A lot of usual suspects with a few curveballs thrown in.
2016 Weingut O. Trarbacher Ungsberg Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (8/13/2020)
Juicy and fresh tree fruits like pear buttressed by rocks and stones. A bit of citrus zest. Lively and tangy with a subtle ginger-type root (but not exactly ginger) quality. I've really enjoyed all of these wines from this Weingut. (91 points)
2009 Ch“teau des Tours Côtes du Rhône - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (8/14/2020)
This bottle was a leaker so we decided to open it up the week we got it. Heady aromas of macerated plums and cherries laced with spices like cloves, etc. A little rough around the edges but does give you a sense of the Rayas house style. Steph found it a bit alcoholic for her tastes but I didn't mind that as much. It's too bad these are so expensive and hard to com e by. This was a recent release, FWIW. (91 points)
2015 Henri Prudhon & Fils Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Sur Le Sentier Du Clou - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru (8/15/2020)
Consistent with previous bottles. Showing that musky, flinty yellow fruit. Maybe a bit of honeysuckle this time. Good density. (92 points)
2018 Domaine Larue Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Sous Roche Dumay - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru (8/15/2020)
A new wine to me but I wanted something to compare all the Prudhon with so that I don't get too walled off in my St. Aubin appreciation. This seemed bigger with a slight hint of pineapple (more the sour-ish part) but not actually tropical. I have no idea if this is how these wines normally show. Perfectly fine, but I don't think it's in the same class is the Prudhon but something I'd try again if it was in front of me at a good price. (90 points)
2016 Azienda Agricola Caparsa Chianti Classico Caparsino Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (8/16/2020)
OK, now this is more like it. A bottle opened a few days before was corked. There is something slightly different in the texture of the latest releases, a little less of the rusticity and coarse texture but without losing its sense of place and soul. Speaking with the importer, the only change has been that the son has returned to the estate to help out and that makes a lot of sense. An extra pair of hands at a small, artisanal estate can make a ton of difference. Deep red and black fruits with savory herbs, leather and a mineral earth. Looking forward to following this wine for years to come. (92 points)
2018 Domaine des Ardoisières Vin des Allobroges Argile Blanc - France, Savoie, Vin des Allobroges (8/16/2020)
A step up from the Silice in terms of density and palate presence but it shares the Alpine meadow floral quality. Light a bright Spring late morning hike kicking up dew. Long rock and mineral finish that scrapes the lingering fruit form the palate. According to the interwebs, this is a blend of Chardonnay, Jacquère and Mondeuse blanche (!!). I think that this may become part of the regular rotation. (91 points)
2017 Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese feinherb #23 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (8/17/2020)
This bottle was consistent with previous bottles but with maybe even a shade more density on the mineral finish. The mouthwatering quality of the acidity makes any sweetness invisible. I wonder if I'll be able to let any of these age. I thought I remembered that the Webers expect you to drink these in the first 10 years which makes sense to me given how awesome they are already. (93 points)
2012 Cappellano Barolo Piè Rupestris Otin Fiorin (Gabutti) - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (8/18/2020)
Really fine, pretty rose scented cherry fruit, as you'd expect. What was interesting is that it was light and pretty but with a tensile strength. Other herbs and earthier notes emerge but the structure never really releases before we finish the bottle. What makes it so interesting is that I don't think the structure makes it less enjoyable now, in fact, it's aprt of the appeal and because of the shape of the wine, I would worry that as soon as that structure starts to fall, the wine may start to come unglued. It's a bit odd that these wines have become so popular as they're such characterful, and not archetypal, expressions of Barolo. (92 points)
2013 Domaine de la Bongran (Thevenet) Viré-Clessé Cuvée E. J. Thevenet - France, Burgundy, M“connais, Viré-Clessé (8/19/2020)
Such a kinky, funky version of Chardonnay. You have to like the effect of some botrytis which I do (and SFJoe notoriously hated). I can't think of a wine that works better with soft ripened cheeses. (91 points)
2018 Tiberio Pecorino - Italy, Abruzzi, Colline Pescaresi IGT (8/20/2020)
Consistent with previous bottles. It was experience with this wine has really caused me to seek out and try as many Pecorino as possible. I've found that this one sits right in the middle of the fruit, mineral, earthy/herbal triangle. (91 points)
2016 Weingut O. Trarbacher Ungsberg Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (8/13/2020)
Juicy and fresh tree fruits like pear buttressed by rocks and stones. A bit of citrus zest. Lively and tangy with a subtle ginger-type root (but not exactly ginger) quality. I've really enjoyed all of these wines from this Weingut. (91 points)
2009 Ch“teau des Tours Côtes du Rhône - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (8/14/2020)
This bottle was a leaker so we decided to open it up the week we got it. Heady aromas of macerated plums and cherries laced with spices like cloves, etc. A little rough around the edges but does give you a sense of the Rayas house style. Steph found it a bit alcoholic for her tastes but I didn't mind that as much. It's too bad these are so expensive and hard to com e by. This was a recent release, FWIW. (91 points)
2015 Henri Prudhon & Fils Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Sur Le Sentier Du Clou - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru (8/15/2020)
Consistent with previous bottles. Showing that musky, flinty yellow fruit. Maybe a bit of honeysuckle this time. Good density. (92 points)
2018 Domaine Larue Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Sous Roche Dumay - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru (8/15/2020)
A new wine to me but I wanted something to compare all the Prudhon with so that I don't get too walled off in my St. Aubin appreciation. This seemed bigger with a slight hint of pineapple (more the sour-ish part) but not actually tropical. I have no idea if this is how these wines normally show. Perfectly fine, but I don't think it's in the same class is the Prudhon but something I'd try again if it was in front of me at a good price. (90 points)
2016 Azienda Agricola Caparsa Chianti Classico Caparsino Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (8/16/2020)
OK, now this is more like it. A bottle opened a few days before was corked. There is something slightly different in the texture of the latest releases, a little less of the rusticity and coarse texture but without losing its sense of place and soul. Speaking with the importer, the only change has been that the son has returned to the estate to help out and that makes a lot of sense. An extra pair of hands at a small, artisanal estate can make a ton of difference. Deep red and black fruits with savory herbs, leather and a mineral earth. Looking forward to following this wine for years to come. (92 points)
2018 Domaine des Ardoisières Vin des Allobroges Argile Blanc - France, Savoie, Vin des Allobroges (8/16/2020)
A step up from the Silice in terms of density and palate presence but it shares the Alpine meadow floral quality. Light a bright Spring late morning hike kicking up dew. Long rock and mineral finish that scrapes the lingering fruit form the palate. According to the interwebs, this is a blend of Chardonnay, Jacquère and Mondeuse blanche (!!). I think that this may become part of the regular rotation. (91 points)
2017 Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese feinherb #23 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (8/17/2020)
This bottle was consistent with previous bottles but with maybe even a shade more density on the mineral finish. The mouthwatering quality of the acidity makes any sweetness invisible. I wonder if I'll be able to let any of these age. I thought I remembered that the Webers expect you to drink these in the first 10 years which makes sense to me given how awesome they are already. (93 points)
2012 Cappellano Barolo Piè Rupestris Otin Fiorin (Gabutti) - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (8/18/2020)
Really fine, pretty rose scented cherry fruit, as you'd expect. What was interesting is that it was light and pretty but with a tensile strength. Other herbs and earthier notes emerge but the structure never really releases before we finish the bottle. What makes it so interesting is that I don't think the structure makes it less enjoyable now, in fact, it's aprt of the appeal and because of the shape of the wine, I would worry that as soon as that structure starts to fall, the wine may start to come unglued. It's a bit odd that these wines have become so popular as they're such characterful, and not archetypal, expressions of Barolo. (92 points)
2013 Domaine de la Bongran (Thevenet) Viré-Clessé Cuvée E. J. Thevenet - France, Burgundy, M“connais, Viré-Clessé (8/19/2020)
Such a kinky, funky version of Chardonnay. You have to like the effect of some botrytis which I do (and SFJoe notoriously hated). I can't think of a wine that works better with soft ripened cheeses. (91 points)
2018 Tiberio Pecorino - Italy, Abruzzi, Colline Pescaresi IGT (8/20/2020)
Consistent with previous bottles. It was experience with this wine has really caused me to seek out and try as many Pecorino as possible. I've found that this one sits right in the middle of the fruit, mineral, earthy/herbal triangle. (91 points)