- 2001 Ernest & Julio Gallo Chardonnay Single Vineyard Laguna Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (3/3/2007)
Light gold. The nose is oaky (too much so for me) but it isn't the worst offender - in fact as far as the few Californian Chardonnays that have made it to Finland go, this is a pretty restrained example. It has some truly nice, bright and citrussy Chard fruit, plentiful nuttiness - so it isn't all oak and sweetness. The palate has nice acidity to counter the wide fruit and it stays fresh despite a hint of vanilla creeping in on the long finish. If you like the style, this is a very nice Chardonnay. A much more serious wine that the reputation of the producer led me to believe, but not at all to my taste. - 2003 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Catena - Argentina, Mendoza, Maipú, Lunlunta (3/2/2007)
Immediately upon opening, the scent was lovely. I'm not a Malbec fan, but the scent melted my heart: lavender, red meat, earth and vegetation and a bright red toned fruitiness. Unfortunately just a couple swirls later the nose had become an oaky mess: dill and chocolate/coffeed oak in abundance. Despite brooding over my glass for an hour, I am unable to find any trace of that typically Malebecian aromas I initially found. This has transformed into a superb example of the international style. Considering how beautiful the first minute was, this has to count as the worst vinous disappointment I've had in a long time.
The palate is thick, has mouthfilling fruit, good ripeness, but also a nice acidity. Unfortunately the 14% abv is a bit too noticable. I like the structure of this wine very much. I'm not going to buy one, but I would like to taste this in a couple years to see if the oak has been tamed. - 1999 Travaglini Gattinara Riserva - Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Gattinara (2/21/2007)
A bit dilly oak - not something I hope to see in Nebbiolo. Otherwise the nose is pretty nice: red toned fruit, minerals. The palate is tannic, but surprisingly approachable for such a young Nebbiolo, but again the oak sticks out badly. The oak smells and tastes like it is Barrique? Can this be so? I remember the 1993 so fondly as a nice, youthful, very Nebbioloish wine. I hope my nostrils are deceiving me: they wouldn't have started using Barriques would they?
But I have also tried some truly nice wines:
- 2000 Cooperativa Agricola Santa Barbara Barbaglio Salento IGT - Italy, Puglia, Salento IGT (3/3/2007)
A blend of Negroamaro and Primitivo. Dark red. The nose is very personal and delightfully rustic with some blood/iron/tomato notes and humid tobacco, earthy yet plummy and sweetly fruity - I love it even though it seems to have a slight raisiny edge to the nose. The palate is vibrantly fruity yet tangy and a touch volatile with fine length. A great cheap wine (12,80€) for Musar lovers. - 2005 Braida (Giacomo Bologna) Brachetto d'Acqui - Italy, Piedmont, Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG (3/2/2007)
What a fun wine! Strawberry nose. Sweet yet slightly bitter palate - balanced. Not profound but very much fun. - 2005 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer, Mosel (3/2/2007)
AP 2 602 041 004 06, Bottled with Stelvin (bravo!), 9% abv
Light as water. The nose is surprisingly red toned - I believe the last time I tried this wine I said it smells of baked brick, but now the red tones remind me more of lingonberry. It is a very attractive note coupled with the ripe Rieslingisity and plentiful minerality. The palate is rather weighty, very ripe, rather sweeter than I would hope for the acidity level which makes the aftertaste a little sherbetty. But it is still a very attractive drink though it isn't a Kabinett. - 2004 Charles Vienot Pommard Clos Blanc 1er Cru - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard (2/22/2007)
Vegetal, earthy and red toned nose - I like it. The ripeness of fruit isn't what this wine is about. The palate is red toned, nicely acidic and mineral. Long and fresh and savoury. This is a style that I very much like, though it isn't a "sexy" style of Burgundy. I can well understand that some might find this a little bit too tart, but it works for me. - 1998 Hugel et Fils Riesling Sélection de Grains Nobles - France, Alsace, Alsace AOC (2/20/2007)
Gold. A very honeyed, mead-like nose, with some nice floral notes, sweet strawberries and stone dust-like minerality. The palate is soft, but not plump, rather elegant despite being a hot year, not terribly acidic, but fresh and long on the aftertaste. Nice stuff!
Posted from CellarTracker
