Three recent favorites: Derthona, Lapierre, Briailles

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Sorry to hear that, Ian. The '07 was really nice from barrel, lots of structure and grip. If the price point is OK, try holding one for a year or three.
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Yes, I got a couple at close-out. Not a 'hedonistic' bottle, perhaps, but likely one to learn from, considering the producer.
 
originally posted by Cory Cartwright:
and some burgundy Arjun bought that i can't for the life of me remember
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I have it in my head that this was the 2000 Lucien Le Moine Lavaux St. Jacques, a Scott Paul import.

It was a fairly big wine with an obvious oak signature and deep, ripe fruit. It was also surprisingly advanced. While I didn't love it I did respect the depth and found some interest in the secondary aromas and flavors. But I admittedly paid less attention to the wine than I perhaps should have due to the presence of the delicious Briailles.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
We opened an 06 Chandon de Briailles Savigny Fornaux the other night that was no particular joy. Not bad, but too much dirt and either no depth or very closed.
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Ian, I've also drank the '06 Fourneaux recently. I thought it was a nice wine, if nothing to get too excited about.

Perusing the Chandon des Briailles chapter in Coates' original Burgundy treatise, I was interested to read that he places the Fourneaux near the bottom of the CdB hierarchy, just above the village Savigny.

Solely on the basis of the 2005 and 2006, I'd be tempted to agree with that assessment. Although I'm obviously missing a pretty big part of the picture - how the Fourneaux develops with time compared to the other cuvees. I do have a singleton of the '96 Fourneaux though which perhaps I should be checking on in the semi-near future.
 
originally posted by slaton: I do have a singleton of the '96 Fourneaux though which perhaps I should be checking on in the semi-near future.
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Me too. And I was thinking the same thing.

Why don't you go first and let me know how it went :)
 
Maybe my favourite white wine, heck, wine, of the past year. Did you note the alcohol? The MW who poured it for me says it will age forever.
 
a blend of 95% chardonnay and 5% nebbiolo (vinified without the skins) [...] held for three years prior to release by the winery
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Levi, thanks. What's your experience been with the Solea? Do you know if the extended aging is spent mostly in barrel/cask or in bottle?
 
2008 Marcel Lapierre Morgon has arrived at Kermit's shop, and what a delight it is. The mesmerizingly complex nose brings a cascade of shape-shifting aromas that seem to cycle from tart red berries, to blood orange, mineral, rust/iron, pine needle, floral violet/lilac, rhubarb and back again. The palate is juicy with bright acidity and gorgeously fresh, mouthwatering blood orange-like fruit and mineral flavors

...compare and contrast to '07.... (sans food poisoning)
 
originally posted by slaton:
Roagna Solea
a blend of 95% chardonnay and 5% nebbiolo (vinified without the skins) [...] held for three years prior to release by the winery
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Levi, thanks. What's your experience been with the Solea? Do you know if the extended aging is spent mostly in barrel/cask or in bottle?
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My experience has been good. Especially with the 2001, which I used to pour by the glass, and which was close to my heart. With the 2003 release the price went up a bit, and I liked it less, so I didn't get much of it. Now I don't carry it. I don't believe there was an 2002. I'm looking forward to an 2004.

It is a Dressner imported item. Perhaps Joe can speak better than I could about the elevage. The LDM website does not answer your question on the Roagna page.

My guess is that we are talking about bottle age, but then of course I am a dummy.

Anyway, I love Massa Timorasso, I was just puting the Solea bit out there.
 
about the threads here, that is a persistent source of curiosity to me, is that when someone posts a note about a wine, such as the Derthona, which is, apparently, not something the denizens of this august hideout seem to find familiar, that wine, which excited the appropriate response in the original poster, just seems to get (practically) no further attention. I appreciate the followups by Levi, and by Jeff. C'mon you guys, this is some serious shit that deserves your consideration!
 
originally posted by Steve Edmunds:
One of the things I've noticedabout the threads here, that is a persistent source of curiosity to me, is that when someone posts a note about a wine, such as the Derthona, which is, apparently, not something the denizens of this august hideout seem to find familiar, that wine, which excited the appropriate response in the original poster, just seems to get (practically) no further attention. I appreciate the followups by Levi, and by Jeff. C'mon you guys, this is some serious shit that deserves your consideration!
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Steve, I'm on my way to pick up some Timorasso at the store right now. Please don't yell at me anymore! :)

Anyway, I apparently see things differently in regard to this thread, because I just kind of took it as an assumption that the whole reason Slaton was posting about the wine in the first place is that the wine has already been discussed on this fora, notably by Jeff Pinhey, yourself, and myself. It was back in that thread that you said:

"It seems really weird to me
that noone seems to care much about the original subject of this thread, the Timorasso from Massa, which, in the brief, but impressive experience i've had with it, is one of the more remarkable white wines made on this planet. I'm not sure I've had a more compelling white wine in my 37 year career in the business, yet there doesn't seem to be much interest in this little corner of the wine universe , thus far. Thoughts?"

I basically see this whole thread as a continuation of that thread.
 
the Derthona does indeed sound very interesting. this is the first thread i've noticed it in....sometimes it takes a few prompts to get it to stick in one's mind.
 
from the J. Robinson site:

"Master of Wine Michael Palij, owner of the wines UK importer Winetraders, explains how he originally came across Walter Massa and his wines:

'Walter and I first met a number of years ago when I was having dinner with the Lorenzi family from La Zerba. We were in a smart restaurant, minding our own business, when he approached our table and, politely but insistently, asked if we would mind if he offered us a couple of bottles of his wine with our dinner. Hes not shy, our Walter, but it was all done in good grace mingled with a hint of frustration bordering on the desperate. Five generations of Massas have laboured tirelessly to keep the Timorasso flame alight; its not difficult to see the origins of Walters frustration. Here on the steep hills just east of Tortona grow the last few hectares of Timorasso in the world. An ancient variety with tiny yields and immense concentration, it ought to be served by the glass in every restaurant with even the slightest aspirations to a decent wine list. But it isnt and Walter, no fool, knows why and why he must, literally, shove a glass in the hand of everyone he meets. Thank God he did! Last time we were tasting together Walter opened a bottle of the 1991; it appears to be indestructible.' "
 
originally posted by slaton:
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
We opened an 06 Chandon de Briailles Savigny Fornaux the other night that was no particular joy. Not bad, but too much dirt and either no depth or very closed.
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Ian, I've also drank the '06 Fourneaux recently. I thought it was a nice wine, if nothing to get too excited about.

Perusing the Chandon des Briailles chapter in Coates' original Burgundy treatise, I was interested to read that he places the Fourneaux near the bottom of the CdB hierarchy, just above the village Savigny.

Solely on the basis of the 2005 and 2006, I'd be tempted to agree with that assessment. Although I'm obviously missing a pretty big part of the picture - how the Fourneaux develops with time compared to the other cuvees. I do have a singleton of the '96 Fourneaux though which perhaps I should be checking on in the semi-near future.
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I've also been surprised by Coates's faint praise for Fourneuax. My first, tentative steps down the slippery Burgundy slope began a few years ago with two bottles of 96 Bize Fourneaux, which were delicious, and they say you never forget your first love. The 06 from the same producer is supposed to be stellar.

Coates also calls Ch. d. Briailes's Ile de as a grand cru quality wine.

I'm starting to think that a characteristic of 06 is is relatively little fat to give them charm in their early years, conveying a sense of toughness instead. At least those not from vineyards with best exposure. Time will tell whether they improve.

Of course, I'm the least qualified here to make sweeping pronouncements.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons: I'm starting to think that a characteristic of 06 is is relatively little fat to give them charm in their early years, conveying a sense of toughness instead..
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For what it's worth, I think the prime time for enjoying the fat of the early early years has already past. Now we're on to something else.
 
I didn't taste as comprehensively as others and obviously there is lots of variation across vineyards, producers, etc. But compared to the tannic structure of 05s, many 06s were pleasant and charming and easy to drink last year.
 
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