Foradori, Vigneti delle Dolomiti, 'Morei', 2011
Teroldego. Typical blackish-purple-red color. Such a sour wine! Sour plums and unripe blackberries with a healthy wallop of acidity. Simply no nuance: it's all about the sour juice, like drinking an unsweetened Ribena. Ridiculous nearly 2 pound bottle that Greens may want to take note of and avoid and not a bargain for $40-50. Becoming less a fan of these Hapsburg red grapes the more I drink them.
Guigal, Saint Joseph (blanc), 'Lieu Dit', 2012
Don't know why Guigal needs to put 'lieu dit' on the label while simultaneously not telling us which one? This a medium deep gold with paraffin on nose and a rich stew of butter, boiled peanut, and lemon-thyme honeycomb wax on the palate. There's that rich, dull, unctuous quality on the end that many white Rhones have and a little bit of alcohol warmth as well. [93% marsanne/7% rousanne]
Ver Sacrum, Marsanne, Uco Valley, 'Geisha de Jade', 2018
Has a back label that I am surprised passed BATF standards, with several nude women floating about on it. A quiet nose, but has the buttered boiled peanut and a slight floral element that denotes marsanne to me. Nice, if a little neutral, but a nice surprise from Argentina that should catch a nice audience. 13%
Felsina, Chianti Classico Riserva, Rancia', 2004
Deep and dark aromas of black fruits with a little menthol. A big wine, despite the 13.5% alcohol, full of loganberry and blueberry and menthol and a white balsamic volatile note on the end after some time. Strong acidity and melded tannins. Good, but I feel more impressed than I enjoy it.
Biondi, Etna, 'San Nicolo', 2016
Lightish cherry-strawberry red color. Faded aromas of old hawthorn fruit, crabapple and dried raspberry. Austere and mineral...dare I say 'volcanic'? At the moment this is a bit thin; am unclear whether this will fan out or if this is as good as it gets.
Pierre Boisson, Meursault, 2011
Light apple and pear, with oak spice on the nose and palate. Medium acidity and a light gingered ending. Very good, yet despite feeling youthful, doubt it will improve much. Still very nice for a simple village chardonnay.
Domaine Rossignol-Trapet, Gevrey Chambertin, 'Les Corbeaux', 2008
13% Only the very faint sense of forest floor and faded fruit, with light cherry and slight field mint. Good, if a bit one note. Ready now and I suspect could hold for another 2-3 years but would probably want to drink it before then.
Donnhoff, Norheimer Kirschheck, Riesling-spatlese, 2004
Slightly heavy oily nose. A bit one note with diesel and apple-seed. Good, but not great. What do we expect from our 15 year old wines?
