The spice of life, the elixir, the drug that I'm thinking of. It's all here, mostly good, but not all of it.
Chateau Pradeaux, Bandol, 2002
Not the most auspicious of years but I'm willing to give it a go. Browning rim, a tannic frame with bleu cheese on the nose...light and tannic, lacking anything you could call a proper middle. 12.5% Middling, like a B.
Ryme Wine Cellars, Ribolla Gialla, Napa Valley, Vare Vineyard, 2009
Dark braun colored, with honeysuckle, muted yellow fruits, dried straw, typical orange-fruited wine thingies. A bit neutral and a little heat on the finish. Not a lot of flavor or as interesting as Gravner or Zidarich, but then, what is? 13.1% Good but not great, but would definately buy again at it's $40 price tag. B/B+
Domaine Saint-Damien, Gigondas, 'les Souteyrades', 2006
Maturing color already. Spicy garrigue, plum, licorice, having an 'old' profile already. Flavors of fall leaves stuck in a house gutter. Tastes more like an old-school (circa 1980's) Chateauneuf than a Gigondas. A big wine, smooth and sweet. Not bad, but in moderation. A-
Chateau Canon-la-Gaffeliere, Saint Emilion, 1999
Cedary, smokey plum scented. medium-bodied with sappy black raspberry and plum. Feels on the downslope of life compared to a bottle opened about 3 years or so ago. Still in a good place, but I would drink these up. A-
Tenuta delle Terre Nere, Etna Bianco, 2007[/b
Walnut-skin cast to the pear yellow color. Yellow fruit skins and fruti pomice. A blend of Carricante, Inzolia, Grecanico and Cataratto from Sicily. A little one-dimensional, like a grenache blanc, having pear and almond flavors on the palate with refreshing acidity, and very well done. 12.5% A-
[b]Chateau de Roquefort, Cotes de Provence, 'Rubrum de Roquefort', 2004
Herbal, black cherry, fennel nose. Earthy, quartz-like minerals with sour plum and unsweetened raspberry puree on the finish. Surprisingly quite forward and accessible, without any hard edges. Not ponderous at all and meduim-weight in feel, despite the 14%. B+/A-
D. Ventura, Ribeira Sacra, 'Pena do Lobo', 2009
Electric purple red. Reduced mulberry and haw fruit aromas. Somewhat thickish, but having high-toned berry fruit. Light in tannin and somewhat volatile, this mencia is still a nice depature. A- 13.5%
Emidio Pepe, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Cerasuolo, 2009
After opening an extremely reductive bottle, this was MUCH better and more in line with the way it should be: a light orange amber red color. Spring cherry blossom, eonoki mushroom, swiss chard aromas, cherry-strawberry-watermelon wash with a fresh forest finish...delicious! (And cudos to Crush for taking back the bad bottle!) 12.5% A-
Ismael Arroyo, Val Sotillo, Ribera del Duero, 2006
Cedary, smoke filled leather and dark red fruit on both the nose and palate. Could use some time to integrate the obvious wood, which provides cocnut and bubblegum flavors to the slightly heady but balanced wine. Good, if not something I'd want to drink all the time. B+/A-
Frog's Leap, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2007
I've always respected this winery since they first opened in the 1980's. I think now they are pretty much practicing organic, and this bottle does not disappoint. Plenty of mulled plums, with a salty crust, rich American oak, but integrated in a way reminiscent of Anderson's Conn Valley cabernets. Good, if not very distinctive. B+
Spot on, Lou!