Over the last while or so. Carpal tunnel keeping me away from keyboards lately.
Lapierre, Morgon, 2007
Pale meniscus, deep strawberry red colored. Mushroom and talc nose. Talc-covered strawberries-raspberries, with enoki mushroom on the finish. Somewhat flat tasting, but the acidity is there, hidden. Delicious in a subtle way. A-
Giovanni Rosso, Barolo, 'Storico', 2004
If I remember correctly, this a a blend of 4 cru vineyards. There is a lightish nose, with some cherry and fennel seed, more giving on the palate with cherry-fennel-celery...quite smooth and ready to drink. Only mildly tannic on the finish, like crunching on a grape seed pip. Distinctly nebbiolo, if nothing really special stands out about it. Luckily the oak seems left out of the equation. And reasonably priced as well (around $35-ish?). B/B+
Domaine Ganevat, Cotes du Jura, 'J'en Veux', 2009
Almost a 'critter-label' wannabee, with an inebriated man holding a glass to his mouth. Cute, but I thought the Jura was supposed to be serious? No need to be concerned, this is supposed to be a fun wine, a blend of many grape varieties that supplies locust honey, strawberry, watermelon and cucumber aromas, that show up in the mouth along with spiced apple skin. Light and perfect for 90F degree weather, there is a slight tannic finish on this. 11.5%, but comes across as more than that. A- first night, B+ the 2nd.
Vestini Campagnano, Terre del Volturno IGT, Casa Vecchia, 2004
Darker in the glass than I thought it would be from the bottle. Dark black cherry colored. Mulberry and blackberry on a pretty flat nose. Stewed compote of mixed dark berries (blueberry-blackberry-mulberry-elderberry), quite acid deficient, comes across as really thick tasting but has a talc-like finish, with rose hip jam, and not overdone at 13.5%. Although not necessarily refreshing, it is not at all heavy either. Reminds me of a cross between mondeuse and palagrello nera. Nice.
Alain Michaud, Brouilly, 'prestige de vieilles vignes', 2005
Upon opening, fruit feels lost and mostly just the alcohol shows on the thin frame. Not very pleasant to drink. Sour plum and goji berry. Becomes better when cooled and on the second day. Still, my other bottle tasted a few years earlier showed way better. Downslope?
Chapoutier, St. Joseph, 'les Granits', 2006 (blanc)
I'm a sucker for good white Rhones, of which this is one. Has a wonderfully fresh nose of peach and lychee seed. Lychee juice, verbena tea, pear skin, yellow stone fruits, and blue clay on the palate, cilantro on the finish, this is a frickin Smörgåsbord of flavor on a very lithe frame. Very good. A-
Les Cretes, Coteau la Tour, vino da tavola (2005)
An excellent showing of this alpine fresh syrah, with a shiny peppery nose and ripe purple fruited fruits in the mouth. Smooth, with fresh cracked black pepper, dark-fruited mountain fruit. More rounded than an earlier bottle of this, which showed a bit more acidic. Excellent, and refreshing. A-