WTN: yummy yums

Costanti, Brunello di Montalcino, 1997
Austere, old-school Brunello, very dry, plum and light licorice, medium cherry, cedar and floral aromatics. 100% improvement on an earlier corked bottle I had. A-

Secret de Grand Bateau, Bordeaux (blanc), 2008
From supposedly 'secret' first growth sauvignon blanc grapes. Bright lemon, good acidity and length in a medium-bodied wine, oak dust fannings come across on the tip-of-the-tongue at the finish. Good, especially for the mid-teen pricing this was sold at. Should keep several years no problema. B+

Domaine du Caillou, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 'les Quartz', 1999
Kirschy plum alcohol with an oak background, muddy tea. The entire feeling of this wine doesn't seem right: Big and overripe fruit, gussied up with oak, it feels like it is still young or youthful,but then ends up tasting of oxidized sherry cask by the end. 14% but feels greater. Avoid. B/B-

Alain Graillot, Crozes Hermitage, 2005
This producer makes fairly standard, decent solid syrah, but his wines have never 'wowed' me. Of course, I've yet to taste 'La Guiraude'. Smoky meat, iron, and perfumed plum aromas. Very perfumed, with lilacs, a strong iron component, and toasty charred wood flavors on the rough finish. Youthful. Needs several more years to my taste, but - if you like'em young - have at it. 13% A-

Passopisciaro, Sicilia IGT, 2006
Light pale pinkish red. Nose of cherries & strawberries stewed in alcohol. Stewy red fruit, with a dusty sour-cherry finish, basket straw...a bit muddied on the finish. Better with a bit of chill to it, rather than simply cellar temp. Better than the 2005, but the 2004 is still best to my mind of this trio. B+

[David M. Bueker]

I like Graillot Crozes - probably more than you do. I also like that I can afford it.

I like Graillot Crozes - probably more than you do. I also like that I can afford it.

David, don't get me wrong. I do like it, but this used to sell (in the 90s) for something in the high-teens. Now, even the basic is mid-30s. For that price, I'd rather purchase a St. Joseph like Gonon or a Jasmin Cote Rotie, or go down the ladder to a Sainte Anne Les Mourillons.
Like I said, I find them sturdy wines (not especially polished) and I especially like them from outstanding vintages, but the tariff is making me rethink that.

[David M. Bueker]

I can agree with the Gonon. I have not seen Jasmin in the mid-30s for a long time except on closeout of poor vintages.

FWIW, I actually really do like the Graillot base bottle, almost more than the higher end wine. I find that especially when young and the oak has not yet been totally consumed, the base bottle is much more approachable.