We always have a big lasagna and wine feast in Athens (Ohio) the night before we go to D.C. on our annual wine-buying trip and this year we had the following wines;
2000 Merryvale Profile, a Bordeaux blend from Napa. It was smooth and complex with light currant and plum flavors and a note of Eucalyptus and olive.
1999 Archipel, a wine made by Verite winemaker Pierre Seillan. This was a funky wine with strong mushroom and vegetable flavors that moderated over time to show more plummy fruit. I liked it but most may not.
2002 Honig, sweet cherries and soft tannins, not complex buy yummy!
2002 Pegau Res., (although it did not state this on the neck). This was on sale in D.C. for $24 and I liked it for $34 previously so, even though weaker than most years, a still interesting Pegau. The one we tried in D.C. was corked but another from yesterday was fine. I stocked up on these to be consumed withing the year.
2000 Kurni Oasi Degli Angeli, a wine from the Marche region of Italy, the sour cherry fruit was highly extracted with an earthy, dustyness and reminded me of an Amarone. Very nice but also very young.
1992 La Jota Anniversary, this bottle shows no brick color and looks and tastes like a much younger wine. Sweet and sour dusty cherries, smooth tannins and lots of sediment. Excellent.
2004 Rene’ Mure Gewurztraminer Traditional, for $13 a real deal with lots of rose petal, good acidity and just a touch of spicey pear. I’m glad we found this one.
2005 Dom. Du Prieure’ D’Amilhac Pinot Chardonnay, from Cotes des Thongue, I liked this cheap little Chard a lot and for $7 with good pear flavors and nice crisp acidity and fine balance, it will be one of my go-to whites. We tasted lots of other wines but these stood out.
