1999 Juge, Cornas Cuvée C:
13% alcohol; some bottle bouquet, red fruit and dead leaf scents; lightweight, silky, a sort of feral complexity with some warmed wild berries and dried herb flavors; medium finish that is slightly drying. The “pinot” of Cornas.
Excellent with white beans and chicken sausages in broth with kale.
(Aside: It has been instructive to follow this since release. At first, I thought the lot might have been heat damaged but that impression does not seem to have worsened over the years – maybe it doesn’t, I don’t really know. But this wine does seem to be getting better or at least, more developed, so I suspect my first impression was wrong. What sweetness there is from the fruit seems to have amplified and the textures have smoothed. Even the flavor profile is more appealing these days.
A learning experience for me; happily.)
2009 Descombes, Brouilly:
This bottle was an example of tension in wine; sometimes fruity, sometimes herbal; its good but it isn’t something I’d buy again. I think this will be a joy to some for its complexity but not to me; just too green.
2009 Knoll, Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Loibner:
Textbook GV with vegetable and fruit scents, solid and straightforward GV flavors, excellent balance and a medium length finish. On the second day it flattened out and was not very enjoyable.
2007 Michel Gahier, Chardonnay Les Crêts:
12.5% alcohol from Arbois; clean chardonnay smells without hint of wood and with some depth; about the same in the mouth with little complexity but flavors that were true and correct; medium finish. One the second day, a little more going on but not as fresh and juicy. $20, retail.
2008 Fraçois Pinon, Vouvray Silex Noir:
13% alcohol; the label says it is a sec, don’t believe it; fine aromas of chenin and mineral with some wool notes; demi-sec in the mouth with similar flavors and good sustain. Good wine but this level of sweetness is not for me and no match for Diane’s ratatouille.
2003 Belle Vue, Haut Medoc:
When first opened, this was in pieces and none of them especially attractive; as the evening went along it got more integrated and enjoyable although it never got to be something I would buy. Very smooth but quite woody (in a charred sort of way) and spoofed, if you ask me. Still, something there that made me try tasting it more than once.
Best, Jim