Ian Fitzsimmons
Ian Fitzsimmons
Clos Roche Blanche 08 Gamay: last bottle, imbibed over four days. Progressive relaxation of the texture took it from zingy and crisp the first day to soft, almost choclatey the last. Drunk cold from the fridge, the last glass was at least as good as the first.
Clos Roche Blanche 09 Cabernet: just opened and tasted, cherry, cabernet pencil; seems thin and stemmy. Not bad, especially at $16, but disappointing in comparison with the 09 Cot, which is entrancing. Maybe some air time will puff it up a bit. PS: much better after decanting an hour: brawny but fresh, beefily tannic. Good.
De Moor Rosette 05: Opened a bottle that seemed to be in the early throes of p'ox, or some other non-tca-related flaw. A second bottle two weeks later was goodish, developing well, but still somewhat closed. As others have observed, the 05 is a bit broad on the palate, imho, for acid-head Chablis lovers. Exceptional AOC, but at the price, I think I'd rather buy Michel or Tribut 1er.
Paul Bara Brut Reserve: Nice, pleasant, balanced, vanished rapidly. Striking in its goodness without any really striking flavors and aromas; just invigorating, palate-cleansing and life-affirming. Very John Maynard Keynes.
St. Cosme Gigondas 01: Drinking nicely now; medium-heavy weight; cherries, plums, fairly dense texture: slightly meaty; balanced. Nicely open. Best memory of this wine was on a cold night four years ago, when it was young and rich with rustic fat.
Grosset Polish Hill Riesling 04: Beginning to emerge from its shell: clear and powerful acidity detailing plump Riesling fruit. The fruit and extract give the wine a slightly rich feel. Well-made, something like a CFE in quality and balance, but with the fruit volume set to 'Australian.'
Clos Roche Blanche 09 Cabernet: just opened and tasted, cherry, cabernet pencil; seems thin and stemmy. Not bad, especially at $16, but disappointing in comparison with the 09 Cot, which is entrancing. Maybe some air time will puff it up a bit. PS: much better after decanting an hour: brawny but fresh, beefily tannic. Good.
De Moor Rosette 05: Opened a bottle that seemed to be in the early throes of p'ox, or some other non-tca-related flaw. A second bottle two weeks later was goodish, developing well, but still somewhat closed. As others have observed, the 05 is a bit broad on the palate, imho, for acid-head Chablis lovers. Exceptional AOC, but at the price, I think I'd rather buy Michel or Tribut 1er.
Paul Bara Brut Reserve: Nice, pleasant, balanced, vanished rapidly. Striking in its goodness without any really striking flavors and aromas; just invigorating, palate-cleansing and life-affirming. Very John Maynard Keynes.
St. Cosme Gigondas 01: Drinking nicely now; medium-heavy weight; cherries, plums, fairly dense texture: slightly meaty; balanced. Nicely open. Best memory of this wine was on a cold night four years ago, when it was young and rich with rustic fat.
Grosset Polish Hill Riesling 04: Beginning to emerge from its shell: clear and powerful acidity detailing plump Riesling fruit. The fruit and extract give the wine a slightly rich feel. Well-made, something like a CFE in quality and balance, but with the fruit volume set to 'Australian.'