WTN: Condrieu and Camensac

• 2004 Les Vins de Vienne Condrieu - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu (5/15/2008)
  13% abv; 23,29€. Still going strong, though I thought when I tasted it upon release that it should be drunk quickly because it wasn't terribly structured. I also remember sensing some oak on it then. But the oak has gone and it smells very much like Condrieu should: apricot, perfumed but not over the top or too obvious, slightly mineral. The longer it is open, the more savoury aromas come forward - and, I suppose oxygen related, also a plesant appleyness. Full bodied, opulently fruity, but the opulence is well judged and it never becomes overbearing. It certainly isn't strongly structured, and indeed one of the mysteries of Rhone whites is why some of them remain moreish and even refreshing when so unstructured. This manages that strange trick. Very nice.
• 2005 Château Camensac - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc (5/15/2008)
  27,30€; 13%. Very disjointed at the moment: a very sweet, alcoholic (despite "only" 13%) and banana-bread-like top note; inky, darker fruit and a slight stemminess bring up the bass stem - but they are playing in different keys. Atonality is more harmonious. Thick, sweet attack, rather harsh, tannic and alcoholic finish. After the big but impeccably balanced Chasse-Spleen '05 I am not enamoured by this. Perhaps it will calm down with age, but it reminds me too much of the freakish '03s that I would be comfortable buying this. Maybe it's good for fans of '03 Bordeaux? Yet I rather like that herbaceous streak in this one. Any chance it might turn around?

Posted from CellarTracker