Francois Cotat, Sancerre 'les culs de Beaujeu', 2004
Sunflowerish gold, with slight occlusion. Zesty grapfruit nose, with shows in the mouth more delicately along with calcium in a bracingly soft (in feel, not acid) package. Excellent dinner weight wine. Enticing. B+
Chateau Bouscasse, Madiran, 2003
Deeply black-red colored. Ripe black plums and blackcurrants on the nose. More blackness on the palate, especially blackcurrants, plums. wild blackberry, and finishes with a definate gaminess, like sitting in an aged steak closet. Strong tannins kick in on the end, along with charcoal. Decent acidity running throughout, and surprisingly open for a Madiran (probably due to the vintage), but if I had another bottle I'd let it sleep another 4-5 years. B+
Chateau de Lancyre, Pic Saint Loup - Coteaux du Languedoc, 'vielles vignes', 2004
Maroon red. Smoky plums and beet root nose. Sour plum and baking spices for flavors, but finishes short and hot. Perhaps it needs time to sort itself out, but I wouldn't be too hopeful. B
Domaine Lignier-Michelot, Gevrey-Chambertin, 2004
Lightish Burgundy color. A dark cranberry and redcurrant nose. Sharp red fruits picked slightly unripe poke out from this lightly dimensioned but bright little wine. Doubt this has the legs to go any sort of distance, but for a poolside cooler that substitutes for raspberry lemonade, it might do the trick. B the 1st night/B+ the 2nd (yes, it improved: the pokes were a little less sharp)
Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste, Pauillac, 1999
Deep plum red. Mildly aromatic blackcurrant, licorice and smoke, echoing on the palate along with leather and plums. medium bodied, short finish, and a gripping finish...a delight to drink right now, esp. knowing how much 'better' recent vintages cost. B+/A-
Bernard Faurie, Saint Joseph,'vieilles vignes', 2001
Medium maroon red. Smoky rose and sweet horse sweat aromatics. In the mouth there's bright tar on a smoke and floral filled plum background. Drying tannins suggest this can be kept, but this is so nice right now. Good n' fresh. A-
Domaine du Vissoux, Beaujolais, 'cuvee traditionelle, 2005
Bright purplish red. Medicinal plum scents. MercuroChrome infused violet covered wild strawberries on the palate. Not as exhuberant as a bottle upon arrival, this is still holding but edging down the spiral staircase. A-