Florida Jim
Florida Jim
2006 Tomas Cusine, Vilosell: 62% Tempranillo, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Syrah, 3% Garnatxa, 3% Carinyena; smells a little like Loire cab. franc - with that herbaceous note up high - but also carries the cab. sauvignon markers of cassis - not much tempranillo in evidence on the nose; fairly rich but not plush, silky, bright, no oak noticeable, dark fruit and some complexity; medium length finish. A good balanced wine that is more interesting than first expected. 14% alcohol and about $17.
2009 Edmunds St. John, Gamay Bone Jolly: Bright, granite driven gamay with a freshness and vibrancy that has to be tasted; beautiful color, alluring aromas and invigorating flavors; a wine you want to drink.
2009 Edmunds St. John, Rocks and Gravel: Cement tank fermented and aged; take the 2006 Old Black Magic and make it ready immediately; the co-ferment of syrah and grenache works very well and the wine delivers purity and focus ready to enjoy now. No doubt it will age but, since it tastes so good now, why wait?
2008 Dom. de la Chanteleuserie, Bourgueil: Clean, fresh, non-green, cabernet franc that is thirst quenching and charming. Good with or without food.
2007 Movia, Ribolla Gialla: Slightly cloudy; smells of pears, dried grasses, flint and pencil lead; tastes bone dry, flavors follow the nose, good acidity, fresh and intense; moderate length. The more I taste this grape the more I like it. I hear there is some in CA; time for me to seek it out.
2005 Pepiere, Muscadet Granite de Clisson: Took an hour to open and then, stole the show. Expansive nose of lemon skin, rain-water, stone and fresh air; bright but round in the mouth and showing considerable depth, intense, perfectly balanced, very fresh and extremely long. As good as the AOC produces.
1998 Lagier Meredith, Syrah: The first vintage from LM - it comes out of the bottle with the brief impression that it is just past peak but then youngs-up within minutes; showing a floral, cold climate profile yet with good concentration and balance; a lovely wine in its prime.
1999 J.L. Chave, Hermitage: Lots of tobacco and slightly closed upon opening, this opens to all it should be - meat, olive, warm fruit, lavender - a very complete wine with more weight then most vintages but nothing to suggest a heavy hand or too ripe fruit. Years to peak but delicious today.
2008 Cowan Cellars, Syrah Dry Stack Vineyard: The more I taste this wine the more I think it needs five years in the cellar - showing like a barrel sample and so young as to be hard to assess. Nonetheless, it has its pretty moments and its powerful ones. The cellar will be its friend.
2007 Bjornstad Cellars, Chardonnay Sonoma County: Starts off with a blast of French oak but the wood dissipates quickly and the crisp, clean minerality of the wine takes over. Nothing round or soft here but rather, bright acidity and etched flavors. The bottle says 14.2% alcohol but I know this is more like 13.7%. Quite a nice chard. Much more old world than new.
Best, Jim
2009 Edmunds St. John, Gamay Bone Jolly: Bright, granite driven gamay with a freshness and vibrancy that has to be tasted; beautiful color, alluring aromas and invigorating flavors; a wine you want to drink.
2009 Edmunds St. John, Rocks and Gravel: Cement tank fermented and aged; take the 2006 Old Black Magic and make it ready immediately; the co-ferment of syrah and grenache works very well and the wine delivers purity and focus ready to enjoy now. No doubt it will age but, since it tastes so good now, why wait?
2008 Dom. de la Chanteleuserie, Bourgueil: Clean, fresh, non-green, cabernet franc that is thirst quenching and charming. Good with or without food.
2007 Movia, Ribolla Gialla: Slightly cloudy; smells of pears, dried grasses, flint and pencil lead; tastes bone dry, flavors follow the nose, good acidity, fresh and intense; moderate length. The more I taste this grape the more I like it. I hear there is some in CA; time for me to seek it out.
2005 Pepiere, Muscadet Granite de Clisson: Took an hour to open and then, stole the show. Expansive nose of lemon skin, rain-water, stone and fresh air; bright but round in the mouth and showing considerable depth, intense, perfectly balanced, very fresh and extremely long. As good as the AOC produces.
1998 Lagier Meredith, Syrah: The first vintage from LM - it comes out of the bottle with the brief impression that it is just past peak but then youngs-up within minutes; showing a floral, cold climate profile yet with good concentration and balance; a lovely wine in its prime.
1999 J.L. Chave, Hermitage: Lots of tobacco and slightly closed upon opening, this opens to all it should be - meat, olive, warm fruit, lavender - a very complete wine with more weight then most vintages but nothing to suggest a heavy hand or too ripe fruit. Years to peak but delicious today.
2008 Cowan Cellars, Syrah Dry Stack Vineyard: The more I taste this wine the more I think it needs five years in the cellar - showing like a barrel sample and so young as to be hard to assess. Nonetheless, it has its pretty moments and its powerful ones. The cellar will be its friend.
2007 Bjornstad Cellars, Chardonnay Sonoma County: Starts off with a blast of French oak but the wood dissipates quickly and the crisp, clean minerality of the wine takes over. Nothing round or soft here but rather, bright acidity and etched flavors. The bottle says 14.2% alcohol but I know this is more like 13.7%. Quite a nice chard. Much more old world than new.
Best, Jim