Steven Spielmann
Steven Spielmann
Jean-Louis Denois Vin Mousseux de Qualite Brut Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs NV. This was pleasant and in some ways a step above many of its competitors - a touch of fruit and richness while still tasting fresh and lively.
Joel Falmet Champagne Brut Tradition NV. Very good wine. Im actually sort of shocked that this won at Asimovs recent "Value Champagne" tasting panel, because this is the sort of drink one often misses in such surroundings: it is thin, even watery, and with wan and almost desultory bubbles to uplift the textural insipidity. But the smells and tastes, though requiring some attention, are divine. The nose has pretty pinot red fruits and a hint of apricot and Roquefort; the palate is like a cut jewel in ones mouth, with each slight movement of liquid opening onto a new facet of flavor. I was impressed!
Thierry Germain (Domaine des Roches Neuves) Saumur-Champigny Marginale 2000. Good concentration without being overdone. Ready, but has at least another 10 years to keep developing. Certain archetypal cabernet characters are realized quite fully, with others not so much in evidence, but there was a fascinating line of smoky bacon straight out of the northern Rhone that for me really made the wine distinctive and a cut above the norm. Darker fruit profile than most Chinon.
Can Ribas Vino de Mesa de Balears (Mallorca) Ribas de Cabrera 2000. 50% Mantonegro, 35% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 150% New French Oak. On the nose it was indistinguishable from a certain style of Bordeaux (oak dominant with cab highlights). The palate was more interesting, with the Mantonegro and the years in bottle creating a kind of garrigue-and-creosote lighter-bodied Mediterranean feel (to go with the still-intrusive oak and juicy red fruits, of course). Are there any terroir-driven, non-spoofulated Mallorcan wines worth trying in the marketplace? There were some promising aspects to this and I wouldnt mind continued research on the area at least.
Joel Falmet Champagne Brut Tradition NV. Very good wine. Im actually sort of shocked that this won at Asimovs recent "Value Champagne" tasting panel, because this is the sort of drink one often misses in such surroundings: it is thin, even watery, and with wan and almost desultory bubbles to uplift the textural insipidity. But the smells and tastes, though requiring some attention, are divine. The nose has pretty pinot red fruits and a hint of apricot and Roquefort; the palate is like a cut jewel in ones mouth, with each slight movement of liquid opening onto a new facet of flavor. I was impressed!
Thierry Germain (Domaine des Roches Neuves) Saumur-Champigny Marginale 2000. Good concentration without being overdone. Ready, but has at least another 10 years to keep developing. Certain archetypal cabernet characters are realized quite fully, with others not so much in evidence, but there was a fascinating line of smoky bacon straight out of the northern Rhone that for me really made the wine distinctive and a cut above the norm. Darker fruit profile than most Chinon.
Can Ribas Vino de Mesa de Balears (Mallorca) Ribas de Cabrera 2000. 50% Mantonegro, 35% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 150% New French Oak. On the nose it was indistinguishable from a certain style of Bordeaux (oak dominant with cab highlights). The palate was more interesting, with the Mantonegro and the years in bottle creating a kind of garrigue-and-creosote lighter-bodied Mediterranean feel (to go with the still-intrusive oak and juicy red fruits, of course). Are there any terroir-driven, non-spoofulated Mallorcan wines worth trying in the marketplace? There were some promising aspects to this and I wouldnt mind continued research on the area at least.