TN: Recent drinks (August 2019)

[Jeff Grossman]

At a shop:
Railsback Soeur 2018 Vermentinu, Cuvee Speciale - excellent, fresh, just a hint of yellow fruit, did Steve make this?
Division-Villages 2018 "Beton" Oregon Red - half cab franc with the rest being gamay/malbec/pinot noir, this is a pseudo-Touraine mix, also bright and lightweight, very gulpable
Bow & Arrow 2017 "Air Guitar" - cab and cab, this is a Loire homage blend, and the best wine on the table: it's still gouleyant but there's a bit of extra earth and gravity coming from the cab sauvignon
Stolpman Vineyards 2017 Para Maria - syrah and petit verdot, medium-weight but kinda inert

At a backyard bbq:
South African chenin, North Fork riesling, two random Sauvignon Blancs... - cold drinks on a sunny afternoon, I was munching potato chips
A La Tache 2007 St-Joseph "Cuvee Badel" - pretty, showing nicely aged flavors of sous-bois and plum (but it was over-matched by double-thick lamb loin chops and strip steaks, and especially the home-made Madame Jeanette sauce)
COS 2015 Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico - great funk early in the nose, then indeed very cherry but also suave and vigorous, I think this was the favorite on the deck
Jordan 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon - well-polished and well-bred (but it does better with a white tablecloth than a greasy spatula)

At home:
Pepiere, Dom. de la 2017 Muscadet "Clos des Briords", Cuvee VV - it's perfect Muscadet, that's all there is to say
Pagliarese 2016 Chianti Classico - a cuvee bottling by Felsina this shows the style and carriage of the great 2016 vintage: good acids, middling fruit, and intense minerality, and a good QPR wine too; a bit fuller on the second day
Pascal Henriot 2017 Coteaux de Champlitte - even more closed down than the last bottle, c'est la vie

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
At a backyard bbq:
South African chenin, North Fork riesling, two random Sauvignon Blancs... - cold drinks on a sunny afternoon, I was munching potato chips

My sister-in-law picks up cases/half-cases of random cheap whites just for this purpose. A waste of calories, really, but the price is right.

 

[Steve Edmunds]

I love what those Oregon guys are up to

 

[slaton]

I haven't had the full lineup, but I dig that Bow & Arrow "Air Guitar".

If I'm correctly remembering a conversation with Dana last year at Bar Norman, the wines of Clos Roche Blanche are a prime inspiration behind B&A. I believe brother Kirk has more direct knowledge, though.

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by slaton:
I believe brother Kirk has more direct knowledge, though.

Fellow inmate Disorderly Scott Frank certainly should.

 

[slaton]

Ha, I didn't realize he was a poster here.

 

[Arjun Mendiratta]

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Railsback Soeur 2018 Vermentinu, Cuvee Speciale - excellent, fresh, just a hint of yellow fruit, did Steve make this?

Picked this up based on the label and the use of the 'vermentinu' spelling, and yes, what a great bottle of wine! Fresh, interesting, great with or without food, and $18 if I recall correctly.

 

[fillay]

originally posted by Arjun Mendiratta:

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Railsback Soeur 2018 Vermentinu, Cuvee Speciale - excellent, fresh, just a hint of yellow fruit, did Steve make this?

Picked this up based on the label and the use of the 'vermentinu' spelling, and yes, what a great bottle of wine! Fresh, interesting, great with or without food, and $18 if I recall correctly.

Fun fact: the "Railsback Soeur" in question is my friend Emily Railsback, sister to winemaker Eric Railsback (of Lieu Dit), and director of the wonderful documentary about Georgian wine Our Blood is Wine.