WTN: Wine's uses

2007 François Cotat, Chavignol Rosé:
13%; medium salmon color; mild sour cherry and light honey aromas; smooth texture, adequate acidity and a long finish. But this is off-dry and while I’m sure it has its appeal to some, I have no use for this at all. Too sweet and way to pricey (low $40’s).

2010 Navarro, Muscat Blanc (dry):
13.5%; aromas of jasmine, orange blossom and honeysuckle; clear, crisp, well integrated with a stony background element; medium length finish. Diane says it doesn’t really go with our meals and I think that is right (so far). But it does serve as a good starter, a back porch thirst quencher on a hot day and even pairs well with cheeses. Both of us agree that this is a wine with character that we should have a few bottles of in the cellar. Under $20.

2010 Grey Stack, Chardonnay:
13.8%; clean, etched chardonnay smells and flavors without any reference to the typical CA chardonnay butterscotch, wood, butter and vanilla; crisp acidity, focused albeit simple and quite pure; medium length. With salmon, potatoes and Romano beans, all with a lemon/caper sauce, exceptional. While this may not attain the complexity of fine Chablis, it is the best example of chardonnay we have found in CA and seems to accompany the food that we eat pretty well. We will buy this by the case at about $28/bottle.

Best, Jim

We've always put the Nav Muscat Blanc out with mixed apps before dinner and it is always consumed quickly even against solid competition. Reminds me wer'e out of it and I should order more.

We've always put the Nav Muscat Blanc out with mixed apps before dinner and it is always consumed quickly even against solid competition. Reminds me wer'e out of it and I should order more.

They're sold out of the 2010, so you'll have to wait until next vintage. Or you could come to lunch and we'll open one.
Best, Jim

2007 François Cotat, Chavignol Rosé:
13%; medium salmon color; mild sour cherry and light honey aromas; smooth texture, adequate acidity and a long finish. But this is off-dry and while I’m sure it has its appeal to some, I have no use for this at all. Too sweet and way to pricey (low $40’s).

Hi Jim -

I'm surprised - but not skeptical of you by any means - that the 2007 Cotat Rosé was off-dry. For what it is worth, I absolutely loved the 2005 version. I agree that it is an expensive wine, and certainly one to reserve for a special occasion, but it was most likely the best rosé that I have ever had outside of Champagne. Anyway, thank you for the information - perhaps François vinifies this wine differently depending on the vintage?

2007 François Cotat, Chavignol Rosé:
13%; medium salmon color; mild sour cherry and light honey aromas; smooth texture, adequate acidity and a long finish. But this is off-dry and while I’m sure it has its appeal to some, I have no use for this at all. Too sweet and way to pricey (low $40’s).

Hi Jim -

I'm surprised - but not skeptical of you by any means - that the 2007 Cotat Rosé was off-dry. For what it is worth, I absolutely loved the 2005 version. I agree that it is an expensive wine, and certainly one to reserve for a special occasion, but it was most likely the best rosé that I have ever had outside of Champagne. Anyway, thank you for the information - perhaps François vinifies this wine differently depending on the vintage?

Was the 2005 dry?
Best, Jim

Jim -

Yes, the 2005 was an entirely dry wine.