We opened the 2006 Lenoir Chinon Les Roches and the ‘06 Breton Bourgueil Les Perrieres this week and both seem to be entering a nice drinking window. With a little air both are expressive. The Lenoir is very enjoyable, old school Chinon, a mix of red fruits, some old wood and stem spice, a little green pyrazine, and refreshing acidity. There is plenty of tannin and structure and this will drink well for a good while. The Breton Perrieres was really lovely. The nose was also expressive, and the structure of this was more polished then the Lenoir. Opens and gets better with air. This also has fine balance and should age for a long time, but really enjoyable now if you want to open it.
Both were clean without any brett. I have had a couple of 2002 Breton Clos Senechal recently that unfortunately had a some Brett with the clove spice, which is a shame because that year’s Clos Senechal is a beauty, under 11% abv with nicely ripe fruit. The 06 Perrieres is a grand wine, I think it shows it’s fabulous terroir.
The 2013 Sizzano Monsecco is a Rosenthal import, 60% Nebbiolo and the rest a blend of Uva Rara and Vespolina. It has a gorgeous nose of dark cherry and Lincoln Rose petals. The tannins are quite present and drying, and I am going to wait a while before opening any more of these, but it seems very promising.
Last night we opened the 2012 Ceritas Porter Bass Chardonnay and it was also drinking very well. Slim yellow fruits and gorgeously textured, with body but not excessively weighty. I’ve always favored the Charles Heintz Chardonnay from these guys as the acids are a bit brighter in the Heintz, but this Porter Bass at age seven was very convincing. Any wood these showed earlier seems to have integrated.
For BJ, I saw a small flock of Barrow’s goldeneyes yesterday paddling in B‘ham bay. Made me think of you and Madame!
Both were clean without any brett. I have had a couple of 2002 Breton Clos Senechal recently that unfortunately had a some Brett with the clove spice, which is a shame because that year’s Clos Senechal is a beauty, under 11% abv with nicely ripe fruit. The 06 Perrieres is a grand wine, I think it shows it’s fabulous terroir.
The 2013 Sizzano Monsecco is a Rosenthal import, 60% Nebbiolo and the rest a blend of Uva Rara and Vespolina. It has a gorgeous nose of dark cherry and Lincoln Rose petals. The tannins are quite present and drying, and I am going to wait a while before opening any more of these, but it seems very promising.
Last night we opened the 2012 Ceritas Porter Bass Chardonnay and it was also drinking very well. Slim yellow fruits and gorgeously textured, with body but not excessively weighty. I’ve always favored the Charles Heintz Chardonnay from these guys as the acids are a bit brighter in the Heintz, but this Porter Bass at age seven was very convincing. Any wood these showed earlier seems to have integrated.
For BJ, I saw a small flock of Barrow’s goldeneyes yesterday paddling in B‘ham bay. Made me think of you and Madame!