1985 Nicolas Joly Clos de la Coulée de Serrant - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières-Coulée de Serrant (3/25/2016)
Telling tales of oxidation were sherry like aroma traces on the nose and finish. For the rest it still seemed sharply focussed and mineral with fine acidity and backbone. After extracting one glass, I recorked the bottle and placed it back in the fridge to see if a miracle happens after a day's exposure to air. In spite of having once been advised to decant Coulée de S 24 hours in advance, I'm not optimistic.
PS on 3/26/16 - No miracle but a very slight diminution of the sherry odour. Without that it could have been very like what Brad described. A big shame but at 31 years hardly a one-off flawed bottle, so given a mediocre rating.
2014 Baudry-Dutour Chinon Vieilles Vignes - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (3/26/2016)
Rather dull at present unlike other '14s which I have had from the region. Perhaps rounder and fuller bodied than some but aromatically dumb. I wouldn't exclude its opening up down the road but I wouldn't count on it.
2003 Domaine de Trévallon - France, Provence, Vin de Pays des Bouches-du-Rhône (3/28/2016)
I'm a big fan of Trévallon. In some vintages, e.g.1989, the wine is really great. So I am puzzled by the showing of this wine in 2003, which in most of France was an exceptionally warm year leading to often over-ripe wines. Before food, after a pleasant palate entry where round Syrah seemed in evidence, raw green acidity kicked in and the finish, though modestly long, was dominated by harsh tannins. After eating some lamb, the tannins were tamed but not the raw acidity. Was the maturity of the Cabernets blocked by the heat? What should I do with my remaining two bottles? Hang on in the hope of ripening? Or sell them while the going is fair?
2014 Verget Mâcon-Villages Terres de Pierres - France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Mâcon-Villages (3/29/2016)
Less simplistic now but still a real delight. Touches of spice and some saline backbone add dimension to its purity, flinty aromas, white fruit, fragrant touches, minerals and lively but not astringent acidity on a medium/light body. Good+.
2012 Clos de los Siete - Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco (3/30/2016)
This bottle was much better than I expected given the combination of Mendoza and Michel Rolland. Full/medium bodied with a hint of sweetness on entry but savoury and leather tinged notes rapidly took over the round dark fruit. There were peppery touches, decent acidity and backbone with none of the expected signs of exaggerated oak treatment. Chinese take-away is a difficult pairing for most reds which it managed effectively and which may have enhanced the acid balance and diminished the impression of sweetness. Good but I need to try it again with a more austere pairing to confirm my impression.
2013 Domaine Causse d'Arboras Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac La Faille - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac (3/31/2016)
Quite full bodied with deep colour showing rich dark fruit, smooth texture and acidity with garrique herb hints and touches of chocolate and liquorice on the well supported finish with ripe tannins. Good.
2012 Clos du Bois de Menge Gigondas - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas (3/31/2016)
It was interesting to compare this to the Terrasses du Larzac, made also from a Rhône grape cocktail, which preceded. It was full/medium bodied but slightly lighter on its feet with a certain finesse, livelier in fruit with more pepper, spice and minerals, livelier acidity and a firmer finish. Good+ wine and good QPR at c.€10.
2014 Dauvergne Ranvier Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret Vin Gourmand - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret (4/1/2016)
2014 is not considered a great vintage in S.Rhône and, perhaps because of that, I like many of its wines for lighter body, greater elegance, livelier acidity and more savoury fruit than in "better" vintages. This one from the excellent négociants, Dauvergne & Ranvier, is no exception. However a wine with sweeter fruit would have better suited the pairing, veal liver and onions. Good wine and good QPR at €7.
1995 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Rabajà - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco (4/5/2016)
My previous bottle was opened in 2010 when I complained that beautiful Barabaresco traits were diminished by being encased in a still strong and sweet oak patina. An extra 6 years has done a lot of good. Still quite deep colour but with bricking at the rim. Expressive nose of dark fruit, red roses with tar and faint vanilla hints. The medium/full bodied palate showed rounder and richer fruit than often with Nebbiolo derived Langhe reds but with a typical overlay of rose and tar, acidity was still quite fresh and the finish was firm with tannins nicely resolved. It was still possible to recognise traces of oak ageing but at this now discreet level of patina it added a beneficial element to complexity. At its peak, I guess, and now very good.
2014 C.P.L. La Tuilerie Pouilly-Fumé Les Arpents Bleus - France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé (4/6/2016)
This is a very charming medium bodied P-Fumé, not bone dry, citrus as well as SB gooseberry, some gras and enough minerals, fresh acid and saline grip to pair with seafood. Much more refined than a recent Reuilly. Not sure that it will ever be better than in this first flush of youth. Good.
2014 Domaine Grand Côtes du Jura - France, Jura, Côtes du Jura (4/8/2016)
A nice Jura Chard with plenty of freshness, tension and minerals but, as before, there was a note, particularly on palate entry, reminiscent of coconut veering to caramel, which did not abate this time with food.
2014 Famille Amirault-Grosbois Bourgueil Les Caillottes - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil (4/9/2016)
A medium/light bodied Bourgueil full of charm with lively red fruit, graphite and red pepper traces, hints of leather and fresh juicy acidity. Good for drinking now but maybe has enough tannic structure to take some age.
