2002 Coudert Fleurie Clos de la Roilette Cuve Tardive - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Fleurie (1/1/2009)
Damnation! I called up a bottle of the regular from Chelsea, and they sent the Tardive; and I didn't catch it until after pulling the cork. D'oh! I had a bottle of this in the realm of recently, and it was completely closed. Mercifully, this has begun to open. The aromatics are beautiful: still primary but opening up to show what it has. The palate on the other hand still has aways to go. Maybe just a touch of brett in this one, but not much. I look forward to this one in three or four years, if I can manage to keep my hands off the few I have left.
2005 Domaine Guion Bourgueil Cuve Prestige - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil (12/30/2008)
Really nice stuff, in a lighter style than the other usual suspects in the same neighborhood. Wish I could have loaded up when they were giving the stuff away.
2001 Sella Lessona - Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Lessona (12/28/2008)
Still very, very nice, this doesn't seem to have a whole lot more to give. It's developing really fast. Is it the Croatina in the blend? It seems weird to me for Nebbiolo-based wine to move so quickly. No danger of its falling apart immediately or anything, but I plan to drink up in the next year or three.
2002 Franois Chidaine Vouvray Clos Baudoin - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray (12/28/2008)
Arrrghh, here's another 2002 showing oxidized with caramel notes. The Muscadet that came in the same stash from the west coast has been consistently fantastic.
2007 Jean Foillard Morgon Cuve Corcelette - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon (12/28/2008)
While this didn't wow me, it was open and expressive, showing a sneaky concentration that kicked in on the finish, black cherries with a touch of olive. This seems broadly similar to last year's Cotes de Py, and, if so, I expect it has gears it isn't showing at this point.
2006 Pierre Gonon St. Joseph - France, Rhne, Northern Rhne, St. Joseph (12/25/2008)
Fantastic stuff. Fully ripe, big, and intense. It needs some air to come together at this point. When first opened, it tasted like it has seen considerable oak -- stems? In any event, it's a beauty once it has a chance to open up.
2007 Von Hvel Oberemmeler Htte Riesling Sptlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (12/24/2008)
Pretty sharp, not too austere, but intensely mineral. Not as transparent as I had hoped.
2007 Weingut Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel Riesling Sptlese - Germany, Rheinhessen (12/24/2008)
Not quite sure what to make of this one. It was a bit reticent. The aromatics were nice -- it smelled like a fresh apple orchard -- but the palate didn't give up much at this stage. It seemed to be right down the middle in terms of style, perhaps tending towards the restrained side of the spectrum.
2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett #2 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (12/24/2008)
Beautiful aromatics but as with a few other recent 2007ers, the palate was not showing much.
2006 Domaine Etxegaraya Iroulguy Cuve Lehengoa - France, Southwest France, Pays Basque, Iroulguy (12/14/2008)
Very, very nice. Still showing some puppy fat.
Damnation! I called up a bottle of the regular from Chelsea, and they sent the Tardive; and I didn't catch it until after pulling the cork. D'oh! I had a bottle of this in the realm of recently, and it was completely closed. Mercifully, this has begun to open. The aromatics are beautiful: still primary but opening up to show what it has. The palate on the other hand still has aways to go. Maybe just a touch of brett in this one, but not much. I look forward to this one in three or four years, if I can manage to keep my hands off the few I have left.
2005 Domaine Guion Bourgueil Cuve Prestige - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil (12/30/2008)
Really nice stuff, in a lighter style than the other usual suspects in the same neighborhood. Wish I could have loaded up when they were giving the stuff away.
2001 Sella Lessona - Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Lessona (12/28/2008)
Still very, very nice, this doesn't seem to have a whole lot more to give. It's developing really fast. Is it the Croatina in the blend? It seems weird to me for Nebbiolo-based wine to move so quickly. No danger of its falling apart immediately or anything, but I plan to drink up in the next year or three.
2002 Franois Chidaine Vouvray Clos Baudoin - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray (12/28/2008)
Arrrghh, here's another 2002 showing oxidized with caramel notes. The Muscadet that came in the same stash from the west coast has been consistently fantastic.
2007 Jean Foillard Morgon Cuve Corcelette - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon (12/28/2008)
While this didn't wow me, it was open and expressive, showing a sneaky concentration that kicked in on the finish, black cherries with a touch of olive. This seems broadly similar to last year's Cotes de Py, and, if so, I expect it has gears it isn't showing at this point.
2006 Pierre Gonon St. Joseph - France, Rhne, Northern Rhne, St. Joseph (12/25/2008)
Fantastic stuff. Fully ripe, big, and intense. It needs some air to come together at this point. When first opened, it tasted like it has seen considerable oak -- stems? In any event, it's a beauty once it has a chance to open up.
2007 Von Hvel Oberemmeler Htte Riesling Sptlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (12/24/2008)
Pretty sharp, not too austere, but intensely mineral. Not as transparent as I had hoped.
2007 Weingut Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel Riesling Sptlese - Germany, Rheinhessen (12/24/2008)
Not quite sure what to make of this one. It was a bit reticent. The aromatics were nice -- it smelled like a fresh apple orchard -- but the palate didn't give up much at this stage. It seemed to be right down the middle in terms of style, perhaps tending towards the restrained side of the spectrum.
2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett #2 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (12/24/2008)
Beautiful aromatics but as with a few other recent 2007ers, the palate was not showing much.
2006 Domaine Etxegaraya Iroulguy Cuve Lehengoa - France, Southwest France, Pays Basque, Iroulguy (12/14/2008)
Very, very nice. Still showing some puppy fat.