WTN: a Cab and a Gigondas

Philip Togni 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley. Deep red, bricky around the edges. expressive nose which only improved with time in the glass. Well structured with cassis and blackberry and tannins whch were still young. long finish. This could have easily hung on for another couple of years.

Domaine Les Gouberts Cuvee Florence 2000 Gigondas. Upon an earlier advice from Tim, I opened this one the same night as the Philip Togni. Medium bodied, but the first impression is the delightful nose of scrub, tobacco, damp earth and barnyard (i like that in some of my wines). The wine was fruity and it had garrigue all over it. The bretty overtones were there, but I like them. Long finish.

Both wines were delicious. We shared them with good friends with a repast of Indian style roast lamb chops, scallops on spinach bed and avocados with a chilli-garlic aioli, mildly spiced chicken masala and naan. Yum.

I really like Tognis, once they get 10-12 years under their belts. Thanks for notes

Re: Bretty rhones. Does the Bret typically become MORE powerful with age, or does it settle out? I do like some funkyness myself.

I am not sure if the funk grows with time. I like mine in small doses. There have been older Rhones where I remarked with approbation on the subtle aromas from the Brett, but there have been times when I thought that the wine smelt like sh*t and I didn't mean it in a good way.