From memory quasi tasting notes, as I lost my actual weekend notes in travel. I’ve heard a lot of great things about the 2009 Leitz Dragonstone, and did think it a very good wine, but I always like the Dragonstone, and for whatever reason didn’t find this especially a standout vintage. A half bottle ofNV Philipponnat Royale Reserve Brut actually showed better than a recent 750 (seldom the case)- fresh, crisp, lightly yeasty. With lamb shanks and white beans, the 1983 Avignonesi “Grifi” was alive, but less vital than a bottle last year- tasted more like tired Cab than the lively Tuscan I remembered. The standout of the weekend was the 2009 Do Ferreiro Cepas Vella (Rías Baixas)- superold vines Albarino, rather dense ripe fruit, yet vibrant acids, and intense saline minerality. Seriously good juice, I hesitated at $40 Albarino, but this is worth it.
Sunday we arrived in Atlanta. No Sunday sales here, so I was resigned to no wine or dad’s jug wine (he has a glass for his heart). But actually he had a bottle of the 2009 Chevillon-Chezeaux Bourgogne, which I opened as I grilled steak and squash, and we served along with pasta and green salads. I’m pretty wary of Burg producers I don’t know, but this was quite refreshing in a lighter mode. Raspberries and cherries, light color, no apparent tannin or oak, good acids. Pretty nice wine. B
Last night they took us to a local trattoria, Betsy and I ordered wine by the glass (no vintages listed). A Frescobaldi Chianti Riserva was ok, though it seemed a touch woody, a Maso Canali Pinot Grigio was light and tasty, though it bordered on overipe.
Insert usual disclaimer:)