This is long-delayed batch, the last of the "dissertation backlog," and in fact these are the wines that some friends and I celebrated with the evening after I finished my dissertation and handed off to my committee (all the way back in July). As you will see, we had a very nice time. The Uruguayian and the Madiran were very well matched, as the former is a New World venture by the very Chateau that made the latter.
Duval-Leroy, Brut, Champagne NV
Ripe nose for a Champagne, with nice mineral depth, really nice tangerine notes, toast, and great depth; an excellent nose. On the palate, ripe apple, pear, and tangerine, with dark citrus rind, cashew/walnut, toast, and mineral. Great body and finish, ripe, with nice acidity. Very distinctive, an exceptional NV. Beautiful bottle, with a scene of Paris painted in gold and silver. **** [7/19/11]
Galil Mountain, Merlot, Galilee 2008
Bright ruby. Nice nose of dark, juicy berries, with a whiff of pleasant greeness. On the palate, a bit of cherry upfront, blackberry, red plum, currant, with milk chocolate, earth, and pleasant green pepper/tobacco leaf. Almost floral aromatics. Nice, juicy ripeness. A lovely wine, very nicely done. Perhaps my favorite Israeli to date. No need to wait on this one. Kosher. *** [7/19/11]
Domaine Monte de Luz, Tannat-Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserva, San Jose (Uruguay) 2007
Medium ruby. Entrancing nose: blackberry, tar, leather, roses, chalk, cassis and vanilla; dear me, this is great nose, with an amazing combination of leathery earth and aromatic fruit. I love it! And now the palate: blackberry, plum, cassis, orange rind, roses, lots of leather, earth, and tar. Oh my! Some bright, almost tart cherry on the finish, with huge, chalky tannins hiding underneath the fruit. Big body, nice firmness, great tone, great aromatics, and a perfect touch of oak/vanilla. Just gets better and better as it opens. Awesome wine - I love it. Great aging potential, with up to 10 years ahead. If I understand correctly, Dom. Monte de Luz is the Uruguayian venture of Chateau Peyros, in Madiran, and indeed, this wine shows remarkable kinship with the Chateau Peyros tasted after it. 50-50 Tannat-CS. **** [7/19/11]
Chateau Peyros, Vieilles Vignes, Madiran 2005
Dark ruby. Deep, excellent nose of dark cherry, black raspberry, cassis/tar, blueberry, tons of leather, and chalky earth, with a bit of aromatic roses, orange rind, cedar, and vanilla. Similar on the palate, with black cherry, austere blackberry, cassis/tar, some juicy blueberry, liquid leather, orange rind, roses. Cab Franc comes through with cedar and vegetal tobacco leaf. The fruit is low key but with remarkable density, and with a remarkable balance between leather and aromatics. Drying, puckery, chalky tannis. Attractive tartness balanced with density. May need more time to show its best. Can go another 10 years, perhaps. 80-20 Tannat-Cab Franc. *** [7/19/11]