OK, I gotta admit - even with this crew I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this is one week's worth of wine for the Mme and I. And it doesn't even feel that wine soaked. Do note several of the bottles are mostly full.
Up on Lopez Island for two weeks. Ridiculously nice. Kayaking, biking, Patrick O'Brian, Robert Macfarlane, fantastic local farm produce/bread/etc..
95 Chateau du Val D'or - somewhat indifferent Bordeaux, at least not very oaked. Definitely did not seem 25 y.o., I'd bet badge engineered.
16 A and M Quenard "Les Abymes" - really does taste a bit like an Alpine stream, somehow seemed to weather its plastique cork.
07 Grand Nicolet Rasteau VV - JLL proclaims this STGT; I proclaim it muddled, disturbing, heavy, etc. Nearly undrinkable. I remember the '00 vintage, which supposedly was the "ripe" vintage - but it was never like this. This is more Australian than anything.
17 J. Reverdy Sancerre "La Reine Blanches". Pretty good, some weight, yet crisp, pleasant on the beach.
14 Haut Medoc de Beychevelle. The horror. Undrinkable. I was lulled by happy memories of the Cordier era, but oh, no. No. Horrors, CENSORED wine, seemingly double oaked, ugh. DNPIM. Deeply, sadly, disturbing.
98 Druet Bourgeuil Grand Mont. This, on the other hand, has a bit of faerie dust, perfect for Lopez. There were two big Druet post-bankruptcy purchases by KL - the wine from purchase one ran from tingly to sublime, purchase two, disappointing to deeply disappointing. Thankfully, we still had a couple bottles of the former. This was more in the tingly category, but still...
97 Raspail-Ay Gigondas. I have previously waxed about this wine, this bottle unfortunately muddied by the drive up and unmitigated by my lack of patience, opened night one. Patience, Luke.
07 Mourgues des Gres "Les Galets Rouges" Another 07 hot stewed mess, again drive-muddied, and not that great to start with. This is the wine that made me think, I have never had an 07 S. French wine I've come close to liking.
96 Taluau St.NeB VV Last of many various vintages...these were all delish, and yet so very correct. It would have been nice to see what they would have been like with a bit of wild hair on.
09 Clos des Briords from mag This has been kicking around the locker and it was just time. Delightful aperitif over several days. The 09 richness came through which worked great, balanced with the Atlantic salinity that drives this wine. From another era, made me think of Marc, Joe, and Joe.
09 Brun Morgon Still a little muddied from trip unfortunately, plus I don't think decanting helped this. A bit plummy. Previous bottle of this was pretty terrific.
17 Lavantaraux Chablis. From a local shop, all the breeding was there, but this shop gets hot and I think this stood up for two summers, not helpful, a dryish cork. You make do.
98 Font-Sane Gigondas. Definitely OTH, starting to madeirize, but did well in the stew with local lamb.
99 Druet Chinon Clos des Lanzay part of tranche 2, worst of it, went into same lamb stew, somehow two wines together = something good.
17 Collotte Bourgogne Rouge "Cuvee des Nobles Souches" From local organic grocery story, really terrific and pure. I'm a big fan of Collotte and this confirmed it. No pretence, no oak, just nice, simple, pure.
17 Pascal Aufranc Chenas "Vignes des 1939" We have probably had a dozen vintages of this, always a super value. A bit blocky, but cru pure.
18 Bernier Chardonnay You see this pop up everywhere, it's a Loire Chardonnay, super cheap, and hey! it's ok.
Bless you all and I encourage you all to figure out a way to take a break. It's hell out there.
Up on Lopez Island for two weeks. Ridiculously nice. Kayaking, biking, Patrick O'Brian, Robert Macfarlane, fantastic local farm produce/bread/etc..
16 A and M Quenard "Les Abymes" - really does taste a bit like an Alpine stream, somehow seemed to weather its plastique cork.
07 Grand Nicolet Rasteau VV - JLL proclaims this STGT; I proclaim it muddled, disturbing, heavy, etc. Nearly undrinkable. I remember the '00 vintage, which supposedly was the "ripe" vintage - but it was never like this. This is more Australian than anything.
17 J. Reverdy Sancerre "La Reine Blanches". Pretty good, some weight, yet crisp, pleasant on the beach.
14 Haut Medoc de Beychevelle. The horror. Undrinkable. I was lulled by happy memories of the Cordier era, but oh, no. No. Horrors, CENSORED wine, seemingly double oaked, ugh. DNPIM. Deeply, sadly, disturbing.
98 Druet Bourgeuil Grand Mont. This, on the other hand, has a bit of faerie dust, perfect for Lopez. There were two big Druet post-bankruptcy purchases by KL - the wine from purchase one ran from tingly to sublime, purchase two, disappointing to deeply disappointing. Thankfully, we still had a couple bottles of the former. This was more in the tingly category, but still...
97 Raspail-Ay Gigondas. I have previously waxed about this wine, this bottle unfortunately muddied by the drive up and unmitigated by my lack of patience, opened night one. Patience, Luke.
07 Mourgues des Gres "Les Galets Rouges" Another 07 hot stewed mess, again drive-muddied, and not that great to start with. This is the wine that made me think, I have never had an 07 S. French wine I've come close to liking.
96 Taluau St.NeB VV Last of many various vintages...these were all delish, and yet so very correct. It would have been nice to see what they would have been like with a bit of wild hair on.
09 Clos des Briords from mag This has been kicking around the locker and it was just time. Delightful aperitif over several days. The 09 richness came through which worked great, balanced with the Atlantic salinity that drives this wine. From another era, made me think of Marc, Joe, and Joe.
09 Brun Morgon Still a little muddied from trip unfortunately, plus I don't think decanting helped this. A bit plummy. Previous bottle of this was pretty terrific.
17 Lavantaraux Chablis. From a local shop, all the breeding was there, but this shop gets hot and I think this stood up for two summers, not helpful, a dryish cork. You make do.
98 Font-Sane Gigondas. Definitely OTH, starting to madeirize, but did well in the stew with local lamb.
99 Druet Chinon Clos des Lanzay part of tranche 2, worst of it, went into same lamb stew, somehow two wines together = something good.
17 Collotte Bourgogne Rouge "Cuvee des Nobles Souches" From local organic grocery story, really terrific and pure. I'm a big fan of Collotte and this confirmed it. No pretence, no oak, just nice, simple, pure.
17 Pascal Aufranc Chenas "Vignes des 1939" We have probably had a dozen vintages of this, always a super value. A bit blocky, but cru pure.
18 Bernier Chardonnay You see this pop up everywhere, it's a Loire Chardonnay, super cheap, and hey! it's ok.
Bless you all and I encourage you all to figure out a way to take a break. It's hell out there.
