Susan & I did a bit of bottom feeding this week & tried:
1. GerardBertrand Trouble xp CloudyWine VdF (13%; 60% Chard/20% GrenacheBlanc/20% Viognier) 2023: Med.gold rather browning very cloudy color w/ much flocculant sediment; quite earthy/dusty bretty bit stony slight floral rather unpleasant/mousey nose; very tart quite sour rather earthy/stony fairly bretty/mousey/unclean scant fruit flavor; med.long mousey/bretty/unclean finish that tracks flavor; a textbook example of a natural wine in all its ugly glory. $21.00 (KK)
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2. Aguijon de Abeja Obreva RioNegro/Patagonia/Argentina WW (13.3%; 70% Chard/30% Semillon; www.Durigutti; ArtisanCollection/NY) DuriguttiFamilyWinemakers 2023: Pale yellow near colorless color; pleasant enough melony Chard simple bit dull nose; soft light melony/Chard light stony/earthy rather light/simple/bland/dull flavor; short light melony/Chard finish that tracks flavor; a lightly melony white bland/simple white that speaks of Chard w/ a whisper. $17.50 (KK)
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3. Marina Danieli Dd'OC: FriuliColliOrientali Schioppettino (12.5%; MatchVino/Sharon/CT; EB) Butttio/Italy 2023: Med.dark color; fairly strong rather spicy/peppery/Schio some dusty/OV quite spicy/fragrant slight floral/violets very interesting nose; fairly tart/tangy/bit metallic rather savory strong peppery/Schio/very spicy some earthy/dusty/OV bit rough/rustic interesting flavor w/ modest chewey tannins; long peppery finish that mocks flavor; a rather bracing/savory red that speaks strongly of Schio; can use a few yrs of age but will never be a great Schio; an interesting quite savory red. $20.50 (KK)
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4. Louis Cheze Syrahvissante Rhodanian VdF (13.5%; 100% Syrah; www.DomaineCheze; 6 mo. in Fr.oak barrels; UvaImprts/Atlanta) Louis Cheze/Limony 2023: Very dark/near black color strong blackberry/Syrah/spicy/peppery/c-c Syrah some roasted/Rhonish rather rustic bit complex nose; bit soft strong roasted/blackberry/Syrah some dusty/OV/earthy rather rustic/rough slight toasty/oak flavor w/ modest rough tannins; very long rather rustic/roasted/Syrah finish that tracks flavor; a bit on the rustic side but a pretty intense expression of blackberry/Syrah at a very good price. $27.00 (SFW&S)
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More vickleburk from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. Gerard Bertrand is a highly-regarded winemaker on Languedoc/Rouissillon. This is one of the more wretched natural wines I've encountered. If you want a natural wine to show folks the excesses of that genre....this is your wine.
I was quite impressed by the Louis Cheze Syrah because of its intensity of Syrah fruit. A producer that I don't recall trying before. He makes a fairly large portfolio of Northern Rhones of which I'd like to try more.
Tom