.1996 Coche-Dury Meursault - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault (1/16/2015)
A lovely bottle showing remarkable freshness for its age. Nose of citrus and exotic fruit with minerals, nuts and butter. Medium bodied palate showing much the same aromas, lively fruit and crisp acidity with a round fleshy undertow, a saline spine and decently long finish. Excellent.
2001 Gianni Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Marina Cvetic - Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (1/19/2015)
Less evolved and fresher than the'04 which I opened a few months ago. The nose showed lively red and dark fruit with attractive notes of English fruit cake. The palate was quite full, complex with some secondary notes and rich but was well balanced by lively acidity and by decently ripe tannic grip towards the finish which left a fine afterglow with little sign of the high alcohol (14.5%). One of the classiest wines from the Montepulciano variety which I have had. Very good.
1995 Château Hortevie - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (1/23/2015)
A very enjoyable bougeois claret at its peak, IMO. At least as good as last June's bottle with still present primary fruit laced with secondary notes and cedar together with good acidity and nicely firm tannins on the finish. Good.
2005 Von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Bruderberg Riesling - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (1/26/2015)
This is the junior site in the Grünhaus portfolio but the wine is delicious. It was fuller bodied and richer in fruit than often at this estate but showed lovely mouth-watering and lively acidity and similarly gentle sweetness. Probably less complex, refined and long lived than Abtsberg (I haven't yet touched my '05s of that) but a great pairing for Chinese food which benefited from the slight sweetness. Very good.
2012 Château de Monternot Juliénas Anne d'Aleyrac - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Juliénas (1/27/2015)
Fuller bodied with more depth than most Beaujolais and full of savoury fruit with dark plum and a dab of fresh prune, tangy acidity and some backbone. Good+
1998 Château Léoville Barton - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (1/29/2015)
This is a robust L-B with still quite primary colour and a nose with red fruit, touches of cedar, balsamic hints and sharp floral odours toggling with acidity. The palate was medium/full with good depth of fruit, more of the same odours from the nose, lively acidity which toyed with astringency and nicely firm tannins at the finish. The question determining this wine's future is whether the hints of astringency will come to dominate or whether they will abate. Just very good.
2012 Château de Varennes Savennières - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières (1/30/2015)
This bottle is just as good and very similar to my memory and notes of my first bottle of the 2010 just about a year ago. However, by early January this year, my last bottle of that vintage had become dull. I reproduce the words I used about the 2010 when it was still singing because they apply equally to this 2012. Colour is a limpid pale yellow and the nose is fresh with some citrus and lots of minerals with some underlying "gras". The medium plus bodied palate plays variations on the same themes with nervous tension, crisp acidity and a mineral spine which veers towards the saline on the finish. Just add to that a touch of grilled meat on the nose and wax on the palate. I shall buy more bottles but based on my experience of the 2010 should expect them to close down within 12-18 months. Very good wine and excellent QPR at <€10.
1988 Château Bouscassé (Alain Brumont) Madiran Vieilles Vignes - France, Southwest France, Madiran (1/31/2015)
I never thought that I would use the word "elegant" in connection with a Madiran but it is entirely appropriate with this bottle. Colour was a quite deep red with rust tints as it poured. The nose was well developed and floral with touches of plum and clay. The palate was medium+ bodied, savoury, quite silky textured and remarkably fresh with red fruit, mineral elements and residual tannins beautifully integrated and exuding for a long time after swallowing the aromas carried on from the nose. Not a "wow" wine but so harmonious that one wanted to go on and on drinking. Last (and best) bottle, alas. Excellent.
1996 Charles Joguet Chinon Clos du Chêne Vert - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (2/1/2015)
Pundits say that this estate passed through an "off" phase from the mid-90s to early 00s. If so, give us more "off" phases!! Colour was quite transparent with slight tawny tints. The nose was very expressive with light gracious red fruit and lovely floral notes. The palate was medium bodied at most but beautifully shaped, caressingly textured and long and still quite fresh with some depth, roundness and the sort of sweet aura found in fine unsugared Darjeeling or China tea. (I am drinking a cup of the former as I write this.) The aromas from the nose continued on the palate and long after swallowing and there were added underlying faint notes of wet leather and forest floor. There was enough acidity and grip on the finish for balance. If the wet leather discourages the brett allergic, please abstain and leave the bottles for those who appreciate the complexity. Harmonious and very elegant. Excellent.
Posted from CellarTracker
; Verdicchio would be ideal. Muscadet?