Christian Miller (CMM)
Christian Miller
Other than the Caceres, I'm not sure if any of these wines can be found here, but...
Sancerre Beau Roy 2007, Reverdy-Ducroix quite fruity with mild grassy tones; true-to-type minerally-grassy flavor with good length, decent acidity. ***+
Quincy 2007, Mardon jolly pea-lemon fruit, OK acid, quite dry, simple without the Sancerres minerality or length. **
Cheverny 2006, Domaine le Portail (Michel Cadoux) mild and subtle nose with a slight yet pleasant oxidation; stony-chalky Chablis-like flavor with good acidity and length, medium body. Quite different from other Cheverny Ive had, Id guess it has much less Sauvignon Blanc (maybe none?) and more Romarantin and other grapes (Chenin Blanc? Chardonnay?). This wine grows on me. ***+
St. Nicolas de Bourgeuil Vielles Vignes 2008, - a blast of ultra jolly young, winey, framboise-like Cab Franc, with medium body and mild tannin. Extremely gouleyant. ****
Montlouis Sec 2007, Moyer very pale color, light quince-mirabelle nose; light body with high acidity; intensely bone dry finish, nearly sucking all the moisture from your mouth. *(**?)
Montlouis Demi-Sec Originale 2007, Moyer mild nose that hints of mirabelle and straw; the palate echoes the nose with more strength, but the best thing about the wine is its exquisite Donhoffian balance of fruit, acid and sugar; lengthy and lively. ***(*)
Montlouis Demi-Sec Reserve 2007, Chidaine moderately strong aroma of pear-apple fruit with a slight beeswax tone; medium body, good acid, with a dense impression of barely honeyed waxy fruit and slightly earthy long finish with grip. A more complex wine, but less charming. Im guessing this is a cuvee made for the sales cooperative in Montlouis, where we tasted it. ***(*)
Txakolina Ganeta 2007, Julien Ostolaza quite petillant with a touch of foam when poured from a height, fine mousse that gradually fades; very light, tangy, fresh with a green almost cidery fruit, gouleyant and refreshing. 10.5% alcohol. ***
Rioja Rosado 2008, Marques de Caceres brilliant pink, fresh and fruity with a whisper of tannin, classic and good. ***
Patxaran a liqueur bottled with tiny plums that look like little dark cherries (I later find out they are sloe berries). Apparently a brandy base, often anise-flavored although that was not the case this time, is macerated with the fruit and some coffee beans and vanilla. The flavor is something like Pineau des Charentes with a splash of old tawny port and a distinct roasted dark cherry-plum flavor. Weird, but tasty and different. ***+
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise Laurus 2004, Gabriel Meffre fine aroma with grapefruit, raisin and floral tones mingling; medium body, rich flavor, sweet, adequate acid, good length, quite complex. 15% ****
Bordeaux Superieur 2005, Ch. Mirambeau Papin fine aroma based on blackcurrent Cab fruit, with touches of cedar and herbaceous Cab Franc; medium body, OK acid, similar flavors with perhaps a touch of minerality in the long finish. Moderate but dry tannins and oak. Very well done, like a St.Julien or Margaux in miniature. ****
Sancerre Beau Roy 2007, Reverdy-Ducroix quite fruity with mild grassy tones; true-to-type minerally-grassy flavor with good length, decent acidity. ***+
Quincy 2007, Mardon jolly pea-lemon fruit, OK acid, quite dry, simple without the Sancerres minerality or length. **
Cheverny 2006, Domaine le Portail (Michel Cadoux) mild and subtle nose with a slight yet pleasant oxidation; stony-chalky Chablis-like flavor with good acidity and length, medium body. Quite different from other Cheverny Ive had, Id guess it has much less Sauvignon Blanc (maybe none?) and more Romarantin and other grapes (Chenin Blanc? Chardonnay?). This wine grows on me. ***+
St. Nicolas de Bourgeuil Vielles Vignes 2008, - a blast of ultra jolly young, winey, framboise-like Cab Franc, with medium body and mild tannin. Extremely gouleyant. ****
Montlouis Sec 2007, Moyer very pale color, light quince-mirabelle nose; light body with high acidity; intensely bone dry finish, nearly sucking all the moisture from your mouth. *(**?)
Montlouis Demi-Sec Originale 2007, Moyer mild nose that hints of mirabelle and straw; the palate echoes the nose with more strength, but the best thing about the wine is its exquisite Donhoffian balance of fruit, acid and sugar; lengthy and lively. ***(*)
Montlouis Demi-Sec Reserve 2007, Chidaine moderately strong aroma of pear-apple fruit with a slight beeswax tone; medium body, good acid, with a dense impression of barely honeyed waxy fruit and slightly earthy long finish with grip. A more complex wine, but less charming. Im guessing this is a cuvee made for the sales cooperative in Montlouis, where we tasted it. ***(*)
Txakolina Ganeta 2007, Julien Ostolaza quite petillant with a touch of foam when poured from a height, fine mousse that gradually fades; very light, tangy, fresh with a green almost cidery fruit, gouleyant and refreshing. 10.5% alcohol. ***
Rioja Rosado 2008, Marques de Caceres brilliant pink, fresh and fruity with a whisper of tannin, classic and good. ***
Patxaran a liqueur bottled with tiny plums that look like little dark cherries (I later find out they are sloe berries). Apparently a brandy base, often anise-flavored although that was not the case this time, is macerated with the fruit and some coffee beans and vanilla. The flavor is something like Pineau des Charentes with a splash of old tawny port and a distinct roasted dark cherry-plum flavor. Weird, but tasty and different. ***+
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise Laurus 2004, Gabriel Meffre fine aroma with grapefruit, raisin and floral tones mingling; medium body, rich flavor, sweet, adequate acid, good length, quite complex. 15% ****
Bordeaux Superieur 2005, Ch. Mirambeau Papin fine aroma based on blackcurrent Cab fruit, with touches of cedar and herbaceous Cab Franc; medium body, OK acid, similar flavors with perhaps a touch of minerality in the long finish. Moderate but dry tannins and oak. Very well done, like a St.Julien or Margaux in miniature. ****
