I found this to be a well-chosen, diverse lineup of wines well worth the $25 flight fee.
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2007 Lazy Creek Gewurztraminer ($22). A functional Gewurz, typical on the nose, lychee-floral throughout, but not too sweet, pivoting to a somewhat simple but pretty long lemony finish. I have moved away from Gewurz and was surprised how much I liked it, but I did not buy any. A good choice for Thanksgiving as well. 89.
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2006 Stolpman “L’Avion” (90% Roussanne, 10% Viognier) ($30). Very vanilla bean with light fresh honey and a back end of stones. Started out with a compacted metallic streak that resolved itself with a half hour in the glass. Nice wine. I would buy this, but I have other Roussannes to drink up at home first. 89-90.
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2007 Villard Coundrieu “Les Terrasses du Palat” (Viognier) ($46). Very deft, rich, elegant wine with peach skin, white flowers, melon, nicely on the dry side. I should have bought this but got distracted by a Vieux Telegraph Blanc. Definite improvement with air and slightly warmer. 92.
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2007 Zind Humbrecht Riesling ($22). I didn’t get a good read on this. Seemed fat in the middle, with apple flavors galore followed by a ruby-lemon finish. 88?
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2007 Walter Hansel Pinot Noir “Estate” ($32). This was an interesting comparison to the Red Burg that followed. I started writing my note in the wrong space and was confused about how ripe and fruity the wine was compared to my expectations for the Burg… aha! But this Walter Hansel also has some subtle complexity with faint notes of earth and sassafras complementing the pure red fruit, all in a balanced, high-toned, food-friendly package. Good QPR Pinot. 91.
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2006? Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Clos de la Mousse ($45?) (subbing for another wine that was “too earthy” to serve.) The subtle complexity in this wine, as compared to the RRV, came from notes of anise and cocoa alongside considerably more earth and plum and only some red fruit peeking out. I liked the Walter Hansel better and it was cheaper, but at the table I imagine not having as much of a preference as they both have their angles and they were both well-made, balanced, and refined, and this Burg would probably be more versatile overall. 89-90.
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2007 Summers Charbono ($20). These Charbonos tend to throw up notes of thick, purple boysenberry syrup, black raspberry, and plum to me but this year’s version is a lighter purple, with a Priorat nose, a little flavor of Good N Plenty, and just more refreshing overall. A good QPR that will be versatile if a little pedestrian at the Thanksgiving table. Maybe save this one for the football game? 89-90. I bought one for fun.
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2007 Terrasses du Larzac Coteaux du Languedoc “Les Obriers de la Peira” ($20). Probably a 60/40 blend of Carignan and Grenache. Rather well integrated, with some notes of scorched black fruit and fine pepper that can float around the fruity palate because the wine is not overextracted or overripe. It isn’t austere, but it lacks a little density, and so ends up surprisingly smooth, contributing to the relatively lacklaster finish. 89.
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2007 Domaine de la Barroche CdP “Signature” ($50). Quite a bit bigger than the preceeding wines, with a rich, full black fruit palate with cherries and figs and a nice tamed animal/meat character to it, not quite integrated but there is some good material here. 91.