Kay Bixler
Kay Bixler
We were blessed with a visit from Sharon recently and some wonderful bottles were opened that deserve reporting.
With lunch of bagels and lox there was 2013 Eminence Road Rose of Cabernet Franc which is a great match for most anything. Spritzy, orange-pink with raspberry, melon rind and a slate tinged finish. 93 pts. (low score because the wine is sold out). It was hot out and we drained the bottle like a pros before heading off into the woods in search of mushrooms. Despite having a very good rain a few days prior we only managed a hand full of chanterelles along with a small bolete of indeterminate identity.
Back on the farm we grilled a chicken, picked peas and raspberries and drank well starting with Drappier Brut Nature Sans Soufre, a non-dosage, hundred percent pinot noir Champagne. This is very fine wine, refreshing with great intensity and though it is absolutely dry there is no lack of richness. It's sort of like a refined, very classy bottle of pet-nat. Sharon says drink up soon with this bottling. 95 pts. (the extra point is for bubbles, Jayson).
2013 Kelley Fox Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir from Oregon, which is actually pronounced "organ." Earthy and floral with a bit of tar, sweet fruit, a gentle grip and a chalky finish. Quite lovely to drink right now. 93 pts. (Would have been 94 but for the screwcap. Sorry, Kelley, we are staunch luddites).
1996 Savary Chablis Vieilles Vignes, purchased on release, lovingly stored, etc. The cork is affected by the dreaded blue stain. We begin to speculate wildly: pre-mox, post-mox, oxidation of every kind is considered. With much trepidation Jennifer braves a first sip. It's fine. But not much more. It has hardly budged from what it was when Clinton was in office. What's the fucking point of aging these things if nothings going to happen? Not a huge aroma but seamless in the mouth. Edges are rounding a bit, a little lactic richness, not quite nutty, but really I would expect more evolution from a twenty-year-old bottle of chardonnay. Still young and chewy with decent length. 93 pts.
Desperate to impress, we dig deep in the cellar and come up with 2002 Domaine de la Senechaliere, Abouriou. That's right, it's red Muscadet from Marc Pesnot. Amazingly this wine is still alive and, much like the Chablis that preceded it, quite a lot like it was on release. Pretty strawberry fruit and while your expecting lightness there is good weight on the palate. Earthy and delicious. Really surprised it is alive and well. Have to seek out the current release. 94 pts.
A fun day and overall a pretty successful summer jeebus.
Best,
Kay
With lunch of bagels and lox there was 2013 Eminence Road Rose of Cabernet Franc which is a great match for most anything. Spritzy, orange-pink with raspberry, melon rind and a slate tinged finish. 93 pts. (low score because the wine is sold out). It was hot out and we drained the bottle like a pros before heading off into the woods in search of mushrooms. Despite having a very good rain a few days prior we only managed a hand full of chanterelles along with a small bolete of indeterminate identity.
Back on the farm we grilled a chicken, picked peas and raspberries and drank well starting with Drappier Brut Nature Sans Soufre, a non-dosage, hundred percent pinot noir Champagne. This is very fine wine, refreshing with great intensity and though it is absolutely dry there is no lack of richness. It's sort of like a refined, very classy bottle of pet-nat. Sharon says drink up soon with this bottling. 95 pts. (the extra point is for bubbles, Jayson).
2013 Kelley Fox Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir from Oregon, which is actually pronounced "organ." Earthy and floral with a bit of tar, sweet fruit, a gentle grip and a chalky finish. Quite lovely to drink right now. 93 pts. (Would have been 94 but for the screwcap. Sorry, Kelley, we are staunch luddites).
1996 Savary Chablis Vieilles Vignes, purchased on release, lovingly stored, etc. The cork is affected by the dreaded blue stain. We begin to speculate wildly: pre-mox, post-mox, oxidation of every kind is considered. With much trepidation Jennifer braves a first sip. It's fine. But not much more. It has hardly budged from what it was when Clinton was in office. What's the fucking point of aging these things if nothings going to happen? Not a huge aroma but seamless in the mouth. Edges are rounding a bit, a little lactic richness, not quite nutty, but really I would expect more evolution from a twenty-year-old bottle of chardonnay. Still young and chewy with decent length. 93 pts.
Desperate to impress, we dig deep in the cellar and come up with 2002 Domaine de la Senechaliere, Abouriou. That's right, it's red Muscadet from Marc Pesnot. Amazingly this wine is still alive and, much like the Chablis that preceded it, quite a lot like it was on release. Pretty strawberry fruit and while your expecting lightness there is good weight on the palate. Earthy and delicious. Really surprised it is alive and well. Have to seek out the current release. 94 pts.
A fun day and overall a pretty successful summer jeebus.
Best,
Kay
