2011 Château Puech-Haut Coteaux du Languedoc-Saint-Drézéry Cuvée Prestige
55% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 10% Carignan. Full-bodied, very international, fruit-driven, ripe, supple, curranty, with lots of black fruit, and some spices. This has received some highly favorable reviews in recent vintages, but I found it to be a bit over the top.
2011 Domaine Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie "l'Alchimiste”
Not a producer that I was aware of until an email from a local retailer. Medium-bodied, fresh, very mineral, well balanced, elegant, with good underlying acidity; lightly floral, with bright red berry notes. Excellent.
2011 Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine Père et Fils Bourgogne La Chapelle Notre-Dame
From one of those odd lieu-dits that are not associated with a specific village, but manage to get their own AOCs with their names appended to ‘Bourgogne’. Rather light nose of baking spices, red fruit, and roses. Medium-bodied, round, well balanced, with soft cherry and blackberry fruit, and just a bit of meatiness; not much tannin here, but not thin by any means. As one would expect, it’s not particularly structured or complex, but it has a nice texture, and makes a pleasant everyday red Burgundy. Good/very good.
2010 Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine Père et Fils Pernand-Vergelesses Blanc 1er Cru Clos Berthet
From a small monopole vineyard. Smoky/lightly honeyed/beeswax nose. Full-bodied, moderately rich, with good weight and acidity. Melds honeyed golden and white fruits with moderately toasty oak and spices, including caraway, as well as floral notes; even more honeyed, with a bit of sweetness, on the finish. There is some underlying minerality, which needs time and/or air to emerge. Very good.
2008 Mas de Daumas Gassac VDP de l’Hérault Blanc
A blend of Viognier, Chardonnay, Petit Manseng, Chenin Blanc, Petit Courbu, Petite Arvine, Vermentino, Marsanne, and other varieties. Decanted about 2 hours before pouring. Full-bodied, bone dry, well balanced, round, honeyed, nutty, with apple, and pear notes; some ginger, and ust a bit of citrus and pineapple flavor. Excellent.
2000 Girolamo Dorigo Montsclapade Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC
It's been a long time since I had anything from Dorigo. 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc, from a single vineyard. Smoky/roasted pepper/dark fruit/leather nose. Full-bodied, definitely internationally styled, with a lot of oak and some sweet fruit. Quite smooth, even silky, with cherry, blackberry, chocolate, coconut, and baking spice flavors. Very good.