I was also at the LA tasting, and am excited these wines will be more available on the west coast. I have long read the notes of others with envy, but no more. I was there to taste for business, so I didn't try all the wines.
The following wines were poured by the winemakers.
From France
Luneau-Papin
07 PdlG VV - excellent, expressive, balanced.
'05 L d'Or - higher acidity than '06/'07. balanced and elegant. Super wine.
'02 SE Clos des Noelles: 6 mos on the lees, rich, perfumed, oustanding.
Dom. du Closel
'06 Jalousie: very good, slightly sharp, easy to drink
'06 Clos Papillon: 2 yrs on the lees, rich, crisp, structured, excellent
'05 Clos Papillon: richer than '06, needs time, will be the better wine.
Francois Pinon
'06 No Dose: crisp, pure, delightful.
'07 Silex Noir: from Schist, very good, concentrated fruit, expressive, very unique.
Franck Peillot
NV Montagnieu Brut: 60% Chardonnay, 30% Altesse, 10%: bright, sharp acidity, clean, a little clipped.
'07 Altesse de Montagnieu: 100% Altesse: red berries, great structure, aromatic, very good+.
'07 Pinot de Bugey: Pinot Noir, earthy, deep fruit, carbonic maceration, good length.
'06 Mondeuse de Bugey: Dark, structured, deep and concentrated, will have sediment. Oustanding.
Dom. le Briseau
07 You Are So Bubbly (Granache, Cab Fr, Cinsault): Pink, decent, light, clean flavors, hollow mid., finishes dry and short.
'07 You Are So Cool (Sauv Bl): Earth, less fruit more structure, yeasty?
'07 You Are So Nice (Cot, Gamay): Good fruit, balanced, earthy, nice.
'07 You Are So Fine (Chenin Bl): Sparkling-not so good.
'06 La Derobee-Coteaux du Loir (Pinot d'Aunis): Best of the line up, excellent, balanced, deep.
J P Brun, Terres Dorees
'08 Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay: Super wine, must buy. Easily out classes it's level.
'07 Condrieu: high toned, heady, floral, too much for me. expensive.
'08 Beaujolais l"Ancien: Village level, bright, cherry, balanced, good structure. Very good.
'08 Brouilly: Deeper, bright red fruit, earth, clean flavors, great acidity, Very good+.
'08 Fleurie: Floral-Fleury like, again bright red fruit, very good.
'08 Morgon: Back up the truck!
'07 Cote Rotie: No wood, Super clean flavors, zero bret/animal, some blue fruits, spice, refreshing.
Dom. L-C Desvignes
'07 Morgon Cote du Py : grippy tannins, structured, rich and drinking quite well.
'07 Morgon Cote du Py Javernieres: clay soil and lower elev., coarser tannins, bright acidity, +structure, good length.
'06 Morgon Cote du Py: 300 m. elevation, dark crimson, deep, chewy tannins but drinking well, could use a few years.
'06 Morgon Cote du Py Javernieres: closed, tight, tannin and acid.
Dom. Marechal
'06 Bourgogne Rouge Cuvee Gravel: very nice and expressive wine, shows some class, could improve with time.
'06 Chorey-Les-Beaune: okay but not very memorable, the Ladoix is much better.
'06 Ladoix: aromatic, somewhat complex, nice length, drinking very well.
'07 Savigny Les Beaune: village wine but 40+ yr old vines, smooth, bright cherry, sauve, will improve.
'07 Pommard "La Chaniere": Very Pommard, rustic, grippy tannins, bright acidity, deep red/black fruits. very good+
Dom. le Belliviere (Jasnieres)
'06 Les Rosiers: 100% Chenin Bl, rich and sweet, 7gms of NRS.
'07 Les Rosiers: much better, completely dry, excellent length and focus.
'06 l'Effraie Blanc: very clean, good acidity, balanced.
'07 Le Rouge Gorge: 100% Pinot d'Aunis-earth, dried leaves, coarse, chunky tannins.
Eric Texier
'08 CdR Blanc: primarily Grenache Blanc with other stuff. Good quaffer, nothing complex but not dull.
'07 CdR Brezeme Blanc Rousanne: crisp acidity, flinty, vibrant, very good+
'08 CdR Viogner: typical Viogner, not my cup of tea.
'08 Opale Viogner: dessert wine with 70 gms of NRS, extremely smooth, not sweet as would suggest, great acidity, could be aperitif or Eric suggests with fresh fruit.
'07 CdR Rouge: clean, smooth, structured, very good+.
'07 CdR Vaison-la-Romaine Grenache: Super good, very friendly bright strawberry, clean
'07 CdR Village Rasteau Grenache: higher toned, deep fruit, slightly tannic, structured, very good
'05 CdR Village St. Gervais Cadinieres Grenache: elegant, deep raspberry, balanced, excellent.
'06 CdR Brezeme Syrah: as good as it gets at this price level. Just loaded with fruit structure and balance. Unmistakably Syrah.
'07 CdR Brezeme Syrah: Some reduction, needs time, could be great.
'06 CdP Rouge: 100% destemed, 50% whole cluster, 100% Grenache aged in 500 gallon foudre. Bright fruit, garague, glycerine, smooth clean finish, very good.
'05 CdP Rouge Improbable: 100% Grenache, same treatment as the CdP plus no racking/topping or sulphur after primary ferment aged in neutral oak. 1 barrel in '05. Super good, exciting, pure, elegant. Not what I expected.
'06 Cote Rotie VV: Neutral oak, 100% Syrah. Very nice but missing the leather, animal quality I love about CR.
These wines were serve yourself:
'07 Pepiere Classic: Very nice with the classic Muscadet elements. This wine is always consistent.
'07 Pepiere Clos des Briords: VV, very nice and open, more structure, very good+.
'08 Thomas-Labaille Sancerre Les Monts Damnes: grassy, cirtus, vibrant, balanced, what I want from Sancerre, very good+.
'07 Ch. d'Oupia Les Heretiques: 100% Carignan. Slightly chunky and rough but excellent fruit. Very good. A buy at this price.
'07 Ch. d'Oupia Minervios: didn't get the cepage, very good+, more class, vibrant, good length. Another buy.
'05 Mas des Chimeres: Never have understood the hopla on this wine, bitter, nothing great especially at the price.
'07 Clos Roche Blanche-Cabernet Franc: Varietal correct, earth, dry tannin, pretty good.
'07 Clos Roche Blanche-Cot: Yuk! Cows ass.
'06 Terre des Chardons "Marginal" (Costieres des Nimes): Very nice, earth and chocolate, balanced. very good.
The following wines were poured by the winemakers:
From Italy
Vittorio Bera (Piemonte)
'07 Arcese Bianco: A blend of Favorita, Arneis & Cortese. Impression is sweet and rich, some acidity but I find many of these wines flabby like and this was no exception.
'07 & '08 Moscato d'Asti: Alessandra said these were quite different. I didn't see it, but I'm not a big follower of Moscato. Both were very good versions, quite rich, peaches in spades.
'06 Dolcetto Monferrato Bricco della Serra: vines are in Monferrato outside of Asti. No Oak in the ageing. Rich, chocolate/expresso, grapey, nice finish, very good.
'06 Barbera d'Asti Ronco Malo: No oak again. Very rich, earth, mocha, baked bread, clean berry. Very good+. Possible buy.
A.A. Montesecondo (Chianti Classico)
'07 Rosso Toscana IGT: drinks like a CC. Very nice on the palate, ther is an elegance here. Possible buy.
'05 Chianti Classico: Super wine, drinks like a Reserva. Expressive, balanced, elegant. Buy.
'06 Chianti Classico: As good but younger and higher acidity than '05. Excellent. Buy.
'05 Rosso del Rospo IGT: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. High acid, some CS character but not a lot. Pass.
'05 Petit Verre d'Ot: You guessed it, 100% Petit Verdot. Deep, rich, mocha, expresso, palate staining. Finishes nicely. Possible buy.
Occhipinti (Sicilia)
'08 SP68 DOC Rosso Vittoria: 50% Frappato & 10% Nero d'Avola. Huge nose of Raspberry. Almost feels like a wet Martini on the palate. Arianna says this needs age and go up to 25 yrs in the cellar. Not a favorite.
'06 Rosso Sicilia IGT: 100% Frappato, very elegant, raspberry, charming, earthy, high acidity but rich though light on it's feet. Tough sell at that price but very good+
'07 Rosso Sicilia Siccagno Nero d"Avola: from limestone vineyards, clean and bright fruit, balanced and not the typical chocolate Nero. Another tough sell but very good.
There was a lot more wine to try and I wished I could have stayed. Joe Dressner has a killer book and I hope the rest of these wines make it to the right coast.
The following wines were poured by the winemakers.
From France
Luneau-Papin
07 PdlG VV - excellent, expressive, balanced.
'05 L d'Or - higher acidity than '06/'07. balanced and elegant. Super wine.
'02 SE Clos des Noelles: 6 mos on the lees, rich, perfumed, oustanding.
Dom. du Closel
'06 Jalousie: very good, slightly sharp, easy to drink
'06 Clos Papillon: 2 yrs on the lees, rich, crisp, structured, excellent
'05 Clos Papillon: richer than '06, needs time, will be the better wine.
Francois Pinon
'06 No Dose: crisp, pure, delightful.
'07 Silex Noir: from Schist, very good, concentrated fruit, expressive, very unique.
Franck Peillot
NV Montagnieu Brut: 60% Chardonnay, 30% Altesse, 10%: bright, sharp acidity, clean, a little clipped.
'07 Altesse de Montagnieu: 100% Altesse: red berries, great structure, aromatic, very good+.
'07 Pinot de Bugey: Pinot Noir, earthy, deep fruit, carbonic maceration, good length.
'06 Mondeuse de Bugey: Dark, structured, deep and concentrated, will have sediment. Oustanding.
Dom. le Briseau
07 You Are So Bubbly (Granache, Cab Fr, Cinsault): Pink, decent, light, clean flavors, hollow mid., finishes dry and short.
'07 You Are So Cool (Sauv Bl): Earth, less fruit more structure, yeasty?
'07 You Are So Nice (Cot, Gamay): Good fruit, balanced, earthy, nice.
'07 You Are So Fine (Chenin Bl): Sparkling-not so good.
'06 La Derobee-Coteaux du Loir (Pinot d'Aunis): Best of the line up, excellent, balanced, deep.
J P Brun, Terres Dorees
'08 Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay: Super wine, must buy. Easily out classes it's level.
'07 Condrieu: high toned, heady, floral, too much for me. expensive.
'08 Beaujolais l"Ancien: Village level, bright, cherry, balanced, good structure. Very good.
'08 Brouilly: Deeper, bright red fruit, earth, clean flavors, great acidity, Very good+.
'08 Fleurie: Floral-Fleury like, again bright red fruit, very good.
'08 Morgon: Back up the truck!
'07 Cote Rotie: No wood, Super clean flavors, zero bret/animal, some blue fruits, spice, refreshing.
Dom. L-C Desvignes
'07 Morgon Cote du Py : grippy tannins, structured, rich and drinking quite well.
'07 Morgon Cote du Py Javernieres: clay soil and lower elev., coarser tannins, bright acidity, +structure, good length.
'06 Morgon Cote du Py: 300 m. elevation, dark crimson, deep, chewy tannins but drinking well, could use a few years.
'06 Morgon Cote du Py Javernieres: closed, tight, tannin and acid.
Dom. Marechal
'06 Bourgogne Rouge Cuvee Gravel: very nice and expressive wine, shows some class, could improve with time.
'06 Chorey-Les-Beaune: okay but not very memorable, the Ladoix is much better.
'06 Ladoix: aromatic, somewhat complex, nice length, drinking very well.
'07 Savigny Les Beaune: village wine but 40+ yr old vines, smooth, bright cherry, sauve, will improve.
'07 Pommard "La Chaniere": Very Pommard, rustic, grippy tannins, bright acidity, deep red/black fruits. very good+
Dom. le Belliviere (Jasnieres)
'06 Les Rosiers: 100% Chenin Bl, rich and sweet, 7gms of NRS.
'07 Les Rosiers: much better, completely dry, excellent length and focus.
'06 l'Effraie Blanc: very clean, good acidity, balanced.
'07 Le Rouge Gorge: 100% Pinot d'Aunis-earth, dried leaves, coarse, chunky tannins.
Eric Texier
'08 CdR Blanc: primarily Grenache Blanc with other stuff. Good quaffer, nothing complex but not dull.
'07 CdR Brezeme Blanc Rousanne: crisp acidity, flinty, vibrant, very good+
'08 CdR Viogner: typical Viogner, not my cup of tea.
'08 Opale Viogner: dessert wine with 70 gms of NRS, extremely smooth, not sweet as would suggest, great acidity, could be aperitif or Eric suggests with fresh fruit.
'07 CdR Rouge: clean, smooth, structured, very good+.
'07 CdR Vaison-la-Romaine Grenache: Super good, very friendly bright strawberry, clean
'07 CdR Village Rasteau Grenache: higher toned, deep fruit, slightly tannic, structured, very good
'05 CdR Village St. Gervais Cadinieres Grenache: elegant, deep raspberry, balanced, excellent.
'06 CdR Brezeme Syrah: as good as it gets at this price level. Just loaded with fruit structure and balance. Unmistakably Syrah.
'07 CdR Brezeme Syrah: Some reduction, needs time, could be great.
'06 CdP Rouge: 100% destemed, 50% whole cluster, 100% Grenache aged in 500 gallon foudre. Bright fruit, garague, glycerine, smooth clean finish, very good.
'05 CdP Rouge Improbable: 100% Grenache, same treatment as the CdP plus no racking/topping or sulphur after primary ferment aged in neutral oak. 1 barrel in '05. Super good, exciting, pure, elegant. Not what I expected.
'06 Cote Rotie VV: Neutral oak, 100% Syrah. Very nice but missing the leather, animal quality I love about CR.
These wines were serve yourself:
'07 Pepiere Classic: Very nice with the classic Muscadet elements. This wine is always consistent.
'07 Pepiere Clos des Briords: VV, very nice and open, more structure, very good+.
'08 Thomas-Labaille Sancerre Les Monts Damnes: grassy, cirtus, vibrant, balanced, what I want from Sancerre, very good+.
'07 Ch. d'Oupia Les Heretiques: 100% Carignan. Slightly chunky and rough but excellent fruit. Very good. A buy at this price.
'07 Ch. d'Oupia Minervios: didn't get the cepage, very good+, more class, vibrant, good length. Another buy.
'05 Mas des Chimeres: Never have understood the hopla on this wine, bitter, nothing great especially at the price.
'07 Clos Roche Blanche-Cabernet Franc: Varietal correct, earth, dry tannin, pretty good.
'07 Clos Roche Blanche-Cot: Yuk! Cows ass.
'06 Terre des Chardons "Marginal" (Costieres des Nimes): Very nice, earth and chocolate, balanced. very good.
The following wines were poured by the winemakers:
From Italy
Vittorio Bera (Piemonte)
'07 Arcese Bianco: A blend of Favorita, Arneis & Cortese. Impression is sweet and rich, some acidity but I find many of these wines flabby like and this was no exception.
'07 & '08 Moscato d'Asti: Alessandra said these were quite different. I didn't see it, but I'm not a big follower of Moscato. Both were very good versions, quite rich, peaches in spades.
'06 Dolcetto Monferrato Bricco della Serra: vines are in Monferrato outside of Asti. No Oak in the ageing. Rich, chocolate/expresso, grapey, nice finish, very good.
'06 Barbera d'Asti Ronco Malo: No oak again. Very rich, earth, mocha, baked bread, clean berry. Very good+. Possible buy.
A.A. Montesecondo (Chianti Classico)
'07 Rosso Toscana IGT: drinks like a CC. Very nice on the palate, ther is an elegance here. Possible buy.
'05 Chianti Classico: Super wine, drinks like a Reserva. Expressive, balanced, elegant. Buy.
'06 Chianti Classico: As good but younger and higher acidity than '05. Excellent. Buy.
'05 Rosso del Rospo IGT: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. High acid, some CS character but not a lot. Pass.
'05 Petit Verre d'Ot: You guessed it, 100% Petit Verdot. Deep, rich, mocha, expresso, palate staining. Finishes nicely. Possible buy.
Occhipinti (Sicilia)
'08 SP68 DOC Rosso Vittoria: 50% Frappato & 10% Nero d'Avola. Huge nose of Raspberry. Almost feels like a wet Martini on the palate. Arianna says this needs age and go up to 25 yrs in the cellar. Not a favorite.
'06 Rosso Sicilia IGT: 100% Frappato, very elegant, raspberry, charming, earthy, high acidity but rich though light on it's feet. Tough sell at that price but very good+
'07 Rosso Sicilia Siccagno Nero d"Avola: from limestone vineyards, clean and bright fruit, balanced and not the typical chocolate Nero. Another tough sell but very good.
There was a lot more wine to try and I wished I could have stayed. Joe Dressner has a killer book and I hope the rest of these wines make it to the right coast.