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Florida Jim

Florida Jim

Florida Jim
1999 Nigl, Sauvignon Blanc:
Good wine with depth and character but not my style; too much of that cat pee/grassy/perm solution element. The goat cheese with crackers helped but not enough.

2000 Thomas, Pinot Noir:
Diane made a mushroom, chicken and vegetable concoction that went beautifully with this wine; its nose is blackberry and cola; in the mouth it has strong flavors but light weight and easy textures a tenuous but attractive balance it cuts the food with its acidity and flavors but never intrudes or overwhelms. 13% alcohol, thankfully. When I think of the domestic producers of pinot noir that I consider in tune with their land and meticulous about their process, John Thomas leads the list. A terrific wine that has years to peak but shows very well today.

1995 Montus, Madiran Cuve Prestige:
Smells like new tires and cherries; its all fruit and earth in the mouth with good grip and plenty of concentration and heft; a somewhat drying but very long finish. Expecting an avalanche of tannin, instead I got a masculine, thoroughly enjoyable bottle with pretty good balance and complexity. Not something I want a lot of but twice the wine with pasta and red sauce.

Best, Jim
 
originally posted by Florida Jim:
More pairings1999 Nigl, Sauvignon Blanc:
Good wine with depth and character but not my style; too much of that cat pee/grassy/perm solution element. The goat cheese with crackers helped but not enough.
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The Kremstal doesn't strike me as a great location for SB, FWIW. Austrian Sauvignon can achieve great heights, but in South Styria (Sdsteiermark) in the hands of folks like Manfred Tement. I have no idea how those wines age, though, so perhaps the problem is greater than just less-than-ideal location.

1995 Montus, Madiran Cuve Prestige:
Smells like new tires and cherries; its all fruit and earth in the mouth with good grip and plenty of concentration and heft; a somewhat drying but very long finish. Expecting an avalanche of tannin, instead I got a masculine, thoroughly enjoyable bottle with pretty good balance and complexity. Not something I want a lot of but twice the wine with pasta and red sauce.
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Down in the cellar tonight looking for a bottle to go with our freshly made ravioli in tomato sauce, I ran across two bottles of the '99 Montus Prestige. I passed over them, figuring to open them years from now with cassoulet.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by VLM:
ThomasAll of mine have shown rather poorly.

Opened a 1999 recently that was universally panned.
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Which universe?

'Sorry to hear about the troubles; I've had nothing but good ones including a recent 1999.
Best, Jim
 
originally posted by MLipton:

The Kremstal doesn't strike me as a great location for SB, FWIW. Austrian Sauvignon can achieve great heights, but in South Styria (Sdsteiermark) in the hands of folks like Manfred Tement. I have no idea how those wines age, though, so perhaps the problem is greater than just less-than-ideal location.
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You might enjoy the Sauvignon Blanc of Neumeyer in Traisenthal. It's nicely balanced and has a lot of Sauvignon character without dipping into the catbox side of the aroma wheel. I had a 1993 Tement Zierreg a week or two ago and it held up beautifully. I've tasted older vintages (mid-90s) from Gross (Styria) and Kollwent-Romerhof (Burgenland) and they'd evolved beautifully. Definitely worth taking a flyer on should you find aged Austrian Sauvignons on a wine list somewhere.

-Eden (Paul Achs in Burgenland also makes nice Sauvignon).
 
When I think of the domestic producers of pinot noir that I consider in tune with their land and meticulous about their process, John Thomas leads the list.
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Does anyone realize how common the name 'John Thomas' is?
I know the man cannot help his name, but when I see this, I'm thinking
'Oh, a Jim Smith wine!'. Glad the wine doesn't sound as generic as the
name.

Side question: have you had any more recent Motnus Prestige?
I'm hoping the oak will integrate in the 2001 bottling.
 
Mark,
I've only seen notes on more recent Montus vintages and they all seem to say its not ready yet.
Best, Jim
 
I've never heard of Thomas Pinot Noir before; now, thanks to you, Jim, I will have to find some and buy it.

BTW, I take it this is not Chateau Thomas Winery in Indiana, but rather Thomas Fogarty? Or Robert Thomas? Perhaps you mean Barbara Thomas. Thomas Halby? Certainly not Thomas Road, in any event.

Thanks for the 95 Montus note - I've always liked its muscle and purity, and yours is the second note I've seen recently that suggests it is now mature. I have one 750 and one mag left, which we will enjoy over the next few years.
 
Ian,
The label says Thomas; it is a pinot noir from Oregon and the winemaker/owner is John Thomas.
John had three acres of vines and some of it had phyloxara (past tense because its been some time since I've been there).
I don't think there is any consensus about John's wines; some like them, some don't. His wines used to be very reflective of vintage and, since Oregon was/is a marginal place for vinifera, that can make it difficult to predict what's in the bottle.
I am told that more recent vintages have changed style a bit; more emphasis on the front end and drinkability but have no experience with his wines since 2002.
He's a bit of a romantic figure for me; one guy who searched for over a decade for the right plot of land; working the vineyard and winery by himself; a bit of a loner but someone who would do whatever it took to make the wine he wanted. So take what I say about him and his wine with a grain of salt.
Best, Jim
 
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