Taluau

This delicious wine was a bit puppyish, in that its parts seemed loosely joined, like a puppy's oversized paws and roly-poly skin, but in a completely charming way.
Click to expand...

Yes, I think that's what left me unsettled about the wine, it was such a departure from the VVs of the '90s (none of which were remotely puppyish or loose or smooth) that, tasting this, I felt adrift. I expected it to be lean and taut and taste like dirt, the way it used to. Even the color was different, purply-red instead of muddy-bricky-red. Just not what I expected at all.
 
...but we must have a different definition of both 'bruiser' and 'purple.'

Let me find some Jim Barry Armagh Shiraz to pour for you, I know I've got some around here somewhere... or maybe some Turley petite sirah....
 
I will try to get to my storage this week and pull a 96 WWF errr.. VV

one on one let's line em up,
your purple against my purple-ish.

True tho, I could have been clearer about my use of "purple" and "bruiser." My description was all within a Loire context - the wine isn't/can't be like a Turley or aussie.

What I remember most was the wine's potent mouth-energy, its life-force if you will. No oak there to level things out; no high alcoholic sweetness; it was all fruit and herbs and acidity, dialed up to eleven.

Which makes the vibrant and powerful 96 seem like a radically different wine than the puppylike 2002 - beyond vintage differences. I can't get over SFoe's cologne descriptor - what winemaker does that who cares about the product?
 
originally posted by Chris Coad:
Not to be quarrelsome, my friend......but we must have a different definition of both 'bruiser' and 'purple.'

Let me find some Jim Barry Armagh Shiraz to pour for you, I know I've got some around here somewhere... or maybe some Turley petite sirah....
Click to expand...
Do you really have Jim Barry Armagh Shiraz? Yikes! You'd best wait until I can be there to bear witness/offer participation. Does it actually bruise? I would expect the '96 VV from Taluau still to have harder knuckles.
 
Do you really have Jim Barry Armagh Shiraz? Yikes! You'd best wait until I can be there to bear witness/offer participation.
Click to expand...

Certainly, it can wait until then. For some reason the last bottle I opened was not terribly well received by a certain Jay Miller.

I would expect the '96 VV from Taluau still to have harder knuckles.
Click to expand...

Oh, absolutely. Harder everything, in fact.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
I would say longer ago than that. I'm not sure why. But they are blandly commercial least common yawn wines for a number of vintages now. You could drink the VV if you had to, but I have a much easier time finding much better wines, so the question doesn't much come up. My Loire writeups on therapy usually mentioned him.
Click to expand...
Scant argument. But the Vieilles Vignes has always won me over. Has David brought in anything since the 2002? Which I have to say holds true to form. If you have any, please don't be in a rush.
 
originally posted by Jeff Connell:
Has David brought in anything since the 2002? Which I have to say holds true to form. If you have any, please don't be in a rush.
Click to expand...

Me either.
 
originally posted by Don Rice:
Look for a 96 VV to make an appearance Sunday at Jay's, sacrificed in the name of science.
Click to expand...

Glad I noticed this. Coincidentally Tony just asked if he should bring one with him. And he hasn't been reading this thread. Do we all drink the same wines, or what?
 
I found it much as I recalled it. A little shy, especially at first, but I didn't find it had moved significantly in the last five years. Still bright and gently flavorful, could use some more time. I'm glad I've got a bunch put away.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
So, how was the '96?
Click to expand...

I never had it on release but really liked it. It seemed leaner than my recollection of the 2002 but broadly recognizable in terms of depth and intensity.
 
originally posted by Chris Coad:
I found it much as I recalled it. A little shy, especially at first, but I didn't find it had moved significantly in the last five years. Still bright and gently flavorful, could use some more time. I'm glad I've got a bunch put away.
Click to expand...
The '97 VV, consumed last night, is also moving slowly; still fairly primary, almost bodaceous, but always with a dark earthy quality. It will go longer for sure, but will it get better? I will wait and see.
 
originally posted by Jeff Connell:
originally posted by Chris Coad:
I found it much as I recalled it. A little shy, especially at first, but I didn't find it had moved significantly in the last five years. Still bright and gently flavorful, could use some more time. I'm glad I've got a bunch put away.
Click to expand...
The '97 VV, consumed last night, is also moving slowly; still fairly primary, almost bodaceous, but always with a dark earthy quality. It will go longer for sure, but will it get better? I will wait and see.
Click to expand...

That's just how we found it and it stayed pretty much the same over three days.

Best,
Kay
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top