Ian Fitzsimmons
Ian Fitzsimmons
Picq Chablis 2008
Sampled two bottles over several weeks. Muted nose, stout-bodied for an AOC, then appealing mineral-acid swirls around the edges. Young, pretty good, but I suspect an iceberg only showing its tip.
Christian Moreau Chablis 2008
Where Picq whispers flavor at you, Moreau broadcasts through a megaphone. And what it broadcasts is ACID. Citrus nose followed by such intense acidity, it almost seems sweet. With air, there is depth and flavor differentiation. Terrific AOC.
Foillard Morgon Cote de Py 2007
The many-storied wine, from magnum. Night one, violet aroma wafting over granite and a flavor I want to call iron, though I've never tasted iron. Meaty, with big acidity (though not too big). Night two, quiet at first, except for the palate-scrubbing acid; with air and warmth, a mellow, sandalwoody, spicy mouthful, perfectly rounded, almost glowing with warmth. Fine wine replete with identity.
Jadot 2005 Morgon Lumieres
Out of the bottle, impressive with rich Burgundian juice, more pinot- than gamay-like. Polished and appealing. With air time, the richness gives way to the kind of mute hardness you might expect from a young Morgon, progressing to an awkward stage in which the attack is a bit soft and watery, upsetting the balance of the following fruit.
Jadot 2006 Moulin-a-Vent Ch. St. Jacques Rochegres
Wow. Bright raspberry, together with plum; chords of flavor. Refreshing acidity with delightfully rubby tannins. Rich fruit flavor on a rock-solid foundation. Terrific wine. Day two it settled down to a less brilliant but nonetheless fine vinous performance; night three, still developing: now a base of tasty earth with coffee-mocha seeping out. I see why this is priced near Beaune premier cru levels. A bargain at $17.00 close-out. Wow.
Haut Batailly 2000
Civilized mature claret, well-balanced, modest-volume blackcurrant and cedar, almost silky texture, finishing with Richelieu's sinister bite. Our last bottle; I would not hold these.
Vatan Neore 2007
I seldom know where the herd is, but often find myself drinking downstream from Jim Cowan. Occasionally, lying awake in the wee hours, I cherish the hope that he uses a latrine, set well back from the bank.
This is a smokey leviathan, with some lemon on the nose and baffling hints at flavor on the palate. It manages to impart a sense of impending doom, like the feeling you get on hearing the first few notes of Beethoven's Fifth, or those first, warning notes in the movie Jaws. Presumably this is what Jim means by great. We've saved a bit for tomorrow. Very interesting and easily the most serious Sancerre I've tried.
Rollin Haut Cotes de Beaune 2006
Friendly wine with great sincerity, simple strawberries on the nose and palate, modestly generous fruit and texture. Last bottle of a case that will remain a fond memory.
Sampled two bottles over several weeks. Muted nose, stout-bodied for an AOC, then appealing mineral-acid swirls around the edges. Young, pretty good, but I suspect an iceberg only showing its tip.
Christian Moreau Chablis 2008
Where Picq whispers flavor at you, Moreau broadcasts through a megaphone. And what it broadcasts is ACID. Citrus nose followed by such intense acidity, it almost seems sweet. With air, there is depth and flavor differentiation. Terrific AOC.
Foillard Morgon Cote de Py 2007
The many-storied wine, from magnum. Night one, violet aroma wafting over granite and a flavor I want to call iron, though I've never tasted iron. Meaty, with big acidity (though not too big). Night two, quiet at first, except for the palate-scrubbing acid; with air and warmth, a mellow, sandalwoody, spicy mouthful, perfectly rounded, almost glowing with warmth. Fine wine replete with identity.
Jadot 2005 Morgon Lumieres
Out of the bottle, impressive with rich Burgundian juice, more pinot- than gamay-like. Polished and appealing. With air time, the richness gives way to the kind of mute hardness you might expect from a young Morgon, progressing to an awkward stage in which the attack is a bit soft and watery, upsetting the balance of the following fruit.
Jadot 2006 Moulin-a-Vent Ch. St. Jacques Rochegres
Wow. Bright raspberry, together with plum; chords of flavor. Refreshing acidity with delightfully rubby tannins. Rich fruit flavor on a rock-solid foundation. Terrific wine. Day two it settled down to a less brilliant but nonetheless fine vinous performance; night three, still developing: now a base of tasty earth with coffee-mocha seeping out. I see why this is priced near Beaune premier cru levels. A bargain at $17.00 close-out. Wow.
Haut Batailly 2000
Civilized mature claret, well-balanced, modest-volume blackcurrant and cedar, almost silky texture, finishing with Richelieu's sinister bite. Our last bottle; I would not hold these.
Vatan Neore 2007
I seldom know where the herd is, but often find myself drinking downstream from Jim Cowan. Occasionally, lying awake in the wee hours, I cherish the hope that he uses a latrine, set well back from the bank.
This is a smokey leviathan, with some lemon on the nose and baffling hints at flavor on the palate. It manages to impart a sense of impending doom, like the feeling you get on hearing the first few notes of Beethoven's Fifth, or those first, warning notes in the movie Jaws. Presumably this is what Jim means by great. We've saved a bit for tomorrow. Very interesting and easily the most serious Sancerre I've tried.
Rollin Haut Cotes de Beaune 2006
Friendly wine with great sincerity, simple strawberries on the nose and palate, modestly generous fruit and texture. Last bottle of a case that will remain a fond memory.
