NV Terres Dorees FRV 100 de Jean-Paul Brun
Frothy fun. I recently read that some people prefer the Bugey Cerdon sparklers to this. Well I can’t remember the last time I had a Bugey, but this was lovely.
2004 Kendall Jackson California Pinot Noir Vintners Reserve
Soft streamlined generic pinot noir fruit. Not as bad as I expected, but $18 is bad value.
NV Larmandier Bernier Champagne “Terre de Vertus” (disgorged March 2005)
Crisp earthy fine and mineral. Great expression, but seems less electric and less thrilling than previous disgorgements, I don’t know if I’ve changed or the wine has, but it is certainly still very fine stuff.
2005 Domaine Savoye Morgon “Cote du Py” Cuvee Vieilles Vignes
Crisp and chewy raspberry gloss with finesse and elegance. But, in the end, despite those merits, it is too sweet, too high toned, and too blobby/lacking depth for me. Perhaps because it is from a hot year and is too young, but at the moment it is not what I want from Beaujolais. The 2005 JP Brun Côte de Brouilly they were pouring at Chambers the other day had a similar problem. Obviously a small sampling, but I’ll be curious to see how the vintage treated other wines in the region.
2004 Franck Peillot Bugey “Mondeuse”
Fun transparent and tart red fruits. A furry soft flower of a wine, with nice delicate structure and frame, but not very distinctive and doesn’t really inspire me to repurchase.
2000 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses
This is quite the fun herbal/vegetal rustic (don’t let Chris bamboozle you) sour crisp of a red wine. There is some body to roll around the tongue, and some spicy intrigue at points, plus the crisp tart feel is indeed enjoyable and I would be happy to buy and drink more for the rustically seductive pleasure it provides. But I’d probably do that sooner rather than later as there is much less fruit than a few years ago and it is not holding much body.
2004 Eric Texier CdRV St. Gervais “Cadinieres VV”
Slippery refined and elegant yet with the chocolate prune ripe Grenache notes. Interesting combination of deep flavors and slippery textures. Doesn’t make me do backflips, but then I’m not predisposed to love Grenache and Southern Rhone wines in general. Plus, it’s just weird to have sunny flavors and such slippery texture. But, quite fine and I’d be happy to see this again.
2004 Eric Texier Cotes du Rhone
Same as above, combination of slippery and elegant textures with ripe Grenache notes. Except this is all much looser and juicier than the more serious St. Gervais. Open and drink.
2005 Jean Marc Brignot Les Mouches ont Pied VdT de France
I don’t have the epiphany that others do with this wine. To me the fresh tactile and pure texture is lovely, but the flavors don’t grab me as they bounce between funky plastic notes to boring cider. Still, the texture is lovely.