In the cellar (April 16, 2011)

J

Jeff Grossman

Jeff Grossman
Just hangin' around the cellar

Jay, Ira, Jeff and some victuals from upstairs

M. Plouzeau 2006 Touraine "Clos de Maulevrier" Franc de Pied Ante Phylloxera - intense, rich cab franc; not quite to Croix Boisee standards but close; a pleasure to drink while eating rare roast beef

Bod. Chivite 1988 Navarro GR - initially confusing to Jay (he thinks every fifth sip is corked) the wine eventually settles down into well-aged tempranillo, slightly watery, slightly funky (it's the best match for chicken liver pate)

Causse Marines 2009 Marcillac - spicy, licoricey, crisp, a real change-up from the usual cups; definitely better with food and, tonight, anyway, best with the roasty-yeasty crust of the black olive bread

Bouland 2009 Morgon "Corcelette" - gamay, sure, but nothing more: no earth, no zip, no structure; pretty darned ordinary

A little later, with dinner (and Epoisses):

Brun NV "FRV100" - it's usual charming self; this is the 2007 model which is a touch less sweet than its immediate predecessor

Rhys 2008 Pinot Noir "Bearwallow Vineyard" - apparently, Rhys obtained this vineyard too late to do anything about the grapes so they pressed what was there; simple, syrupy, sweet, frooty; pretty darned ordinary
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
In the cellar (April 16, 2011)Just hangin' around the cellar

Jay, Ira, Jeff and some victuals from upstairs

Bouland 2009 Morgon "Corcelette" - gamay, sure, but nothing more: no earth, no zip, no structure; pretty darned ordinary
Click to expand...
This is Daniel Bouland? Raymond Bouland is much cheaper, much less known (at least in the US), and much better, I think.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

Rhys 2008 Pinot Noir "Bearwallow Vineyard" - apparently, Rhys obtained this vineyard too late to do anything about the grapes so they pressed what was there; simple, syrupy, sweet, frooty; pretty darned ordinary
Click to expand...

A very surprising assessment, especially considering John Gillman's effusive praise for the wine, with notes that are essentially opposite of your comments. I wouldn't normally bring up a critical review, except that John's palate usually lines up as pretty much Disorderly.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

Causse Marines 2009 Marcillac - spicy, licoricey, crisp, a real change-up from the usual cups; definitely better with food and, tonight, anyway, best with the roasty-yeasty crust of the black olive bread
Click to expand...
I have struggled a bit with this one. There is a green note that somehow doesn't work for me. Can anyone explain it to me?
 
originally posted by David M. Bueker:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

Rhys 2008 Pinot Noir "Bearwallow Vineyard" - apparently, Rhys obtained this vineyard too late to do anything about the grapes so they pressed what was there; simple, syrupy, sweet, frooty; pretty darned ordinary
Click to expand...

A very surprising assessment, especially considering John Gillman's effusive praise for the wine, with notes that are essentially opposite of your comments. I wouldn't normally bring up a critical review, except that John's palate usually lines up as pretty much Disorderly.
Click to expand...

That was pretty much the opinion of everyone who had it at the horizontal on Wednesday. Mind you I expect a steady improvement and it's possible it showed better earlier on of course.

I found it perfectly drinkable but not much more.
 
originally posted by Claude Kolm:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
In the cellar (April 16, 2011)Just hangin' around the cellar

Jay, Ira, Jeff and some victuals from upstairs

Bouland 2009 Morgon "Corcelette" - gamay, sure, but nothing more: no earth, no zip, no structure; pretty darned ordinary
Click to expand...
This is Daniel Bouland? Raymond Bouland is much cheaper, much less known (at least in the US), and much better, I think.
Click to expand...

Tasted the former with Gilman in the fall, really did not care for it. John was trying to be objective, which I appreciated, but seriously not my cup of tea. The dark side of 2009 for sure.
 
Claude, I am not sure which Bouland. This was the bottle that Ira brought and I got only a hurried look at it. Sorry.

Cristian, Cristian, Cristian. Don't I know it. The cave in my house is stuffed with it: barolo, lessona, carema. But I did not get to drink any wine with dinner that I had originally intended.

David, 'twas how the cup showed. Sorry.

Joe, I don't find it "green" and this may just be the land of different genomes. It has a just-dug-from-the-earth damp root fat-square-handled-toothpick sort of smell. (FWIW, yesterday I noticed another verbal inconsistency with Jay, as I called the Touraine "intense" and he preferred "focused" and I think we were talking about the same thing.)
 
originally posted by David M. Bueker:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

Rhys 2008 Pinot Noir "Bearwallow Vineyard" - apparently, Rhys obtained this vineyard too late to do anything about the grapes so they pressed what was there; simple, syrupy, sweet, frooty; pretty darned ordinary
Click to expand...

A very surprising assessment, especially considering John Gillman's effusive praise for the wine, with notes that are essentially opposite of your comments. I wouldn't normally bring up a critical review, except that John's palate usually lines up as pretty much Disorderly.
Click to expand...

John's wrong and Jeff is right. His notes mirror mine. It especially stuck out when tasting all the wines together.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

Causse Marines 2009 Marcillac - spicy, licoricey, crisp, a real change-up from the usual cups; definitely better with food and, tonight, anyway, best with the roasty-yeasty crust of the black olive bread
Click to expand...
I have struggled a bit with this one. There is a green note that somehow doesn't work for me. Can anyone explain it to me?
Click to expand...

If it is fer severdou or whatever that grape is, a leafy quality is part of it. Becomes kind of addicting once you're into it.
 
originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by David M. Bueker:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

Rhys 2008 Pinot Noir "Bearwallow Vineyard" - apparently, Rhys obtained this vineyard too late to do anything about the grapes so they pressed what was there; simple, syrupy, sweet, frooty; pretty darned ordinary
Click to expand...

A very surprising assessment, especially considering John Gillman's effusive praise for the wine, with notes that are essentially opposite of your comments. I wouldn't normally bring up a critical review, except that John's palate usually lines up as pretty much Disorderly.
Click to expand...

John's wrong and Jeff is right. His notes mirror mine. It especially stuck out when tasting all the wines together.
Click to expand...

Then I will put it in queue to serve to my Dad (who likes big, ripe wines).
 
originally posted by David M. Bueker:
originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by David M. Bueker:
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

Rhys 2008 Pinot Noir "Bearwallow Vineyard" - apparently, Rhys obtained this vineyard too late to do anything about the grapes so they pressed what was there; simple, syrupy, sweet, frooty; pretty darned ordinary
Click to expand...

A very surprising assessment, especially considering John Gillman's effusive praise for the wine, with notes that are essentially opposite of your comments. I wouldn't normally bring up a critical review, except that John's palate usually lines up as pretty much Disorderly.
Click to expand...

John's wrong and Jeff is right. His notes mirror mine. It especially stuck out when tasting all the wines together.
Click to expand...

Then I will put it in queue to serve to my Dad (who likes big, ripe wines).
Click to expand...

It isn't big and ripe in the context of California pinot noir, but it is when compared to other Rhys bottlings or expectations from a Rhys wine.
 
Jeff, for the uninitiated, would it be possible to see a pic or two of the cellar?...Sounds underground, so does that mean it's passive? I might be the only curious one, but curious I am.
 
originally posted by Joel Stewart:
Jeff, for the uninitiated, would it be possible to see a pic or two of the cellar?...Sounds underground, so does that mean it's passive? I might be the only curious one, but curious I am.
Click to expand...
Commercial, but friendly, storage: click

I don't have any pix inside. I'll try to rummage around in FaceBook to see whether other winos have posted any.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top