Quick notes

Florida Jim

Florida Jim
2005 De Villaine, Mercury Les Montots:
Completely closed and disjointed. Lots of promise, little pleasure now.

1999 Bizot, Echezeaux (375 ml):
Clearly Echezeaux, with sauvage notes, lavender, cooked red fruits, earth and underbrush tones; similar flavors and a medium bodied, linen-like texture, intense and long. Quite open and so much better than my last bottle. Nothing like good Burgundy.

1999 Clos des Papes, CdP:
Au pointe, and as good a CdP as I have ever had; beautiful aromatics immediately separate this from the other wines on the table - fruit, earth, air, rain - as though one could smell the whole world at once; medium bodied, satin in the mouth, intense, focused and delicious. No fan of the southern Rhone am I but this was sensational.

2001 Leoville-Barton:
A pleasant although not particularly potent version of St. Julien; fruit, stone and mint on the nose; not much subtlety but solid flavors in a medium weight delivery and fair length.
This had been decanted an hour in advance so I think I got what it had to give - no reason to run right out and buy a bottle but nice enough to drink if someone offers.

1987 Lopez de Heredia, Rioja Vina Tondonia:
Slightly volatile at first but that blows off; a remarkably complex and alluring wine - plenty of bottle bouquet, considerable secondary development and a slender, lovely palate of fruit flavors. But this wine is truly about nuance and finesse and its a joy to drink.

2007 Brewer-Clifton, Pinot Noir Mt. Carmel:
Too sweet for me but everyone else raved. I can see where this would be a hit with lots of fruit and just a little of those earthy aromas and flavors - but I am a dirt guy so I moved on.

2006 Fillaboa, Albarino Monte Alta:
Fuller bodied then most albarino but with precise flavors; slightly creamy, excellent minerality and lots of pineapple and ginger flavors; and its got length. A pretty intense wine and one I kept coming back to. From a single vineyard at elevation.
(anybody know if this sees oak?)

Best, Jim
 
I was under the impression that your palate was extremely sophisticated but no fan of the Southern Rhone? So you're not perfect. An earthy CDP with a good rib eye steak, that is a marriage made in heaven
 
originally posted by Florida Jim: Quick notes No fan of the southern Rhone

Jim, I've got to agree with Lou. Except I would extend his reach to well beyond just CNdPs.

This position of yours is a big surprise...but I'm keeping the faith!!

. . . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Peter Creasey:
originally posted by Florida Jim: Quick notes No fan of the southern Rhone

Jim, I've got to agree with Lou. Except I would extend his reach to well beyond just CNdPs.

This position of yours is a big surprise...but I'm keeping the faith!!

. . . . . . Pete
I agree there are lots of goodies in the Southern Rhone but I didn't want to pile on Jim with the obvious.
 
I have to admit I haven't explored the Southern Rhone much at all because of the price and the fact that there are so many awful wines. Who would you recommend?
 
Thanks for the 05 Montots note - I don't feel like I was completely off-base in my recent try.

I picked up two bin-end magnums of the '99 Clos des Papes on sale from McArthur's a few years ago. Looks like I should open them with some friends in a couple more. Good to have a note to steer by.
 
originally posted by Cory Cartwright:
I have to admit I haven't explored the Southern Rhone much at all because of the price and the fact that there are so many awful wines. Who would you recommend?

When August comes around and you find yourself in NYC, please remind me and we'll open something worthwhile from the Sluthern Rhone.
 
originally posted by Cory Cartwright:
I have to admit I haven't explored the Southern Rhone much at all because of the price and the fact that there are so many awful wines. Who would you recommend?

Ask Thor about the bio-d producer Kreydenwiess, who produces wines in both Alsace and the Rhone. I had his Barbabelles (Costieres de Nimes) recently, which struck me as being closer to a cool-climate red (no baked fruit, bright acidity, nice herbal notes, maybe even a touch of greenness). Made for the table...and made me want to try what else he makes in the Rhone.
 
originally posted by Florida Jim:
Its the grenache, gents.
If CdP and CdR were made with syrah, I'd have a cellar full.
Best, Jim

Jay, me, and now Jim - with that troika, how can you doubt that grenache is ick?
 
Grenache isn't all bad. Texier's CdR is great, and it's at least 80% grenache. Isn't there also some grenache in Lopez de Heredia's riojas?
 
Yeah, the southern Kreydenweiss wines are definitely worth a look. I was just writing one up the other day, and I've come to the conclusion that they're much more approachable than many of the Alsatians in youth. I'm pretty sure they age well, but haven't yet exerted enough patience to know for sure.
 
originally posted by maureen:
well, that's texier, he's sui generis

And if John G. is to be believed a lot of what I object to in S. Rhone is not the grenache but the way overripe syrah it's blended with.

And of course I don't know how I can reconcile my lack of enthusiasm for grenache with my love for the 2007 That Old Black Magic. Fortunately I feel no need to do so :).
 
originally posted by Jay Miller:
originally posted by maureen:
well, that's texier, he's sui generis

And if John G. is to be believed a lot of what I object to in S. Rhone is not the grenache but the way overripe syrah it's blended with.

And of course I don't know how I can reconcile my lack of enthusiasm for grenache with my love for the 2007 That Old Black Magic. Fortunately I feel no need to do so :).
Well to be thought of as totally lucid, you should!
 
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