Instant" - made in an accessible style which somehow ruins the whole thing, I think I need a new category: Dull When Put In Mouth; a day later the remnants showed a little scratchy signs of life but my ship had sailed

Gravillas 2024 VdF "Alive!" - sounded good (several colors of picpoul and cinsault made in a pre-1850 style) but, largely, was wet, DWPIM

Umani Ronchi 2023 IGT Terre di Chieti, Pecorino "Vellodoro" - 12.5%, a friend of Shaun the Sheep on the label, finally, something with character! lots of acidity, stones and dried apricots, long finish that turns a bit resinous, I could drink more of this (...and I will, as I splashed a cup of it into a Sicilian chicken dish...)

Drink anything fun lately??
 
Dom. du Heron 2023 Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie - 12%, who knew you could squeeze herons for wine?, schisty soils so bright and lemony, good regular muscadet
 
La Kiuva 2022 Rouge de Vallee - 13%; I guess this famous cooperative did something to not get the appellation? Anyway, still delicious, bright, a tenor nebbiolo -- fine, picotendre -- with cranberries among the stones. Happy to drink this one.
 
Nicolas Carmarans 2022 VdF "(12)" - 12%, old vines fer servadou, whole bunches, old barrels, long elevage; does not give me the leafy shock that I expect from this grape; comes off as halfway between Beaujolais and Chianti, with lots of substance, red fruit and brown earth; a great match with braised chicken and lemony potatoes, very happy to drink this (though, at $40+, it has plausible competition)
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Nicolas Carmarans 2022 VdF "(12)" - 12%, old vines fer servadou, whole bunches, old barrels, long elevage; does not give me the leafy shock that I expect from this grape; comes off as halfway between Beaujolais and Chianti, with lots of substance, red fruit and brown earth; a great match with braised chicken and lemony potatoes, very happy to drink this (though, at $40+, it has plausible competition)

Really enjoyed his wines but at their current price point, as noted, the doors open to so many other choices.

By the way, what is "DWPIM"? I understand DNPIM but not this acronym. I did drink a bunch of the Alive a couple of summers ago and found it to be a fun summer sipper.
 
As Jeff lays out above, "Dull When Put In Mouth".

I'm with you both on Bitchin' Carmarans and the price point. I thought Alive was interesting but have preferred other wines in Gravillas's portfolio.
 
Dom. Celine Perrin 2022 Hautes-Cotes de Nuits Rouge is in a good place. Very forward, plenty fruity (but not quite frooty as there is a hint of twigs or maybe even pine there). Great value, might just go buy a few more.
 
Willm 2023 Riesling Reserve - 12.5%, Alsace, typique, nothing deft about it but it's gluggable, at the right price point: no complaints
 
Les Maisons Rouges 2022 Coteaux du Loir "Garance" - a little harsh when first opened but that blew off in about 10 minutes; very typique pineau d'aunis all around: color, body, fragrance. Stayed good over two nights. Happy to know this name.
 
Le Jonc Blanc 2018 VdF "Pure M" - 14%; indeed 100% malbec, I think I was told this was a drink-me-now bottling but I liked it back then so put one away; at age 7 this is still ink-dark, concentrated, preserved well by all that alky but does not taste of it; this smells really good but the palate is severely reduced... Day 3: pretty aromas of blackberry and wet earth drift from the glass, the wine is good for little sips but some funky flavors show up if I take too much at once; I drink it with a hearty meat soup and roasted chestnuts. Overall, a successful experiment but no urgent need to replicate it.
 
Tonight: Le Piane 2020 Vino Rosso "Mimmo", with rare roast lamb. The wine is heavenly. It has the cran-cherry profile you expect from nebbiolo, mixed with mild earthy/minerality and definitely roses > tar. Lightweight by itself but it's catching with the acid in the lamb marinade and the whole is yum much greater than the sum of the parts.

(...and I really should neither drink the whole bottle nor eat a 4# roast at one sitting...)
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Tonight: Le Piane 2020 Boca Vino Rosso "Mimmo", with rare roast lamb. The wine is heavenly. It has the cran-cherry profile you expect from nebbiolo, mixed with mild earthy/minerality and definitely roses > tar. Lightweight by itself but it's catching with the acid in the lamb marinade and the whole is yum much greater than the sum of the parts.

(...and I really should neither drink the whole bottle nor eat a 4# roast at one sitting...)

The Mimmo sounds great. Any reason to wait?
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Tonight: Le Piane 2020 Boca Vino Rosso "Mimmo", with rare roast lamb. The wine is heavenly. It has the cran-cherry profile you expect from nebbiolo, mixed with mild earthy/minerality and definitely roses > tar. Lightweight by itself but it's catching with the acid in the lamb marinade and the whole is yum much greater than the sum of the parts.

(...and I really should neither drink the whole bottle nor eat a 4# roast at one sitting...)

The Mimmo sounds great. Any reason to wait?
I see no reason to wait. If the nebbiolo tries to go to an earthier/tarry place, I'm not sure the vespaolina will play along.

originally posted by Florida Jim:
What’s the abv, Jeff?
13.5%.
 
Sitting down now with seafood and more Norwegian smoked salmon -- and a little salmon roe this time -- and Falkenstein 2021 Niedermenniger Im Kleinschock Riesling Kabinett (AP 20). First sip is mouth-watering and fairly powerful. I'll post more later. ... The roe, in its teeny jar, is a little reduced so it needs dzhudzhing with a few drop of lemon juice and stirring with my mini-trident. Still hit or miss with the wine as sometimes the funk (sex?) still shows through. But the wine is amazing with the fish and cream and, occasionally, capers. And the finish is all riesling fruit, jumping in front of the (admittedly mild) smoke and salt. #HappyInBrooklyn
 
Dom. Vincent Legou 2022 Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits "Le Corton" was a little tight when first opened but relented after a half hour of air. And it may even be better on Day 3... as pretty as a little Burgundy wine can be, red fruits and citrussy (mandarins, not lemons) acidity, medium body at 13%, pretty vivid in the mid-palate, finish is all raspberry, worked at the table with everything I threw at it (OK, OK, not the exceedingly strong Swedish ginger snaps), totally moreish.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Dom. Vincent Legou 2022 Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits "Le Corton" was a little tight when first opened but relented after a half hour of air. And it may even be better on Day 3... as pretty as a little Burgundy wine can be, red fruits and citrussy (mandarins, not lemons) acidity, medium body at 13%, pretty vivid in the mid-palate, finish is all raspberry, worked at the table with everything I threw at it (OK, OK, not the exceedingly strong Swedish ginger snaps), totally moreish.

I'm impressed he's allowed that name-could there also be a HCDN 'Le Chambertin'?
 
originally posted by Tom Blach:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Dom. Vincent Legou 2022 Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits "Le Corton" was a little tight when first opened but relented after a half hour of air. And it may even be better on Day 3... as pretty as a little Burgundy wine can be, red fruits and citrussy (mandarins, not lemons) acidity, medium body at 13%, pretty vivid in the mid-palate, finish is all raspberry, worked at the table with everything I threw at it (OK, OK, not the exceedingly strong Swedish ginger snaps), totally moreish.

I'm impressed he's allowed that name-could there also be a HCDN 'Le Chambertin'?

you mean HCDB 'Le Chambertin' , to stay with the old pedantic theme
 
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