2006 Jean et Gilles LaFouge Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru La Chapelle - France, Burgundy, Cte de Beaune, Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru (11/17/2008)
Another good one. This isn't quite as plump as last year. It's a showing a bit more rustic, but still lovely. It has that intoxicating Burgundian nose, bright red fruits, a good lash of rusting tannin and some nice, acidic lift.
2007 vinas de alto salvador Malbec Yellow & Blue - Argentina, Mendoza (11/16/2008)
OK, clearly not something to geek out over, but, for what it is, this hit the spot. When you want to make half a brontosaurus (a big steak) and do a pan sauce ..., this really fit the bill. It comes in a liter, so you have that extra bit built in; plus, the wine's quite good. Pretty big but soft with tanin to frame it. Now, if only these crunchy granola techno packs would come in a big enough size that we could get the spigot and be able to have a glass whenever instead of opening a bottle.
1994 Chteau de Beaucastel Chteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuve Roussanne Vieilles Vignes - France, Rhne, Southern Rhne, Chteauneuf-du-Pape (11/15/2008)
Either I had a better bottle, or more likely, a higher tolerance for the unusual character of the wine than most other people posting on this lately. This was our election night tipple, so that could have factored into the equation as well. I was shocked at how young and fresh it showed, given where the regular version of this has been in my last couple of tries. Medium gold, but with plenty of minerality to frame what remains of the fruit.
2005 Triacca Valtellina Superiore - Sassella - Italy, Lombardia, Valtellina, Valtellina Superiore - Sassella (11/15/2008)
Not hugely forthcoming, this nevertheless has all the elements in place, in particular the crushed brick and deep, red cherry fruit with floral overtones. I think it's held back, at the moment, by a fair amount of tannin -- it comes across as a bit thin, which it's not. It didn't budge by the second day, at which point the experiment ended.
2007 Domaine du Vissoux / Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Cuve Traditionalle - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais (11/7/2008)
I think this weighs in at 11.5%. It's beautifully fresh and light, and yet fully ripe and aromatic. It's light and fresh without an acidic edge. I don't think it has tons of concentration and probably won't hold forever, but it's showing wonderfully right now and for the medium term.
1999 Domaine Fourrier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Gruenchers - France, Burgundy, Cte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru (11/6/2008)
Showing a little tight. Yes, it will get better. But no crime to dip in now. This stuff is lovely: taught, fresh, delicate, aromatic.
2000 ric Texier Cte-Rtie Vieilles Vignes - France, Rhne, Northern Rhne, Cte-Rtie (11/1/2008)
Still showing very young, but it is open and accessible. Nice varietal character, fresh violet tones, some pepper -- a nice, classical Cote Rotie.
2001 Mark Angeli Anjou "La Lune" - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou (11/1/2008)
I have had a few dodgy bottles but this one was terrific. The color is quite deep and the botrytis is quite strong, but the wine remains fresh and it shows slimmer than it has for me for quite awhile.
2004 Domaine de Bellivire Pineau d'Aunis Les Girofles - France, Vin de Table Franais (11/1/2008)
OK, it's been a week or so; this is from memory. It was quite a ride. It opened up much drier than on release and showing much more varietal character, but finishing hot. Then, after it was open for awhile, the sweetness came back, the strawberry notes of youth. Not sure what to make of this.
2004 Chteau Laffitte-Teston Madiran - France, Southwest France, Madiran (10/28/2008)
I think this was the reflets du terroir. In any event, consistent with past performance, it opened up tight. Shows better on day two: a nice, slim profile that packs nice intensity.
Another good one. This isn't quite as plump as last year. It's a showing a bit more rustic, but still lovely. It has that intoxicating Burgundian nose, bright red fruits, a good lash of rusting tannin and some nice, acidic lift.
2007 vinas de alto salvador Malbec Yellow & Blue - Argentina, Mendoza (11/16/2008)
OK, clearly not something to geek out over, but, for what it is, this hit the spot. When you want to make half a brontosaurus (a big steak) and do a pan sauce ..., this really fit the bill. It comes in a liter, so you have that extra bit built in; plus, the wine's quite good. Pretty big but soft with tanin to frame it. Now, if only these crunchy granola techno packs would come in a big enough size that we could get the spigot and be able to have a glass whenever instead of opening a bottle.
1994 Chteau de Beaucastel Chteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuve Roussanne Vieilles Vignes - France, Rhne, Southern Rhne, Chteauneuf-du-Pape (11/15/2008)
Either I had a better bottle, or more likely, a higher tolerance for the unusual character of the wine than most other people posting on this lately. This was our election night tipple, so that could have factored into the equation as well. I was shocked at how young and fresh it showed, given where the regular version of this has been in my last couple of tries. Medium gold, but with plenty of minerality to frame what remains of the fruit.
2005 Triacca Valtellina Superiore - Sassella - Italy, Lombardia, Valtellina, Valtellina Superiore - Sassella (11/15/2008)
Not hugely forthcoming, this nevertheless has all the elements in place, in particular the crushed brick and deep, red cherry fruit with floral overtones. I think it's held back, at the moment, by a fair amount of tannin -- it comes across as a bit thin, which it's not. It didn't budge by the second day, at which point the experiment ended.
2007 Domaine du Vissoux / Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Cuve Traditionalle - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais (11/7/2008)
I think this weighs in at 11.5%. It's beautifully fresh and light, and yet fully ripe and aromatic. It's light and fresh without an acidic edge. I don't think it has tons of concentration and probably won't hold forever, but it's showing wonderfully right now and for the medium term.
1999 Domaine Fourrier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Gruenchers - France, Burgundy, Cte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru (11/6/2008)
Showing a little tight. Yes, it will get better. But no crime to dip in now. This stuff is lovely: taught, fresh, delicate, aromatic.
2000 ric Texier Cte-Rtie Vieilles Vignes - France, Rhne, Northern Rhne, Cte-Rtie (11/1/2008)
Still showing very young, but it is open and accessible. Nice varietal character, fresh violet tones, some pepper -- a nice, classical Cote Rotie.
2001 Mark Angeli Anjou "La Lune" - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou (11/1/2008)
I have had a few dodgy bottles but this one was terrific. The color is quite deep and the botrytis is quite strong, but the wine remains fresh and it shows slimmer than it has for me for quite awhile.
2004 Domaine de Bellivire Pineau d'Aunis Les Girofles - France, Vin de Table Franais (11/1/2008)
OK, it's been a week or so; this is from memory. It was quite a ride. It opened up much drier than on release and showing much more varietal character, but finishing hot. Then, after it was open for awhile, the sweetness came back, the strawberry notes of youth. Not sure what to make of this.
2004 Chteau Laffitte-Teston Madiran - France, Southwest France, Madiran (10/28/2008)
I think this was the reflets du terroir. In any event, consistent with past performance, it opened up tight. Shows better on day two: a nice, slim profile that packs nice intensity.