Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
attendees: Jay, Josh, Chris, Lisa, Jeff
Soul Flavors, of course. Chef Wayne stops by the table to chat a bit.
Nigl 2005 Riesling "Privat" - This is the Qualitatswein Trocken "L" F 2303/06. Ah, the romance of Aryan vinous nomenclature! I hear that this was quite closed when first popped but, by the time I arrive, it is beautiful: tremendous zing, just-so ripeness, decorated with earthy notes, and a long slightly-bitter finish. Wow wine.
S. Magnien 2011 Clos-Saint-Denis GC - An early lactic note distresses Jay but it blows off in the glass. Pretty but simple, I think this is tightly-wound and not really showing what it's got. Jay says he's heard that the 2010s came out better than the 2011s at this property.
Andrea Occhipinti 2011 IGT "Alea Viva" - Lazio Rosso, 100% aleatico, vinified dry. Huge, wacky, Jura-like nose. Lightweight texture but peculiar flavors: Josh and Chris both find it candied and sweet, while I don't get that at all but think it's a mouthful of oregano.
Dom. de Belliviere 2005 Coteaux du Loir "Rouge-Gorge" - "Cement floor" (Josh) and the classic pink peppercorns in the nose. Another wine very different on the palate: heavy, lots of extract, astringent, maybe some pale cherry flavors. The weird grapes are weird tonight. Hold.
O. Raffault 2002 Chinon "Les Picasses" - Completely independent of each other three people brought Picasses. Group think much? Who cares, if the wine is going to be as good as this one: perfect balance of black cherry, green pepper, and tobacco flavors, with a rich texture and still some youthful sweetness. Drink or hold.
O. Raffault 1978 Chinon "Les Picasses" - The nose is a repeat of the '02 just played a little more fortissimo. The palate is drying up very slightly: uncompromisingly dry, just a tad mean/skimpy but that's a geek's complaint.
O. Raffault 1983 Chinon "Les Picasses" - More like the '02 than the '78: a bit less precise, a bit more berry flavor and less earth.
Ch. Doisy-Vedrines 2001 Sauternes - OMG. It was the vintage of a lifetime. A tremendous mouthful of apricots, sweetened pineapple, and honeycomb. No obtrusive oak. Maybe it could use a teeny bit more zing but I'm not worried about that at all as I cheerfully contemplate my incipient diabetic coma.
Soul Flavors, of course. Chef Wayne stops by the table to chat a bit.
Nigl 2005 Riesling "Privat" - This is the Qualitatswein Trocken "L" F 2303/06. Ah, the romance of Aryan vinous nomenclature! I hear that this was quite closed when first popped but, by the time I arrive, it is beautiful: tremendous zing, just-so ripeness, decorated with earthy notes, and a long slightly-bitter finish. Wow wine.
S. Magnien 2011 Clos-Saint-Denis GC - An early lactic note distresses Jay but it blows off in the glass. Pretty but simple, I think this is tightly-wound and not really showing what it's got. Jay says he's heard that the 2010s came out better than the 2011s at this property.
Andrea Occhipinti 2011 IGT "Alea Viva" - Lazio Rosso, 100% aleatico, vinified dry. Huge, wacky, Jura-like nose. Lightweight texture but peculiar flavors: Josh and Chris both find it candied and sweet, while I don't get that at all but think it's a mouthful of oregano.
Dom. de Belliviere 2005 Coteaux du Loir "Rouge-Gorge" - "Cement floor" (Josh) and the classic pink peppercorns in the nose. Another wine very different on the palate: heavy, lots of extract, astringent, maybe some pale cherry flavors. The weird grapes are weird tonight. Hold.
O. Raffault 2002 Chinon "Les Picasses" - Completely independent of each other three people brought Picasses. Group think much? Who cares, if the wine is going to be as good as this one: perfect balance of black cherry, green pepper, and tobacco flavors, with a rich texture and still some youthful sweetness. Drink or hold.
O. Raffault 1978 Chinon "Les Picasses" - The nose is a repeat of the '02 just played a little more fortissimo. The palate is drying up very slightly: uncompromisingly dry, just a tad mean/skimpy but that's a geek's complaint.
O. Raffault 1983 Chinon "Les Picasses" - More like the '02 than the '78: a bit less precise, a bit more berry flavor and less earth.
Ch. Doisy-Vedrines 2001 Sauternes - OMG. It was the vintage of a lifetime. A tremendous mouthful of apricots, sweetened pineapple, and honeycomb. No obtrusive oak. Maybe it could use a teeny bit more zing but I'm not worried about that at all as I cheerfully contemplate my incipient diabetic coma.
