Florida Jim
Florida Jim
Wine Impressions - 8-2-18
Bubbles:
2008 R. H. Coutier, Champagne - showing its age but without oxidation; more depth and nuance than I’m used to and more character. A delight.
Whites:
2013 Casa Dumetz, Gewurztraminer - a variety that seldom makes me happy . . . except this one; fresh, aromatic and deep but also lifted in the mouth. The last bottle in a case and I am sorry to see these go. This wine turned me around on this grape. ‘Little gem hidden away in Los Alamos.
2016 Saladini Pilastri, Pecorino - over several months bottles of this have become more open, richer in texture and deeper in flavor. Enough cut, some future but also attractive now in an oily, full bodied way.
2016 Louis Michel, Butteaux - still disjointed and atypical of Butteaux; lots of bottom end, fleshy, concentrated, stones and mango and without the austerity of other 2016 1er’s. Hold. On day two it gains cut but loses elegance; needs bottle age.
2002 Huet, Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec - honeycomb, pink grapefruit, warm stones with strong acids, little impression of RS and full body. No oxidation evident (and previous bottles made me expect it). After airing, this becomes very complete and balanced yet retains its volume in the mouth.
2016 Arnot-Roberts, Old Vine White Wine - some Sylvaner, some Riesling, some unknown whites; quite acidic but with good varietal character. Not my deal today but shows promise. Five days later this is utterly beautiful. It’s of whole cloth and lost its varietal signature; the acids have become suave; the unknown grapes have added nuance. This is a wine to lay down - maybe even long term. Perplexing today but the upside is impressive.
Roses:
2015 Cowan Cellars, Jack’s Rose - more like Trousseaux than Rose; a light red with character, nuance and real depth. Easy to drink and shows no signs of deterioration despite its age. The shit, as far I’m concerned.
2014 Idlewild, Grenache Gris - an off bottle; sort of cherry juice meets Jolly Rancher - I’ve had this wine often and this is an anomaly.
Red:
1999 Dom. Michel Lafarge, Volnay 1er Cru - still firm and grippy but now showing Volnay on the nose although Pommard in the mouth. More expressive with rare steak - needs time. But for the first time a bottle of this makes me believe that balance is achievable - for several years, I did not. Quite a mouthful.
1976 Mount Veeder Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon - pretty sure this is corked but whatever, it’s not good.
1986 Podere is Palazzino, Gross Sanese - raisin juice.
2005 Produttori del Barbaresco, Barbaresco - while the aromatics suggest this wine has mellowed and morphed, in the mouth its raw, tannic, undeveloped and my suggestion is that you have it with raw wild boar. Worse, I don’t see anything here that gives me hope for the future. But I could be wrong.
2015 Cowan Cellars, Syrah Bennett Valley - 100% whole cluster, wild yeast and showing the structure and high tones you’d expect. With air, develops into a nice glass, albeit young. Lots of time here . . .
2010 Tormaresca, Neprica - some negromano, some cab, some primitivo; soft nose, easy drinking berry/plum flavors but there’s oak that sticks out. It’s simple and oaky but not without appeal.
2004 Clape, Cornas - high toned Syrah fruit with a little ash and meat tossed in, medium weight and smoothly textured, some structure, decent finish. A wine that doesn’t appear to be one that will make old bones but a good glass with dinner.
2007 Vieux-Telegraph, CdP - saline, meaty and effusive nose; plenty of nuance and a slight saltiness to deep fruit flavors, concentrated, intense and harmonious; savory; a long and intricate finish. This is at peak and a joy to drink. Great wine.
Best, jim
Bubbles:
2008 R. H. Coutier, Champagne - showing its age but without oxidation; more depth and nuance than I’m used to and more character. A delight.
Whites:
2013 Casa Dumetz, Gewurztraminer - a variety that seldom makes me happy . . . except this one; fresh, aromatic and deep but also lifted in the mouth. The last bottle in a case and I am sorry to see these go. This wine turned me around on this grape. ‘Little gem hidden away in Los Alamos.
2016 Saladini Pilastri, Pecorino - over several months bottles of this have become more open, richer in texture and deeper in flavor. Enough cut, some future but also attractive now in an oily, full bodied way.
2016 Louis Michel, Butteaux - still disjointed and atypical of Butteaux; lots of bottom end, fleshy, concentrated, stones and mango and without the austerity of other 2016 1er’s. Hold. On day two it gains cut but loses elegance; needs bottle age.
2002 Huet, Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec - honeycomb, pink grapefruit, warm stones with strong acids, little impression of RS and full body. No oxidation evident (and previous bottles made me expect it). After airing, this becomes very complete and balanced yet retains its volume in the mouth.
2016 Arnot-Roberts, Old Vine White Wine - some Sylvaner, some Riesling, some unknown whites; quite acidic but with good varietal character. Not my deal today but shows promise. Five days later this is utterly beautiful. It’s of whole cloth and lost its varietal signature; the acids have become suave; the unknown grapes have added nuance. This is a wine to lay down - maybe even long term. Perplexing today but the upside is impressive.
Roses:
2015 Cowan Cellars, Jack’s Rose - more like Trousseaux than Rose; a light red with character, nuance and real depth. Easy to drink and shows no signs of deterioration despite its age. The shit, as far I’m concerned.
2014 Idlewild, Grenache Gris - an off bottle; sort of cherry juice meets Jolly Rancher - I’ve had this wine often and this is an anomaly.
Red:
1999 Dom. Michel Lafarge, Volnay 1er Cru - still firm and grippy but now showing Volnay on the nose although Pommard in the mouth. More expressive with rare steak - needs time. But for the first time a bottle of this makes me believe that balance is achievable - for several years, I did not. Quite a mouthful.
1976 Mount Veeder Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon - pretty sure this is corked but whatever, it’s not good.
1986 Podere is Palazzino, Gross Sanese - raisin juice.
2005 Produttori del Barbaresco, Barbaresco - while the aromatics suggest this wine has mellowed and morphed, in the mouth its raw, tannic, undeveloped and my suggestion is that you have it with raw wild boar. Worse, I don’t see anything here that gives me hope for the future. But I could be wrong.
2015 Cowan Cellars, Syrah Bennett Valley - 100% whole cluster, wild yeast and showing the structure and high tones you’d expect. With air, develops into a nice glass, albeit young. Lots of time here . . .
2010 Tormaresca, Neprica - some negromano, some cab, some primitivo; soft nose, easy drinking berry/plum flavors but there’s oak that sticks out. It’s simple and oaky but not without appeal.
2004 Clape, Cornas - high toned Syrah fruit with a little ash and meat tossed in, medium weight and smoothly textured, some structure, decent finish. A wine that doesn’t appear to be one that will make old bones but a good glass with dinner.
2007 Vieux-Telegraph, CdP - saline, meaty and effusive nose; plenty of nuance and a slight saltiness to deep fruit flavors, concentrated, intense and harmonious; savory; a long and intricate finish. This is at peak and a joy to drink. Great wine.
Best, jim