WTN - Recent wines

Here are some hazy notes from wines I've tried over the last couple of weeks or so. A varied selection, as usual, with a couple of real gems...

• 2007 Dönnhoff Schloßböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Felsentürmchen Spätlese - Germany, Nahe (2020-05-10)
  Brought this back from the winery in 2009 - it cost all of 12 Euros! Lovely now, with the parts melding together well, mainly on the stonefruit but also tropical spectrum, lots of yellow fruits, and the medium, long finish is more off dry than sweet now. Beautiful. (A)
• 2015 M. Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Les Meysonniers - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (2020-05-07)
  This needed some time to open up. On the second night, it is dark in colour, with plum, earth and iron on the nice nose. Medium bodied, with dark plum and cherry notes, blueberries, a mix of green and black olives, iron and some nice ripe tannins to give it a little backbone. A very nice Crozes, good QPR. (A-)
• 2015 Berton Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (2020-05-02)
  About what I expected. Certainly classic cabernet and Coonawarra flavours here - black fruits, a touch of oak, healthy tannins and some mint and herbs - that's medium bodied and slightly coarse in style, even on the second night. Reasonable QPR given the low price. Ready now or in a couple of years. (B/B+)
• 2014 Domaine des Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) Roussanne - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Vin de Pays de Gaules (2020-05-01)
  Came across this in the cellar and had totally forgotten I bought this. I thought I might have left this for too long, but it was drinking really beautifully. Quite different than a Rhone version, without the waxy texture and often heavy nature found further south. This was medium bodied, but elegant and higher acid than usual. There was a rotten fruit note that I really enjoyed as well. An interesting, intriguing wine that probably is at peak. (A-)
• 2015 Villa Maria Chardonnay Single Vineyard Taylors Pass - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Awatere Valley (2020-04-27)
  Very nice NZ chardonnay, with all the components nicely balanced. Medium bodied, with stonefruits, lemon curd providing an acid spine, and not too much oak and nutty flavours. Drinking well now but will last several years easily. (A-)
• 2011 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Casteel Reserve - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills (2020-04-25)
  Light to medium ruby coloured, with a gorgeous nose of red fruits and spices. Medium on the palate too, with great persistence, elegance, complexity and restraint. I've really enjoyed a few 2011 OR pinots lately for their balance and light touch (compared to all OR vintages after 2011) this really was drinking outstandingly well now, but will last many years. One of the better OR (or any) pinot I've had in a while. (A)

[David M. Bueker]

Brun Roussanne???

2007 German Riesling is generally showing very well now.

I don't think Brun makes much of it, and of course it is 'only' a Vin de France, as the variety isn't officially allowed in Beaujolais. I just checked CellarTracker, and there were only 5 bottles recorded, with me drinking it last. It really was quite tasty and unusual. I don't know how we ended up with something like that in BC.

I forgot I had one other wine:

2012 Patricia Green Ana - Had this last week, so my notes are hazier than normal. It was drinking very well now, but had some time left I think. It opened up as the night went on, with cherry, earth and strawberry notes and a good amount of spice. Medium bodied, elegant, all the parts starting to come together well (A-).

[Jenise]

I've never seen that Brun either. The Patricia Green sounds interesting--her wines age very well, more so than you'd guess (or at least, than I would) based on the big young fruit. 15 years isn't unreasonable, but '12 might not have that kind of oomph.

The 2012 vintage was a pretty warm one in OR, and I've had a few overripe pinots from this vintage, but this wine was much more restrained.

Brun Roussanne???

Had one of those some years ago, had to try it because it just seemed so...odd.