2007 ELYSE L'INGENUE, NAGGIAR VINEYARD, SIERRA FOOTHILLS, CA 14.5% abv. Grapes are from four white Rhone varieties. Aromatic. Medium gold color with pronounced clarity. Rich, slightly unctuous texture. Plenty of acid as backbone. Worth giving a try if you are a fan of white Rhone wines.
2007 COLLOTTE MARSANNAY CUVEE VIELLES VIGNES, BURGUNDY, FRANCE 13% abv. (Purchased at The Wine Merchant, Raleigh, for $28.99 plus tax. A Peter Weygandt Selection.) Burgundy color with slight umber tones. Some transparency. Plum, prune, and cherry all flirt on the tatstebuds with dark cherry winning out. The wine has a brightness and measured tartness. Really quite a pleasure and seems to be in a really good spot. Better the first evening than the second. I've had very good luck with Marsannay and Santenay wines as reasonably priced alternatives to red Burgundies from more highly rated locales. What has been the experience of others on this forum?
Now looking at one of my 2009 Beaujolais Cru purchases--a Chiroubles.