It was a good week to stay at home, indoors: the snow fell, it was Christmas and New Year's separated by a week, and I had off from work.
Comte Abbatucci, Ajaccio, cuvee Faustine, 2009
This is the red. They also make a white with the same name, I believe. Blend of 70% Sciaccarellu/30% Niellucciu. Light, electric red colored. Musky perfume aromas. Perfumed lingonberry, sweet horehound chew, finishing with gum notes and lemon curd. Really bright acidity will thrill your rockhound friends. This is interesting, but something I would want to drink sooner rather than later. A-/B+
Laleure-Piot, Pernand-Vergelesses, 'les Vergelesses', 2008
Looks a little dull and old colored pouring from the bottle, with an almost dull browning toward the edges. Sherry wood cask aromas, dull fruits. Sour cherry, candy straw, wood notes. Not a lot here, here.Doesn't feel like a keeper. Drink within the next 1-2 years. B
Aldo Conterno, Barolo, 2005
I know: young to be opening this, but I've had other 05's that can be popped n'poured. Stewy plums and leaves on the quiet nose. Has old sour cherry flowers, twigs and leaves, wood tannins...a bit simple and needs a few years. Very little fruit at all and a bit austere, with a short finish. Could be better in 5-6 years, but - thankfully - this was my one and only. B/B+
Brokenwood, Semillon, ILR Reserve, Hunter Valley, 2006
Sharp tartaric acid fumes. Aggressive and sharp tartaric acid, lime zest and lime pulp, along with a metal component (chrome? zinc?) on the finish. Nice in it's way. Like a cold slap in the face, bracingly refreshing. Bit of quinine here also. 11% A-
Nicolas Rossignol, Beaune, 2005
Bright pinot cherry color. Reductive stink upon opening, which goes away eventually. Somewhat simple cherry coughdrop, touch of wood, acids and minerals. Flavors fade a bit later in the day; seemed best about 2 hours in. Could use another layer of dimension to improve this, but this is not bad and I fail to see the complaints posted here about this producer and his wines. Looking forward to trying the 2010's from him. B+
Comte Abbatucci, Ajaccio, cuvee Faustine, 2009
This is the red. They also make a white with the same name, I believe. Blend of 70% Sciaccarellu/30% Niellucciu. Light, electric red colored. Musky perfume aromas. Perfumed lingonberry, sweet horehound chew, finishing with gum notes and lemon curd. Really bright acidity will thrill your rockhound friends. This is interesting, but something I would want to drink sooner rather than later. A-/B+
Laleure-Piot, Pernand-Vergelesses, 'les Vergelesses', 2008
Looks a little dull and old colored pouring from the bottle, with an almost dull browning toward the edges. Sherry wood cask aromas, dull fruits. Sour cherry, candy straw, wood notes. Not a lot here, here.Doesn't feel like a keeper. Drink within the next 1-2 years. B
Aldo Conterno, Barolo, 2005
I know: young to be opening this, but I've had other 05's that can be popped n'poured. Stewy plums and leaves on the quiet nose. Has old sour cherry flowers, twigs and leaves, wood tannins...a bit simple and needs a few years. Very little fruit at all and a bit austere, with a short finish. Could be better in 5-6 years, but - thankfully - this was my one and only. B/B+
Brokenwood, Semillon, ILR Reserve, Hunter Valley, 2006
Sharp tartaric acid fumes. Aggressive and sharp tartaric acid, lime zest and lime pulp, along with a metal component (chrome? zinc?) on the finish. Nice in it's way. Like a cold slap in the face, bracingly refreshing. Bit of quinine here also. 11% A-
Nicolas Rossignol, Beaune, 2005
Bright pinot cherry color. Reductive stink upon opening, which goes away eventually. Somewhat simple cherry coughdrop, touch of wood, acids and minerals. Flavors fade a bit later in the day; seemed best about 2 hours in. Could use another layer of dimension to improve this, but this is not bad and I fail to see the complaints posted here about this producer and his wines. Looking forward to trying the 2010's from him. B+