Driving into the past

T

Thor

Thor Iverson
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Contradiction. Confusion. Clarity. Im in search of all three, and expect to find them where Im headed. Yet another disputed region in which conflict catalyzes creativity, and where traditions elsewhere preserved in amber and writ are not yet done being made. Where ones geographical location depends on who one asks, where language is who one is rather than what one speaks, and where home is what one is called rather than where one lives. Where the streets have neither no nor one name, but two. And where the beef on ones plate might actually be watermelon.

continued here. Notes follow:

Saam Mountain 2008 Chenin Blanc Middelburg (Paarl) Full of the bright, round, yellow fruit that Ive found is (happily) almost unavoidable in bargain chenins from South Africa. Its clean, with a bit of spice and barely-fair acidity, though more of the latter would be welcome. Drinkable enough. (10/09)

Bzios Domaine la Croix des Marchands 2007 Gaillac (Southwest France) A goofy bottle, a goofy wine. Crisp doesnt really hit the mark heresharp is closerwith biting fruit full of black skins, seeds, and stems. Pretty insipid, to be honest. (10/09)

Riouspeyrous Domaine Arretxea 2001 Iroulguy Cuve Haitza (Southwest France) Past it, and I wonder if the oak treatment hasnt accelerated its decline. Quite tannic, with the remnants of overworked fruit and a dry finish. Dark and coal-hearted, but already with all four limbs and most of its torso in the grave. (10/09)

Brana Eau-de-Vie de Prune Vieille (Southwest France) A sharp and fruity nose, razor-like in its violence, somewhat belies the richness and generosity of the spirit within. Its flavorful and ferric, with a sandpapery finish. Im compelled and repelled in equal measure, and cant figure out quite what I think. I will eventually come to adore this remarkable distillate, but tonight it is mostly a source of confusion. (10/09)
 
Thanks for these notes. I once had the pleasure of trying Brana's "Poire Brana," which was excellent, and wish his digestifs were available here. It was much more gracefully subdued and less prone to rash violence as the Prune seems to be; its malign intent became much more obvious the next morning.
 
You know, I either eventually found the Prune to be not so violent or I learned to enjoy the rough treatment. Who really knows, after the fourth glass? And yes, mornings were...interesting.

But they're really not available here? A shame.
 
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