A few recent and semi-recent ones.
2004 Pascal Janvier Jasnires (8/19/2008)
Very sulfury at first, requiring an hour or more to blow off. With some air, aromas of quince, apple syrup, wax, wet soil, petrol. Fuller bodied than I remember from previous bottles, with pleasantly prickly acidity. Really engaging on the palate, with flavors of green tea, lanolin, lemon zest, light petrol, almost riesling like. I found the sugar far more integrated at room temperature vs chilled. Although lacking the intense minerality of previous bottles, this was a fabulous drink, much cleaner and more sorted than one opened in February. Drink or hold, but recommend a good long decanting.
2001 Benanti Etna Pietramarina Superiore (8/7/2008)
Pale green-yellow in color. Very fresh, appealing nose of lemongrass, dandelion, underripe apricot, sea spray. The palate has pretty green and lemon fruit splashed with ocean water and wrapped around a core of bracing acidity, with excellent length. It's like the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster of wines, the effect of which is "similar to having one's brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick." Fresh from bottle the wine is very tight and displays some alcoholic warmth on the back end, but with time in the glass the midpalate fleshes out impressively, and the alcohol integrates completely. The list of Italian whites that age gracefully is unfortunately short, but this is clearly one of them - still remarkably tight and unevolved at age 7. Fantastic stuff that needs time, and certainly one of the finest Italian whites I've tasted. Hold.
2004 Domaine Bernard Gripa St. Joseph (7/21/2008)
Nose of smoky, bright red fruits, bacon, cigar ash. A touch of animale. Juicy, with punchy-fresh dark-red berry fruit and well-integrated acidity that keeps the wine focused, but also easy to drink save for a bit of astringent tannin at the end. Fantastic, feminine syrah that is right in my corner, and drinking very well now with a bit of air. Drink or hold.
2006 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage (8/17/2008)
This is a dark, purplish colored wine. Initially almost California like, with superripe fruit and licorice aromas and flavors, and little else to offer. With extensive (6 hours) decanting it is more appealing, with a nose of dark fruit, violets, olive, and crushed rock minerality. Much fuller in the mouth, with ripe dark purple fruits, tobacco, moderate acidity and lots of grainy, toothcoating tannin. Very clean wine. There's a lingering aroma of crushed black pepper in the empty glass. This needs at least a couple of years to lose some baby fat, for my palate anyway. Hold.
1996 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuve Spciale Cabassaou (8/23/2008)
Very young in appearance, opaquely purple-black and just turning garnet at the rim. Aromas of old rotten wood, saddle leather, black currant, prune, high-toned spice. Nicely developed, but sweetly rich and leathery in the mouth. Unmistakeably a southern wine, with a slightly bitter roasted note and adequate acidity, but for me a bit pruney and heavy. Just a bit of grip still from tannins, this should go another 5-10 years in the cellar, perhaps more. I can certainly understand the old school appeal here, but I didn't love it. Drink or hold.
2005 Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Clos Snchal (8/23/2008)
Huge, palate-staining, mouthfilling, etc. Remarkable concentrated with rich, dry dark fruit extract, savory dried herbs, and vivid, grainy minerality. It's not quite heavy thanks to the bright acidity, but I do find it kind of overwhelming to the senses currently. Can't wait to taste this one down the road. Huge upside potential. Drink or hold, depending on your proclivity for young bruisers.
2001 Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (8/2/2008)
Sweet, warm cherry and cassis fruits, almost raisiny, with a pleasantly spicy, leathery quality. Just a bit of dried herbs, tobacco. There is sangiovese character to be found here, but it's a warmer interpretation; this reminds me almost as much of the rich, ripe and spicy reds of Puglia as it does Tuscany. A good wine and very good value, but not my favorite style for this region or grape. Drink or hold.
2004 Pascal Janvier Jasnires (8/19/2008)
Very sulfury at first, requiring an hour or more to blow off. With some air, aromas of quince, apple syrup, wax, wet soil, petrol. Fuller bodied than I remember from previous bottles, with pleasantly prickly acidity. Really engaging on the palate, with flavors of green tea, lanolin, lemon zest, light petrol, almost riesling like. I found the sugar far more integrated at room temperature vs chilled. Although lacking the intense minerality of previous bottles, this was a fabulous drink, much cleaner and more sorted than one opened in February. Drink or hold, but recommend a good long decanting.
2001 Benanti Etna Pietramarina Superiore (8/7/2008)
Pale green-yellow in color. Very fresh, appealing nose of lemongrass, dandelion, underripe apricot, sea spray. The palate has pretty green and lemon fruit splashed with ocean water and wrapped around a core of bracing acidity, with excellent length. It's like the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster of wines, the effect of which is "similar to having one's brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick." Fresh from bottle the wine is very tight and displays some alcoholic warmth on the back end, but with time in the glass the midpalate fleshes out impressively, and the alcohol integrates completely. The list of Italian whites that age gracefully is unfortunately short, but this is clearly one of them - still remarkably tight and unevolved at age 7. Fantastic stuff that needs time, and certainly one of the finest Italian whites I've tasted. Hold.
2004 Domaine Bernard Gripa St. Joseph (7/21/2008)
Nose of smoky, bright red fruits, bacon, cigar ash. A touch of animale. Juicy, with punchy-fresh dark-red berry fruit and well-integrated acidity that keeps the wine focused, but also easy to drink save for a bit of astringent tannin at the end. Fantastic, feminine syrah that is right in my corner, and drinking very well now with a bit of air. Drink or hold.
2006 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage (8/17/2008)
This is a dark, purplish colored wine. Initially almost California like, with superripe fruit and licorice aromas and flavors, and little else to offer. With extensive (6 hours) decanting it is more appealing, with a nose of dark fruit, violets, olive, and crushed rock minerality. Much fuller in the mouth, with ripe dark purple fruits, tobacco, moderate acidity and lots of grainy, toothcoating tannin. Very clean wine. There's a lingering aroma of crushed black pepper in the empty glass. This needs at least a couple of years to lose some baby fat, for my palate anyway. Hold.
1996 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuve Spciale Cabassaou (8/23/2008)
Very young in appearance, opaquely purple-black and just turning garnet at the rim. Aromas of old rotten wood, saddle leather, black currant, prune, high-toned spice. Nicely developed, but sweetly rich and leathery in the mouth. Unmistakeably a southern wine, with a slightly bitter roasted note and adequate acidity, but for me a bit pruney and heavy. Just a bit of grip still from tannins, this should go another 5-10 years in the cellar, perhaps more. I can certainly understand the old school appeal here, but I didn't love it. Drink or hold.
2005 Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Clos Snchal (8/23/2008)
Huge, palate-staining, mouthfilling, etc. Remarkable concentrated with rich, dry dark fruit extract, savory dried herbs, and vivid, grainy minerality. It's not quite heavy thanks to the bright acidity, but I do find it kind of overwhelming to the senses currently. Can't wait to taste this one down the road. Huge upside potential. Drink or hold, depending on your proclivity for young bruisers.
2001 Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (8/2/2008)
Sweet, warm cherry and cassis fruits, almost raisiny, with a pleasantly spicy, leathery quality. Just a bit of dried herbs, tobacco. There is sangiovese character to be found here, but it's a warmer interpretation; this reminds me almost as much of the rich, ripe and spicy reds of Puglia as it does Tuscany. A good wine and very good value, but not my favorite style for this region or grape. Drink or hold.