Opened these over the last nine days:
2006 Domaine des Baumard Savennières Clos du Papillon Chenin Blanc
More flavor and more body, much more, than the wan bottle opened in '23. Deep golden color, rich and resonant, bone dry with roasted apple, preserved lemon and chamomile notes, waxy texture--in a gorgeous place for an elder Savvy. Splendid match for some very tangy and very aged Havarti cheese with crystals and everything.
2016 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Aux Lieux-Dits Red Rhone Blend
CT calls it a Red Blend, but my notes about the purchase say it was 100% grenache and that, plus past respect for Santa Duc, was the attraction. This is the first bottle opened though, and it's a miss: Dark garnet-purple with chunky sediment. Ripe and hot, seems even hotter than the 14.5% claimed. Could barely stomach a glass on Day One. On Day Two, even worse--jammy black raspberry fruit and a sappy finish. Doesn't square with the positive reviews in 2024 (including a trusted CTer)--I poured the remainder out. Still wanting grenache with my corned beef, I then opened this orphan that I don't know where it came from:
2020 Lone Madrone Grenache Willow Creek Paso Robles Willow Creek District
Light ruddy red color. Nose of overripe yet nondescript red fruit and herbs, and a relentless slog of charred wood on the palate. Nothing about it resembles the grape it's supposed to be. This wine's a poster child for why I don't buy Paso wines. Poured it out too and skipped wine with my corned beef altogether.
2020 Domaine Clos des Rocs Pouilly-Loché Clos des Rocs
This chardonnay is totally in it's drinking window, out and proud (especially vs. one year ago when, by comparison, it must have been asleep). Golden yellow color, great body, lots of yellow apple, quince and pear fruit but the minerality is still running the show. Terrific wine from an unusual, new (to me) Pouilly.
2022 Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Opened this to serve with green chile cheeseburgers--for my tastes, WA cabernet and green chiles are a great match. It did not disappoint. Biggish but not OTT, with boisterous and typical WA flavors of blackberry and coffee with a touch of cherry cola. Not structured for long term aging but a great cabernet for a casual PnP. My sports-fanatic BIL quipped that Drew Bledsoe is a better winery owner than he was a football player.
2022 Lucien Crochet Sancerre Rosé Pinot Noir
Pale coral pink, restrained fruit, great balance. Not in the same league for taut-yet-lavish as the flawless '21, but still very, very good.