J J Prum, Graacher Himelreich, riesling, spatlese, 2001
Showing the glories of the 2001 vintage, still holding a greenish cast to the very light lemon yellow color. Lemon curd and spring flower aromatics, maintains a slight spritz in the mouth, lemon oil, fresh cut lemon...not really deep in dimension, this is all about prancing in the fields of summer and about being 10 again. Youth, rediscovered. 8% Lithe. A-
Mauro Sebaste, Barolo, 'Prapo', 1999
Ruby red color with some slight orange-maroon toward the edge. Autumnal red fruits, roses and packing straw on the nose. Cherry with rosewater, slight licorice and menthol-eucalyptus notes, smooth but grippy tannins. Surprisingly, drinking very well now. 14% Cork completely fell apart in pieces, so if any of you have this, be mighty careful with the extraction part. A-
Rodolphe de Pins, Vin de Pays du Gard, Vin de M. le Baron de Montfaucon', 2007
What a long-ass name for a Vin de Pays which is essentially a kind of Chateauneuf du Pape, brewed with all 15 varieties of grapes used in that appelation and just beyond it's jurisdictional reach. This has a violet tinge to it's ruby red. Very perfumed nose and bright-toned red fruits. Raspberry, fennel, slight eucalyptus on the finish along with baked clay. Interesting. Carignan component feels outspoken. More complete than a previous bottle 2 years ago. Light in body and texturally similar to a Texier wine. 13.5% B+/A-
A. Chopin, Chambolle-Musigny, 2006
Stern wine, with whiffs of Luden's cherry cough drops but quickly closes into a tight wad, never revealing anything again. A bit of pepsin gum flavor on the end, but even here, not showing much at all. Not really what anyone in Burgundy is looking for. Could need more time, but still, not the love we seek. -unrated-
Thierry & Pascale Matrot, Meursault, 2006
Walnut-skin brown on a medium gold color. Vanilla and yellow fruit on the nose, yellow fruit and oak dust on the finish, could still go on a bit longer. Simple, but good. A-/B+ 13%
Francois Chidaine, Montlouis-su-Loire, 'les Bournais', 2005
Lightish bronze gold. Burnt-sugar and honeydew liquor on the nose. Ripe honeydew, light butterscotch, buttered popcorn and corn chowder on the palate. Soft and sweet, a wet-wool blanket scented with cardamom. A nice weight, not heavy or light. Goldilocks. A-