Here are a bunch of random wines that I've tried over the past month or so.
2010 Maison Joseph Drouhin Saint-Véran
After being convinced by several people here that a disappointing 2009 version of this wine was somehow defective and/or irregular, I promised to retry it sometime, but was not able to locate another 2009. Therefore, I had to go with a 2010.
Light to medium-bodied, well balanced, with moderate acidity. Shows floral, mineral, apple, and stone fruit notes; light citrus finish. Good; a pleasant Mâcon that is thankfully nowhere near the presumably defective, blowsy 2009 bottle that I had last year.
2009 A.S. Parparoussis Sideritis “The Gift of Dionysos”
Sideritis is similar to Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer in that it has pinkish berries. Since no Greek appellation currently allows for the use of the Sideritis grape, this wine gets stuck being the Greek equivalent of a table wine or Vin de Table.
Rather delicate citrus, white peach, and bay leaf nose. Full-bodied, bone dry, well balanced, somewhat creamy, with moderate acidity. Shows lightly herbal/floral, lime, mineral, and pear notes. Not built for aging, but quite nice right now.
2008 Palmina Dolcetto Santa Barbara County
Brambly/grapey nose. Rather full-bodied, balanced, though with lower acidity characteristic of Dolcetto. Lightly earthy, quite fruity, with blueberry, blackberry, and cherry flavors. Good/very good.
2008 Domaine Jacques et Nathalie Saumaize Pouilly-Fuissé Les Courtelongs
Single vineyard Pouilly-Fuissé. Medium-bodied, lightly oaky, mineral, nicely balanced, with good underlying acidity. Nicely structured, with citrus and apple notes. Very good.
2006 Cave des Vignerons d'Estézargues Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages Signargues Domaine Grès St Vincent
60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and 5% Carignan. Nose of black pepper, leather, game, and earth. Full-bodied, understandably rather low in acidity, very earthy and feral, with moderate tannins. Shows flavors of ripe dark berries, plums, spices, and grilled meats. Very good; another nice offering from this traditional-minded co-op.
2005 Lost Valley Winery Cortese Upper Goulburn
Supposedly this is the only Australian winery to grow Cortese, a grape that I have had quite mixed experiences with in the past.
Very nutty, tropical/floral nose. Medium to full-bodied, moderately round, bone dry, and well balanced, with good underlying acidity. Tastes of tropical fruits, cashews, and minerals. Very good+ - definitely better than most Piedmontese Cortese that I have tried.
NV (2004) Domaine de Fontedicto Vin de Table Français “Pirouette 4”
100% Carignan, from near Caux, in the Languedoc. No sulfur is used here.
Earthy/lightly barnyardy nose. Full-bodied, well balanced, with moderate acidity. Very earthy, with notes of crushed red and dark berries; iron, caraway seeds, and tar. Very good.
2004 Domaine des Deux Ânes Corbières L’Enclos
40% Grenache, with the rest Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Syrah; from a single vineyard. Very earthy/funky nose. Moderately full-bodied, nicely balanced, very earthy/mineral, with notes of blackberries, cranberries, gravel, and herbs. Very good.
2001 Château Carbonnieux Pessac-Léognan
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Somewhat restrained nose of gravel and earth. Medium to full-bodied, smooth, broad, well balanced, with integrated tannins. Shows notes of crème de cassis, plums, minerals, bricks, and tar. Very good; probably nearing its peak.