A few wines I jotted down at last weekends rooftop bbq at Mark & Karrie Russos.
1995 Domaine de la Ppire- Muscadet, Clos des Briords Cuve Vieilles Vignes"
Hello stranger. I dont recall who brought this, but it was a welcome surprise. This was the first Muscadet I ever bought and tasted back in 96 when I first started working at Garnet. David Lillie popped this open in the back of the store and explained to me that the vines were 80+ years old and that Muscadet wasnt just thin, acidic oyster cleansers, but that under great masters like Marc Ollivier and with great terroir, they can be brilliant, age-worthy wines. Though my cellar inventory still says I have one bottle, I believe I drank my last one around 1999. At age 14, this wine is showing fresh, though certainly more grown up. Its taken on that Chablis-like roundness and softened mid-palate that good old Muscadet get with age. Briney and mineral with a touch of lemon. A Muscadet that makes you think a little rather than one that just slaps you awake. Low A-.
2007 Foillard- Morgon
Pure and expressive with red plum and cherry fruit and earth flavors with just a hint of spice. Crunchy, but not as taut as the 06. Its certainly youthful, but its drinking deliciously now and is perhaps the ultimate wine for roast chicken. Low A-.
1997 Giacosa- Barbaresco, Asili
Showing beautifully on the nose with lightly roasted cherries, strawberries, roses sandalwood and earth. Theres a bit of the vintages coarseness and uneven tannins, though not to the extreme as many of the 03s from the region show. Like flavors as aromas with a slightly drying finish. Fairly resolved and drinking well now, though there is no rush at all. A-.
2000 Pegau- Chteauneuf-du-Pape, Cuve Rserve
This is a helluva fun wine. So open, friendly and full of deliciousness. Theres opulent raspberry fruit, bloody meat, garrigue and spice notes in a forward, yet balanced, package. Think of it as a free and easy summer love from your teen years. Nothing but good memories that bring a smile to your face. Just a sheer pleasure to drink. A.
2000 Clos du Mont-Olivet- Chteauneuf-du-Pape, Cuve du Papet
This is a darker wine in comparison to the Pegau, both in color and personality. Much more tannic and restrained with a dark fruit character, garrigue with maybe a little less floral and more of an herbal element, licorice and spice. Id hold onto these a bit longer as its still kind of brooding, but its an excellent wine. A-.
2004 Galardi- Terra di Lavoro
I know this wine certainly has a big fan base and gets plenty of great critical acclaim, but I just dont get it. This wine, like other vintages Ive had, always tastes like a forest fire to me. Lots of charred earth, ash and to my palate, very little fruit. What there is a lot of, though, is oak. Too much for my tastes and it adds a textural thickness to the wine, but one that doesnt have fruit to help iron it out. Too spoofed for me, though your mileage may vary. C+.
1995 Domaine de la Ppire- Muscadet, Clos des Briords Cuve Vieilles Vignes"
Hello stranger. I dont recall who brought this, but it was a welcome surprise. This was the first Muscadet I ever bought and tasted back in 96 when I first started working at Garnet. David Lillie popped this open in the back of the store and explained to me that the vines were 80+ years old and that Muscadet wasnt just thin, acidic oyster cleansers, but that under great masters like Marc Ollivier and with great terroir, they can be brilliant, age-worthy wines. Though my cellar inventory still says I have one bottle, I believe I drank my last one around 1999. At age 14, this wine is showing fresh, though certainly more grown up. Its taken on that Chablis-like roundness and softened mid-palate that good old Muscadet get with age. Briney and mineral with a touch of lemon. A Muscadet that makes you think a little rather than one that just slaps you awake. Low A-.
2007 Foillard- Morgon
Pure and expressive with red plum and cherry fruit and earth flavors with just a hint of spice. Crunchy, but not as taut as the 06. Its certainly youthful, but its drinking deliciously now and is perhaps the ultimate wine for roast chicken. Low A-.
1997 Giacosa- Barbaresco, Asili
Showing beautifully on the nose with lightly roasted cherries, strawberries, roses sandalwood and earth. Theres a bit of the vintages coarseness and uneven tannins, though not to the extreme as many of the 03s from the region show. Like flavors as aromas with a slightly drying finish. Fairly resolved and drinking well now, though there is no rush at all. A-.
2000 Pegau- Chteauneuf-du-Pape, Cuve Rserve
This is a helluva fun wine. So open, friendly and full of deliciousness. Theres opulent raspberry fruit, bloody meat, garrigue and spice notes in a forward, yet balanced, package. Think of it as a free and easy summer love from your teen years. Nothing but good memories that bring a smile to your face. Just a sheer pleasure to drink. A.
2000 Clos du Mont-Olivet- Chteauneuf-du-Pape, Cuve du Papet
This is a darker wine in comparison to the Pegau, both in color and personality. Much more tannic and restrained with a dark fruit character, garrigue with maybe a little less floral and more of an herbal element, licorice and spice. Id hold onto these a bit longer as its still kind of brooding, but its an excellent wine. A-.
2004 Galardi- Terra di Lavoro
I know this wine certainly has a big fan base and gets plenty of great critical acclaim, but I just dont get it. This wine, like other vintages Ive had, always tastes like a forest fire to me. Lots of charred earth, ash and to my palate, very little fruit. What there is a lot of, though, is oak. Too much for my tastes and it adds a textural thickness to the wine, but one that doesnt have fruit to help iron it out. Too spoofed for me, though your mileage may vary. C+.