TN: Recent Wines

It's been a fun couple of weeks around DC tasting various stuff. Been drinking a lot of Loire and Jura wines lately...really excited about some that I've come across especially the stunning Les Chais du Vieux Bourg Cotes du Jura.

• 2009 Schäfer-Fröhlich Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Nahe (9/18/2011)
  Tropical bouquet on both the nose and palate with lush peach and mango tones. All of this 2009 exuberance is tied down by fresh minerals and zippy acidity on the finish. Another great riesling from S-F. (92 pts.)
• N.V. Dogfish Head Brewery Malt Punkin Ale - USA, Delaware (9/17/2011)
  Luckily, this isn't a spoofified pumpkin ale. It has subtle pumpkin spice but doesn't have the sweetness that is all too common with other breweries. Great nutty spice throughout the beer - hard to imagine a better beer to enjoy in the fall. (92 pts.)
• 2006 Domaine Savoye Morgon Côte du Py Vieilles Vignes Cuvée Speciale - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon (9/17/2011)
  Somewhat candied nose at first of kirsch and wild strawberry. Palate is very charming with supple red berries and rose petals. This isn't overly complex, but incredibly elegant. (88 pts.)
• 2008 Les Chais du Vieux Bourg Côtes du Jura Pinot Noir - France, Jura, Côtes du Jura (9/13/2011)
  This was easily my favorite wine of the night. The color was almost lighter than the 2000 Lopez Heredia Rose we opened! The nose featured some nice delicate red fruit and some autumnal tones. The palate was just incredible. I can see how Keith compares this to a Truchot wine as there was a brothy undertone that I go crazy for. Additionally, it's smokey minerals and zippy acidity on the finish rounded out one of the best wines I've encountered from the Jura. (94 pts.)
• 2006 Ca' Marcanda (Gaja) Magari Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (9/13/2011)
  Thought this showed very nicely. It was opened 3 hours before drinking and was double decanted. Good deal of smoke on the nose with dark fruits and old saddle leather. This is a rich wine but has a very lithe mouthfeel compared to many Super Tuscan's. The palate features fruit that is uniformly dark and has a good deal of leather, and ash blended in. This can last for quite some time, but is also showing well now. (91 pts.)
• 2000 R. López de Heredia Rioja Rosado Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (9/13/2011)
  Beautiful color - slight orange blended into a strawberry-red. As is the case with Lopez's blanco's and rioja's, this is unique. Lots of cranberry on the nose with some herbs and a subtle oxidative quality. Palate was medium-bodied and showed cranberry, wild strawberry and minerals. There was also an underlying subtle sherry quality that I think I picked up more of than everyone else. (88 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker