Cuilleron 2008 Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah Ros Lybel (Rhne) Soupy, sticky, devoid of sufficient balancing acidity, and with the same sickly, oily note that infects almost all of Cuillerons wines. (7/09)
Clos du Paradis Domaine Viret 1999 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Saint-Maurice Emergence (Rhne) Corked. (7/09)
Clos du Paradis Domaine Viret 1999 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Saint-Maurice Les Colonnades (Rhne) Sweetish black meatfruit liqueur, in the manner of so many aged Rhnes, but thinned out and giving way to some acidity and brittleness after a decade of age. A disappointing performance, frankly. (7/09)
Leydier Cuve Slectionne par Kermit Lynch 2006 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse (Rhne) Black crystal infused with black pepper and churning purplish-black fruit. Yet theres herbal complexity, as well. An absolutely delicious wine for the price. (7/09)
Kreydenweiss 2005 Costires de Nmes Perrires (Rhne) Starting to lighten, which either indicates a coming closed stage or ongoing maturation; this wine hasnt existed long enough for me to be sure. The fruit is dark and chewy nonetheless, theres good structure thats of a more brittle nature than is common from the region, and while the temptation is to attribute this to the sensibilities of an Alsatian winemaker, the reality is that it just may be a function of this particular site. Anyway, there would seem to be promise here, but with the right animal flesh its pretty tasty nowjust dont expect any complexity as of yet. (7/09)
Glas Domaine de Poulvarel 2005 Costires de Nmes (Rhne) Redder-fruited than some of its neighbors tend to be, with fair acidity, yet also heftier than its fruit can quite withstand. Its of its place, and I dont mean to suggest that it should be lighter (or, heaven forefend, ultra-concentrated), but theres a struggle for balance thats not resolved within the wines confines. (7/09)
Costires & Soleil Slection Laurence Fraud 2005 Sguret (Rhne) Turning a little sludgy and strewed, but showing better than other bottles have, of late. Dark, soy-based earth-fruit and leather, the blackened memory of blueberry dust, some dried-herb aromatics. Heavy. (7/09)
La Florane 2004 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Visan (Rhne) Corked. (7/09)
Domaine de Cabasse 1998 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Sguret Cuve Garnacho (Rhne) Dead. (7/09)
Clos du Paradis Domaine Viret 1999 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Saint-Maurice Emergence (Rhne) Corked. (7/09)
Clos du Paradis Domaine Viret 1999 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Saint-Maurice Les Colonnades (Rhne) Sweetish black meatfruit liqueur, in the manner of so many aged Rhnes, but thinned out and giving way to some acidity and brittleness after a decade of age. A disappointing performance, frankly. (7/09)
Leydier Cuve Slectionne par Kermit Lynch 2006 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse (Rhne) Black crystal infused with black pepper and churning purplish-black fruit. Yet theres herbal complexity, as well. An absolutely delicious wine for the price. (7/09)
Kreydenweiss 2005 Costires de Nmes Perrires (Rhne) Starting to lighten, which either indicates a coming closed stage or ongoing maturation; this wine hasnt existed long enough for me to be sure. The fruit is dark and chewy nonetheless, theres good structure thats of a more brittle nature than is common from the region, and while the temptation is to attribute this to the sensibilities of an Alsatian winemaker, the reality is that it just may be a function of this particular site. Anyway, there would seem to be promise here, but with the right animal flesh its pretty tasty nowjust dont expect any complexity as of yet. (7/09)
Glas Domaine de Poulvarel 2005 Costires de Nmes (Rhne) Redder-fruited than some of its neighbors tend to be, with fair acidity, yet also heftier than its fruit can quite withstand. Its of its place, and I dont mean to suggest that it should be lighter (or, heaven forefend, ultra-concentrated), but theres a struggle for balance thats not resolved within the wines confines. (7/09)
Costires & Soleil Slection Laurence Fraud 2005 Sguret (Rhne) Turning a little sludgy and strewed, but showing better than other bottles have, of late. Dark, soy-based earth-fruit and leather, the blackened memory of blueberry dust, some dried-herb aromatics. Heavy. (7/09)
La Florane 2004 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Visan (Rhne) Corked. (7/09)
Domaine de Cabasse 1998 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Sguret Cuve Garnacho (Rhne) Dead. (7/09)