I thought that there was a loss of charm and expressiveness compared with a year+ ago. Going through a phase or permanent loss of bloom? Quite good.
2014 Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Ruppertsberger Riesling Pfärit 1597 - Germany, Pfalz (7/12/2017)
I did not enjoy this as much as the 2013 if my memory and note of that vintage are to be believed. The tension, crispness, minerals and citrus fruit are there but the exotic fruit, flowers and spice seem less in evidence. It could be a function of pairing with no goat cheese on hand which can be relied on to bring out these facets. Good nevertheless.
1998 Domaine de la Grange des Pères Vin de Pays de l'Hérault - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays de l'Hérault (7/14/2017)
Opened for a neighbour who had been told that Grange des Pères is "the best wine in the world", this bottle proved far fresher and more perfect than the previous, indeed so good as to make that claim not seem daft. Quite full bodied and long with velvety texture and plenty of still bright fruit integrated seamlessly with notes of spice, candy, gentle minerals and fresh acidity together with some forest floor secondary development but none of the more pronounced signs of decay which detracted from the previous bottle. At its peak, I think. Excellent.
2002 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Mazoyères-Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Mazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru (7/14/2017)
I needed something powerful yet elegant to follow a superb bottle of Grange des Pères and this fitted the bill very well. Quite full bodied, it showed dark savoury Pinot fruit with an ivy touch, minerals, smooth texture, good depth and acidity and firm but ripe tannic backbone before a decently long finish. Still quite primary in character with, I guess, plenty of life left and good potential for evolution. Excellent.
NV Jacquesson & Fils Champagne Cuvée No. 738 - France, Champagne (7/14/2017)
Deliciously crisp and elegant bubbly. Very good.
2016 Guilhem Tournier Bandol Cuvée la Malissonne - France, Provence, Bandol (7/15/2017)
After an enthusiastic sales pitch from the caviste, I was a bit disappointed by bonbon anglais (roughly = boiled sweet) touches which disfigured the orange tinged strawberry fruit and red rose notes. Maybe a few more months will correct this. Fair.
Retasted on 7/17/2017, the boiled sweet touch has receded turning this into a nice example of Bandol pink.
2010 Domaine du Cros (Philippe Teulier) Marcillac Les Rougiers - France, Southwest France, Marcillac (7/19/2017)
This time no distracting remarks from across the table about suspect aromas and I can confirm the we have a medium+ bodied wine with some depth and concentration added to Marcillac's trademark bright red fruit and slightly metallic leathery tang together with grainy minerals, mouth-watering acidity and decent length. Very good.
