Notes on some wines recommended by Florida Jim (and others)

  • 2004 Bruno Giacosa Nebbiolo d’Alba - Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Nebbiolo d’Alba (6/1/2009)
    Clear red in center, pinking at the edges. Fragrant floral nose, with a hint of baking spices. Just welcoming as all get out. Flavors are soft and are starting to show some mature notes. Some tannin on the finish, which is not long, but still calls you back. Really a very nice wine. (90 pts.)
  • 2005 Leonetti Cellar Merlot Columbia Valley - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (5/26/2009)
    This was quite good, if a bit one-dimensional. Nice intensity of flavors and aromas–mostly tart cherry and plum, with a bit of vanilla–that stayed true throughout. Not heavy, not sweet and not too oaky. All good. (90 pts.)
  • 2002 Ridge Monte Bello - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (5/27/2009)
    From a .375. Wonderfully complex with red fruits (sour cherry) and menthol/camphor notes. Medium bodied and lively. Structure comes more from acid than tannin. A wonderful lift on the back end, vaguely reminiscent of some older Bosconia’s I’ve had lately. Finish was a bit short. (93 pts.)
  • 2008 Domaines Ott Côtes de Provence Rosé Les Domaniers de Puits Mouret - France, Provence, Côtes de Provence (5/19/2009)
    Lovely, lovely. (90 pts.)
  • 2008 Saint Roch Les Vignes Côtes de Provence Rosé - France, Provence, Côtes de Provence (5/19/2009)
    Just what I look for in a rose. Fresh strawberries and blossoms. Lively, refreshing and calls you back. (89 pts.)
  • 2006 Domaine de la Rouletiere Vouvray Sec - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray (5/19/2009)
    Fresh green apples and a hint of straw. Flavors follow the nose and have good depth and persistence. Paired well with drunken noodles and thai veggies. (89 pts.)
  • 2002 Thierry Allemand Cornas - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas (4/25/2009)
    Remarkably light in color for a Cornas. Open for business on pop and pour. Definitely syrah on the nose, but in the mouth has the acidity and lightness–almost weightlessness–of a burg. I’m not much of a Rhone fan these days, finding most of them too clumsy and heavy, but this was wonderful. (94 pts.)
  • 2006 Domaine Michel David Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Clos du Ferré Sur Lie - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine (4/22/2009)
    On the weighty side for a Muscadet. Just right with fresh sorrell scrambled with eggs and bacon. (89 pts.)
  • 2004 Cima Vermentino Nero - Italy, Tuscany (4/22/2009)
    Much better than the first bottle. No sense of barnyard. Red fruits, plenty of weight and structure. Good length. Focused and intense. (90 pts.)
  • 2001 Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Noir Daphne Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (4/19/2009)
    Classic Eyrie light color. Starting to some some secondary notes and just a touch of orange at the rim. Quite good, but at $60 or so at the winery, not a great value. (91 pts.)

Wow, James, nice first post!

A broad variety of wines, too. I’m looking forward to more of your notes, as you seem to have a proclivity for Rhone and Italy…my favorites…

Thanks, Todd. Happy to find this place.

I love seeing TNs like these, not too much prose, but enough substance there to get a sense of what is going on.

Thanks!

Thanks, Nick. A court reporter called me Mr. Wordy a few weeks back and I’m compensating.

Allemand is the man and it is quite amazing what he did in 2002 with the difficult at best conditions. Check him out in 2004, 2005, 2006 to see him really work it. My favorite Syrah producer in the world.

Nice post. I hope you have more of the Giacosa because at this point a few more years and it should be really special. Thanks for posting!!

I think it is great when someones post is thanked/acknowledged. I came here a few days ago to learn and it seems to be working. Have fun.

Oh, I am a Loire-head!

Yeah. That Giacosa Nebbiolo is always dynamite IMO.

SP

I will be on the lookout for Allemand.

I have a few more bottles of the 2004 Valmaggiore, but this was my last bottle of the regular. I’d be interested to hear if it continues to improve. My sense is that it may be at its peak.

Yeah, this was pretty revelatory, especially at $30. I immediately went to winesearcher.com and found that these are generally priced more appropriately.