1 Alsace, 1 Fronsac, 1 CDP

2003 Riesling, Bernard Schwach, Domaine du Moulin de Dusenbach, Ribeauvillé
I bought this at the Salon des Vignerons Indépependents and am very happy with the purchase. This is the "Réserve" quality (paradoxically the lowest level in France...). The nose was upfront, fresh, pure, and the taste dry and mineral, yet somehow round and crowd-pleasing. We had this as an aperitif and continued enjoying it with a smoked-salmon salad. The wine was fruity and versatile and much appreciated. A very fine advertisement for Alsace. There is the impression of a touch of sugar, although I doubt this is the case.

1998 Ch. Villars, Fronsac, gold medal at the Paris Agricultural show
A fine "middle-of-the-road" Bordeaux confirming my fondness for '99s for present drinking. Good color, muted rasiny/liquorice nose, nice grip on the palate coupled with Merlot user-friendliness. I've known this estate for years. It rarely disappoints. No rush to drink.

1999 Domaine Chante Cigale, Sabon-Favier, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Following the Fronsac, this was like a wake-up call! 14° alc./vol. is par for the course in CDP, but it seems heavy and archetypically virile if you're not used to drinking this type of wine. A little barnyard on the sniff, and a fruitiness not unlike many Burgundies... Sweetish, satisfying, not tremendously refined but oh so enjoyable.. A good winter wine, well-paired to feet-of-God* cheeses. Fine now, perhaps at its peak.

Best regards,
Alex R.

* The French say that a good chees smells "like the feet of God"

Was the Fronsac a '98 or a '99?
My only Villars experience was a disappointing 2003, but I wouldn't judge any estate by that unusual vintage.
I think a lot of "smaller" '99 CdPs are at peak drinking right now.

1999 Domaine Chante Cigale, Sabon-Favier, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Following the Fronsac, this was like a wake-up call! 14° alc./vol. is par for the course in CDP, but it seems heavy and archetypically virile if you're not used to drinking this type of wine. A little barnyard on the sniff, and a fruitiness not unlike many Burgundies... Sweetish, satisfying, not tremendously refined but oh so enjoyable.. A good winter wine, well-paired to feet-of-God* cheeses. Fine now, perhaps at its peak.

Alex,
Everyone, except me, seems to enjoy the Singing Grasshopper. I've tried a number of them over the years and never found them very exciting. Damn, I wish I had a better palate.
Cheers,
'Winger

Dale,

That was indeed a '99. Sorry for the mix-up in my post.

Bill,

This was a robust, fruity, kinda "in your face" wine. It was not big on elegance, but it was rich, strong, and satisfying.
In summary, I would put it in the good to very good category.

Best regards,
Alex R.

* The French say that a good chees smells "like the feet of God"

I always thought it was 'les pieds d'Anges.' no?

Bill,

I've never heard that, but it is much in the same vein.
The less politically correct version is "ça sent la jeune fille qui se néglige"...

Best regards,
Alex R.

thanks, I agree '99s as a rule are drinking quite nicely now.