Actually, not really. Nothing really 'wonderful', but more the dreams of White Wonderbread: consistent products that provide for a middle-of-the-road lifestyle, nothing too wild here.
Rene Mure, Riesling, Vorbourg, 2005
Yellow-pear gold. Aromas of apple-pear skin, yellow fruits, adn wintergreen. Apple-pear echoed on the palate, bergamont, somewhat lightish in flavor, and a little chardonnay-like, offering some smoke-tones on the end. Drinks well, if not my idea of a riesling, but then my reference riesling is more Germanic. B+
Pepiere, Muscadet, 'Clos des Briords', 2007
Glistening light gold. Lemon-lime-7UP-oystershell aromas, with lime water and crushed calcium in the glass. Very fresh and lively, but feels softer than usual (compared to the 2002 & 04), with less concentration. Not sure this is up to long aging, but I'd be happy to keep these around for 3-5 years. A-/B+
Edi Kante, Carso, Malvasia, 2005
Burnished lemony gold color. Sharp lemon aroma. Biting limoncello flavor, with a slight Vernorish burn on the finish. Although the flavors are acidic, it doesn't seem to translate to a equally acidic structure to the wine. Comes across as realtively simple, but well-made, and unlike previous malvasias I've had which had more of a floral quality to them. Interesting, but don't know if I'd purchase again (esp. at the going rate of $35 for a 500 ml), unlike Kante's chardonnay, which had a unique 'soft-air' quality to it. B+
Inman, Pinot Gris, Russian River Valley, 2007
Very, very pale color, which reflects what you find in the glass: a pale wash of a wine, with one of the hoppiest finishes I've ever had, almost tasting like a light beer. not distinctively pinot gris at all, my closest guess being garganega. B
Donnhoff, Norheimer Kirscheck, Riesling - S, 2003
Bright lemon-yellow with a slight green cast. Spring flowers and calcium wash, light etheral feeling but with good perseverance, softish acidity. I see no need to age this longer. A-
Chateau Dereszla, Tokaji, Aszu, 6 puttonyos, 2000
Oxidative orange-toffee-coffee aromas and flavors. Some nice bitter orange marmalade with air, and a warm bronze fire-crackle along with botrytis spice. Actually better the second night. B+/A-
Rene Mure, Riesling, Vorbourg, 2005
Yellow-pear gold. Aromas of apple-pear skin, yellow fruits, adn wintergreen. Apple-pear echoed on the palate, bergamont, somewhat lightish in flavor, and a little chardonnay-like, offering some smoke-tones on the end. Drinks well, if not my idea of a riesling, but then my reference riesling is more Germanic. B+
Pepiere, Muscadet, 'Clos des Briords', 2007
Glistening light gold. Lemon-lime-7UP-oystershell aromas, with lime water and crushed calcium in the glass. Very fresh and lively, but feels softer than usual (compared to the 2002 & 04), with less concentration. Not sure this is up to long aging, but I'd be happy to keep these around for 3-5 years. A-/B+
Edi Kante, Carso, Malvasia, 2005
Burnished lemony gold color. Sharp lemon aroma. Biting limoncello flavor, with a slight Vernorish burn on the finish. Although the flavors are acidic, it doesn't seem to translate to a equally acidic structure to the wine. Comes across as realtively simple, but well-made, and unlike previous malvasias I've had which had more of a floral quality to them. Interesting, but don't know if I'd purchase again (esp. at the going rate of $35 for a 500 ml), unlike Kante's chardonnay, which had a unique 'soft-air' quality to it. B+
Inman, Pinot Gris, Russian River Valley, 2007
Very, very pale color, which reflects what you find in the glass: a pale wash of a wine, with one of the hoppiest finishes I've ever had, almost tasting like a light beer. not distinctively pinot gris at all, my closest guess being garganega. B
Donnhoff, Norheimer Kirscheck, Riesling - S, 2003
Bright lemon-yellow with a slight green cast. Spring flowers and calcium wash, light etheral feeling but with good perseverance, softish acidity. I see no need to age this longer. A-
Chateau Dereszla, Tokaji, Aszu, 6 puttonyos, 2000
Oxidative orange-toffee-coffee aromas and flavors. Some nice bitter orange marmalade with air, and a warm bronze fire-crackle along with botrytis spice. Actually better the second night. B+/A-