Florida Jim
Florida Jim
2004 Chateau Bellevue la Fort, Ctes du Frontonnais:
Smells like a somewhat funky Rhne syrah mixed with red grapes, raspberries and dark cherries; tastes similar with a chalky/stony note, grip, medium weight, some complexity and intensity; medium length, slightly sour finish. This is made from the ngrette grape (possibly blended with cabernet sauvignon, syrah and/or gamay) from an AOC in the SW of France south of Cahors. I like this for its nuance, openness, composure, lack of any wood smells or flavors and affinity for food. 12.5% alcohol, about $11, and imported by Wine Traditions of Falls Church, VA. Not for aging IMO, so I look forward to the incoming 2005 vintage.
2005 Pieropan, Soave Calvarino:
The smell of desert sandstone on a cold morning, the inside of freshly peeled pineapple skin, cream soda, pine needles, something vaguely floral the nose is fascinating and a joy to behold; strongly flavored but of whole cloth in the mouth, flavors that tend toward the elements of the nose but dont repeat them, concentration without weight or cloying viscosity, focused with a compact sense to its overall delivery but still discrete, complex and bright on the palate, real depth; surging length that seem to reprise itself again and again. Obviously, has a shelf life. All garganega based wines should be measured against this one. At its $24 retail price, as good a QPR wine as this planet produces.
2007 Edmunds St. John, Bone Jolly Gamay Witters Vineyard:
Fresh cherry and stone scents, expansive; bright, full fruit flavors with fine mineral and spice accents, lovely balance, silky texture and a full flavored, medium length finish. Life affirming, lively and so worth every penny of its $16 retail price.
2005 Alesia, Syrah Fairview Ranch:
Smells of baked dark fruit and creosote, some earth and herb tones; rich and full bodied in the mouth with brooding syrah fruit flavors, some tar and Bakers chocolate, quite concentrated and fairly long. I have found a creosote element in other syrahs but not to this degree not a bad thing, but very unusual. 14.25% alcohol which was not noticeable. I suspect this has a long life ahead of it and may, at some point, veer in the direction of an aged Cornas.
1995 della Palazzola, Rubino:
If I recall correctly, 80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot from Umbria; I am no fan of the wines of Roberto Cotarella but this is unusual right now, its too young, too closed and too tannic. Given another decade or more in bottle, I suspect this will be the rival of any of the very best Super-Tuscans. The aromatics are all about cabernet, including its herbaceous side, but there is also a stony, baked-earth component; a worsted texture in the mouth as the grip rules but also complex, fresh, and full of fruit the question is, will the fruit live as long as the tannin; decent length but drying. What is not evident until one has a glass or two is the depth and dimension of this wine it is vigorous, faceted and seems to deliver itself in layers, each more intriguing then the last. In what was a hard and tannic year, this wine seems to have more going for it than many of the other Umbrian wines of its vintage. We shall see. $30, on release.
Best, Jim
Smells like a somewhat funky Rhne syrah mixed with red grapes, raspberries and dark cherries; tastes similar with a chalky/stony note, grip, medium weight, some complexity and intensity; medium length, slightly sour finish. This is made from the ngrette grape (possibly blended with cabernet sauvignon, syrah and/or gamay) from an AOC in the SW of France south of Cahors. I like this for its nuance, openness, composure, lack of any wood smells or flavors and affinity for food. 12.5% alcohol, about $11, and imported by Wine Traditions of Falls Church, VA. Not for aging IMO, so I look forward to the incoming 2005 vintage.
2005 Pieropan, Soave Calvarino:
The smell of desert sandstone on a cold morning, the inside of freshly peeled pineapple skin, cream soda, pine needles, something vaguely floral the nose is fascinating and a joy to behold; strongly flavored but of whole cloth in the mouth, flavors that tend toward the elements of the nose but dont repeat them, concentration without weight or cloying viscosity, focused with a compact sense to its overall delivery but still discrete, complex and bright on the palate, real depth; surging length that seem to reprise itself again and again. Obviously, has a shelf life. All garganega based wines should be measured against this one. At its $24 retail price, as good a QPR wine as this planet produces.
2007 Edmunds St. John, Bone Jolly Gamay Witters Vineyard:
Fresh cherry and stone scents, expansive; bright, full fruit flavors with fine mineral and spice accents, lovely balance, silky texture and a full flavored, medium length finish. Life affirming, lively and so worth every penny of its $16 retail price.
2005 Alesia, Syrah Fairview Ranch:
Smells of baked dark fruit and creosote, some earth and herb tones; rich and full bodied in the mouth with brooding syrah fruit flavors, some tar and Bakers chocolate, quite concentrated and fairly long. I have found a creosote element in other syrahs but not to this degree not a bad thing, but very unusual. 14.25% alcohol which was not noticeable. I suspect this has a long life ahead of it and may, at some point, veer in the direction of an aged Cornas.
1995 della Palazzola, Rubino:
If I recall correctly, 80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot from Umbria; I am no fan of the wines of Roberto Cotarella but this is unusual right now, its too young, too closed and too tannic. Given another decade or more in bottle, I suspect this will be the rival of any of the very best Super-Tuscans. The aromatics are all about cabernet, including its herbaceous side, but there is also a stony, baked-earth component; a worsted texture in the mouth as the grip rules but also complex, fresh, and full of fruit the question is, will the fruit live as long as the tannin; decent length but drying. What is not evident until one has a glass or two is the depth and dimension of this wine it is vigorous, faceted and seems to deliver itself in layers, each more intriguing then the last. In what was a hard and tannic year, this wine seems to have more going for it than many of the other Umbrian wines of its vintage. We shall see. $30, on release.
Best, Jim