WTN: Bahamas w/ Burg, Loire, Bdx, Sonoma, Argentina

Flew to N. Eleuthera Th, and then boat to my brother’s place. Dinner that night was king crab, filet mignon, potatoes, and salad with air fryer artichokes.

There was also a Hahn Pinot Gris opened on sunset cruise before dinner, but I have (intentionally) forgotten it,

2020 Unanimie Chardonnay
HAnded to me while grilling, I had very low expectations of an Argentine Chard, but this wasn’t bad at all. Peach and mango, but with a serious acid spine, and a decent minerally finish. B

2020 Olema Chardonnay
Oaky/creamy style, well made but not my thing. B-/C+

1971 Huet Le Haut Lieu Vouvray Demi-Sec
Pretty dry, lots of beeswax, fruit is peach driven but secondary to wool, wax, and rocks, B+
/A-

2017 Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon
Another pleasant surprise, midbodied CS with black currant and plum, mocha, enough acid to balance, tannins already supple. B

Friday we went to Harbour Island for dinner at the Rock House, I had octopus and excellent grouper with mushroom risotto.

2017 Heritiers du Comte Lafon Macon-Chardonnay Crochette
Ready, crisp, pear and peach blossoms, tangy finish, B+

2018 Fugue de Nenin
Black plum, cocoa, a little leather. Ready to go. B

Saturday we grilled chicken, with dirty rice, salad
NV Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut
Better than it used to be, but faint praise. Creamy, higher dosage style, it’s clean and with a good finish, but not what I look for. B-

1999 Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er
Delicious, balanced, sandalwood over black cherry, yowsa. A-

1988 Laville Haut Brion
Apple, tropical fruits (pineapple, mango, coconut), almonds, drinking well but the nutty notes say drink up to me, B+/B

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Flew to N. Eleuthera...
1999 Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er
Delicious, balanced, sandalwood over black cherry, yowsa. A-

1988 Laville Haut Brion
Apple, tropical fruits (pineapple, mango, coconut), almonds, drinking well but the nutty notes say drink up to me, B+/B

So were these wines already down there from your brother/local lists/etc, or did you bring them and open? If the latter, I guess we know your views on travel shock!

of this bunch the '71 Huet as well as the Laville HB and Drouhin I brought. I am a believer in travel shock as it pertains to sediment, and I trust the (anecdotal but based on much experience) opinions of some importers that wines that cross an ocean in a ship should sit for a month or two. But not too worried re carrying whites on airplanes. I loaded a Winecheck with a dozen bottles, one sentimental bottle I gave to brother when we stopped off in Atlanta, brought 10 whites and the Drouhin which I knew didn't have heavy sediment to island. We'll see if I think anything else we open that I brought are subpar.

... brought 10 whites and the Drouhin which I knew didn't have heavy sediment to island. We'll see if I think anything else we open that I brought are subpar.

Nothing like having such detailed expert knowledge to make things work!

[David M. Bueker]

2020 Unanimie Chardonnay[/b]
Handed to me while grilling, I had very low expectations of an Argentine Chard, but this wasn’t bad at all. Peach and mango, but with a serious acid spine, and a decent minerally finish. B

Even wines from Mendoza have moderated in recent years. There are also newer vineyard sites in cooler pockets. That said I would have been skeptical as well, especially if I saw "Mendoza" as the appellation.

This did say grown at 4200 feet, so that should help!

[David M. Bueker]

That’s high elevation!