A few wines from the past week:
2018 The Withers Winery Gamay Noir El Dorado
At Husk Nashville. Barely medium color, medium body, very pure and fresh. Not quite Beaujolais-ish but not typically American either. A delightful accompaniament to fairly rich foods.
2011 Jean et Gilles LaFouge Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru La Chapelle Pinot Noir
More earth and cocoa than bramble now, and less rustic than a few years back. Leather notes are just beginning to show. We didn't decant; it was immediately drinkable but improved and deepened over two hours. No sediment. Great buy at $25 locally on close-out and I'm debating going back for more.
2013 DeLille Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags Red Mountain
In a dumb stage: shows jammier and less structured than it should and will given a bit more time. HOLD.
2018 Natchez Hills Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Tennessee/American
Served at Nashville's Germantown Inn to welcome tired travellers. Acceptably pale, dry and refreshing with notes of green grapes and hay. Grapes are from TN and undisclosed west coast sources. Not amazing but serviceable and I happily accepted a second glass.
2017 Souverain Chardonnay California
Egads. Marshmallows on toast, desperately needs acidity. Best thing at my hotel in Nashville, however.
Maybe it's time to try that Nashville Hot Chicken?
2013 Beringer Vineyards Chardonnay Luminus Oak Knoll District
A monster chardonnay but in the end a good monster with plenty of acidity and full-bodied fruit that showed beautifully with an assertively seasoned north African chicken curry heavy on lime and coconut, which no chardonnay in the more restrained style I prefer could have done. And it's not over yet--this will probably hold up 3-5 more years.
2014 Tamarack Cellars Counoise Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain
The wine's put on some weight since our last bottle a year ago--less acidity and spice, more saturated/extracted fruit flavor--and this isn't an improvement. Alcohol's only 14.1% but it's out in the open now. Will hide the car keys and hold, not drink, remaining bottles in hopes that this is just a teenage tantrum.