Domaine du Closel, Savennieres, Clos du papillon, 2002
My third and final bottle of this. While there has been variation, as reported by others, this is the best showing I've had of this. Burnished gold color, mature lemony-lanolin aromas and flavors of oil-cloth and enoki mushrooms. Lovely spring wine. B+/A-
Clerico, Barolo, 'Pajana', 1990
Modernish nose of prunes, Italian plum, cherry licorice. Instead of nebbiolo roses, I find rosehips on the palate, along with bright red fruit and a strongly tannic, persistent finish, with cinnamon dust on the end. Better the next day, when some of the modernism has subsided. Decent, but no 'A' league. B+
Sassotondo, Maremma Toscana IGT, Ciliegiolo, 2007
Ciliegiolo is the grape. The opaque purplish-red color is a hint that this is meant to be a hedonistic 'fun' wine...and so it is. A plump wine filled with soft acidity, mentholated blackberry paste, sweet perfume, and fruit pomice tannins. The only fault is that the 15% alcohol kicks in toward the end, lettign you know who's boss. Still, fun, like that dirty little secret. If you have any of this, I would drink in the next year or two. B+
Johann Donabaum, Wachau, Gruner Veltliner, Spitzer Point, smaragd, 2007
White pepper and reductive notes on the nose of this full bodied wine. Good concentration and a long, spice-filled finish with a little lemony lift among the white pepper. Good now, I'm sure of the aging potential of this, as the structure doesn't scream out to me. 13.5% A-
Muller-Catoir, Gimmeldinger Mandelgarten, riesling-S, 2004
Amazingly bright sun gold. Light white peach on the nose and palate, bergamot, and linden tree blossom. Light and restrained. 8.5% B+/A- [AP Nr. 51740791805]
Huet, Vouvray, 'le haut Lieu, demi sec, 2002
Pale light gold color, with a slight walnut shell cast. Soapy lemon aromas, a little muted for such an aromatic grape. Sinewy lemon (lemon including the pith and pulp), nut meats (especially pecan and hazlenuts), a a light, persistent finish. Surprisingly light, compared to the more powerful prescence of the stablemate le Clos de Bourg from that same year. A-/B+
My third and final bottle of this. While there has been variation, as reported by others, this is the best showing I've had of this. Burnished gold color, mature lemony-lanolin aromas and flavors of oil-cloth and enoki mushrooms. Lovely spring wine. B+/A-
Clerico, Barolo, 'Pajana', 1990
Modernish nose of prunes, Italian plum, cherry licorice. Instead of nebbiolo roses, I find rosehips on the palate, along with bright red fruit and a strongly tannic, persistent finish, with cinnamon dust on the end. Better the next day, when some of the modernism has subsided. Decent, but no 'A' league. B+
Sassotondo, Maremma Toscana IGT, Ciliegiolo, 2007
Ciliegiolo is the grape. The opaque purplish-red color is a hint that this is meant to be a hedonistic 'fun' wine...and so it is. A plump wine filled with soft acidity, mentholated blackberry paste, sweet perfume, and fruit pomice tannins. The only fault is that the 15% alcohol kicks in toward the end, lettign you know who's boss. Still, fun, like that dirty little secret. If you have any of this, I would drink in the next year or two. B+
Johann Donabaum, Wachau, Gruner Veltliner, Spitzer Point, smaragd, 2007
White pepper and reductive notes on the nose of this full bodied wine. Good concentration and a long, spice-filled finish with a little lemony lift among the white pepper. Good now, I'm sure of the aging potential of this, as the structure doesn't scream out to me. 13.5% A-
Muller-Catoir, Gimmeldinger Mandelgarten, riesling-S, 2004
Amazingly bright sun gold. Light white peach on the nose and palate, bergamot, and linden tree blossom. Light and restrained. 8.5% B+/A- [AP Nr. 51740791805]
Huet, Vouvray, 'le haut Lieu, demi sec, 2002
Pale light gold color, with a slight walnut shell cast. Soapy lemon aromas, a little muted for such an aromatic grape. Sinewy lemon (lemon including the pith and pulp), nut meats (especially pecan and hazlenuts), a a light, persistent finish. Surprisingly light, compared to the more powerful prescence of the stablemate le Clos de Bourg from that same year. A-/B+