Some recent reds

J

Jeff Grossman

Jeff Grossman
Scherrer 2001 Zinfandel "Old and Mature Vines" - Day 1: impossibly young and grapey, reminiscent of the current Balthazar CdR; Day 5: flowery and fragrant, red berries, still a bit tannic but nice enough for HWMBO to comment favorably upon it.

Jeez, Fred Scherrer just does not want you to drink these wines anytime soon (either "soon" after harvest or "soon" after pulling the cork).

Barou 2010 St-Joseph - Not dense or intense but cheerful and charming; some earth, some blue fruit, a great buy at $20.
 
I'm neither hip nor Gotham but Balthazar spoofed? I think not. Certainly doesn't taste like it in any way to me (other than Carbonic...ducking) and I have friends who have visited and they report he's pretty old-timey.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:


Barou 2010 St-Joseph - Not dense or intense but cheerful and charming; some earth, some blue fruit, a great buy at $20.
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I had a bottle of this following a bottle of the Barou 2010 Syrah. The standard Syrah had all those qualities you associated with the St. Joseph, vibrant, fruit with earth, a real glou glou wine. The St. Joseph on the other hand presented itself as a flabby, over oaked mess. I was very disappointed. The Syrah is selling at under $15 - a superb bargain.
 
originally posted by JasonA:
The St. Joseph on the other hand presented itself as a flabby, over oaked mess. I was very disappointed.
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The guy does make some oaky wines, but IME the St. Joe that David brings in isn't one of them. You're talking the red, right?
 
Doesn't Syrah have the potential to seem oaky even when it isn't? I've had the Barou Saint-Joseph show that way but I later learned it wasn't raised in new oak.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by JasonA:
The St. Joseph on the other hand presented itself as a flabby, over oaked mess. I was very disappointed.
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The guy does make some oaky wines, but IME the St. Joe that David brings in isn't one of them. You're talking the red, right?
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The $20 St. Joseph from Chambers Street is more than likely the 10% new oak cuvee. Yes, I am speaking of the red. Whether it was that specific bottle or drinking the St. Joseph after the Syrah that amplified the difference or drinking them both with cassoulet who knows.

All I can say is that Chambers Street is currently out of the Syrah, much to my disappointment. My recommendation is to try the Giuseppe Apicella, 2011 Costa d'Amalfi Piedirosso in the mean time. Another crazy under $15 bargain.
 
originally posted by MarkS:
What's your take on Balthazar? I thought he was too spoofed for the hip Gotham crowd.
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Got around to tasting '11 CdR last night. Wonderful stony and lightly peppery stuff, black raspberry and red flowers in tow, just a hint of acidity that isn't fully integrated, but nothing to worry about. But I get quickly frustrated drinking Rhones such as this, as all I can think about is how wonderfully complex and aromatic they will be with some maturity and resolution. In this sense, a wine like this is much more like a young Bordeaux than a Burgundy or a Beaujolais. This is not to say that '11 CdR is far away from maturity; it may only need a couple of years, but this would not change my sentiments regarding current drinking.
 
originally posted by Zachary Ross:
I only get frustrated by my inability to keep from drinking them now. Just a little.
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Fortunately, this does not apply to all Rhones. Young lower end Monpertius and some of Eric's stuff goes down just fine around here.
 
Eric's 2010 CdR is pretty boffo, as Nathan has previously opined. Just when I thought I was out of southern Rhone, he sucks me back in. Abv 12.5% with 50% Grenache, such fresh flavor, balance, acidity - how?
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
Eric's 2010 CdR is pretty boffo, as Nathan has previously opined. Just when I thought I was out of southern Rhone, he sucks me back in. Abv 12.5% with 50% Grenache, such fresh flavor, balance, acidity - how?
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Yes.
 
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