Wade Hostler from California was again visiting Finland so we met up to taste a few interesting wines:
Jeruzalem Ormož Terase 2005 (Slovenia, Ljutomer-Ormož; 40% sauvignon blanc, 30% šipon, 15% chardonnay, 15% welschriesling/laski rizling)
A bright and mineral nose, refreshing and very Sauvignonny. There is nice fruit, a fair bit of acidity though it is from a warm year and the aftertaste is fairly long. A very nice drop for 10€!
Bonnaire Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Grand Cru 1999
A nice, slightly vanillary nose that is rather hefty for a BdB - some toast, lots of fruit, yet transparent and light on its feet. The mousse was fairly small and intense. The palate was again rather weighty for a BdB, but with nice acidity. Fair aftertaste. A nice fruit forward champagne.
Joguet Chinon Clos du Chêne Vert 2003
Rather tight, but surprisingly typical of Chinon: not over-ripe, leafy and herbal and very Cab Francy! The palate is tannic and tight but promising despite the rather low acidity. Nice stuff and gladly not confected despite the hot year.
Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Rúfina Montesodi Castello di Nipozzano 1997
A nice Sangiovese nose of red berries, a touch of earth - but it also had some darker tones which (when served blind) I thought to be from Merlot! The palate was smooth, had some nice tannins and acidity, but it really did seem more a fruit forward than structure forward wine. It was quite nice, though not really my preferred type of wine.
Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard 2000
Big. Lots of sweet, strawberry-like fruit, a touch of earth and quite a bit of toffeed oak. The palate was also big and burly and rather too alcoholic - but in this style of Pinot it is a success. It wasn't at all syrah-like, though I've seen many Lorings described as such: this was very Pinot-like in its aromatics, but was a very weighty variation. 14,7% abv was fairly well hidden though there was a touch of heat to the finish. This isn't a style of wine to my taste, but I fully accept that it is a success in its style.
Cave de Turckheim Pinot Gris Hengst 2002
The nose at first was very closed, but showed some very nice minerality and the typical PG spiciness. An hour later the nose was expressive in the more elegant spectrum of the grape. The palate was full bodied but with nice acidity and minerality. Very typical for the grape and area. Very nice.
Cave de Turckheim Riesling Brand 1999
Youthful Riesling aromas of citrus and minerals, but with a touch of petrol creeping in. The palate is dry but full bodied - not terribly elegant, but very pleasurable. Nice!
Cave de Turckheim Pinot Gris 50ème Anniversaire 1999
A dessert wine, but unfortunately corked. In that fleeting instant before TCA takes the center stage, it showed itself to be a typical PG in its aromas with a nice earthiness and minerality and nice structure to keep it firm and still youthful. It should be a very nice wine indeed from a good bottle.
-O-
But one site that I do visit has an article you and all Muscadet-fiends will like: