Tried Sun night w/ my uneaten dinner:
1. Ch.Bergin Pinot AC: Vin de Savoie (12.5%) Domaine Edmond Jacquin & Fils/Jongieux 2008: Very light color; light cherry/PN rather earthy/dusty bit minerally/chalky slight gamey/sauvage interesting nose; rather tart/lean bit thin/austere quite earthy/chalky/minerally light cherry/PN some tannic/bitey flavor; med. lean/austere bit tannic/bitey light cherry/PN rather interesting finish; a vin de terroir; lacks gobs of hedonistic but sure to appeal to the AFWE. $12.75
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2. NovyFamily Syrah Parsons'Vnyd/RRV (14.1%) 2007: Very dark/black color; intense blackberry/boysenberry/Syrah some floral/violets quite perfumed/fragrant very light pencilly/oak slight smokey nose; fairly tart strong blackberry/boysenberry/Syrah light pencilly/oak some tannic/structured flavor; long somewhat hard/tannic/structured very strong blackberry/boysenberry/Syrah/spicy light pencilly/oak finish; needs several yrs to show and should go out 5-8 yrs; big Syrah w/ big flavors; will not appeal to the AFWE for certain. $23.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Bergin: This wine is a classic example of what was termed the "gout de terroir" when I was first learning about wines....that distinctly earthy character in a wine...that the British writers used to be so fond of. In those days (by crackey), it was somewhat of a put-down for a wine that lacked gobs of hedonistic fruit. Nowadays, the term "terroir" has taken on such high-falutin' connotations that any wine thaaat displays "terrior" is hoisted up onto a pedestal and meant to be worshiped.
This is a good example of the earthiness that you often find in Savoie reds. Not a lot of fruit, but distinctly Pinot in character. Not as good as most of the Mondeuse from Savoie. I actually rather liked the wine as an unusual expression of PinotNoir. Went rather well w/ the coffee/black cherry juice braised short ribs.
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2. Novy: Followed the Novy Syrahs from the very start, some of my faves. The tend to be rather rich/fleshy Syrahs right out the gate. This Parsons' struck me as a bit different from Adam's previous Syrahs. It had the structure and rather tannic backbone that I don't normally get in his Syrahs. One that really needs a few yrs age to show well. Mitey fine Syrah it is.
Tom