Stay away from the fair main , it’s mega purple
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$8 on clearance at my local Costco today. Grabbed 6 and opening one in a min to see if I want to go back for the rest.
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Raleigh, NC!
Totally different lineup from a week ago, which took me on an unexpected Bordeaux 2022 adventure. Nothing big, nothing fancy, but we had a 2020 Haut Brisson a few weeks ago that was excellent, and I’ve wanted to try Pessac-Leognan Domaine de la Solitude for a long time. Was very surprised to see the Solitude, as I had always heard that Olivier Bernard tries to keep those wines mostly in France.
Picked up several of each, and very well may go back for more!
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Also:
- seeing 2015 and 2022 Ormes de Pez simultaneously is an interesting marketing strategy
- Curious about the Dauzac
- Wonder who makes the 2023 Kirkland St. Julien?
- The Haut-Brisson is $28.99, glare problems…
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Opened a bottle of 2023 Kirkland Chablis Premier Cru tonight to have with pasta aux fruits de mer. Disappointing in that it’s nothing like any Chablis I’ve ever had: fully (or almost so) malolactic with resulting subdued acidity and more butter and pineapple than lime and limestone. Almost Napa in style. Nonetheless it had ample complexity and length, with some slight lemon, ginger and quince to accompany the pineapple and peach one encounters in Napa chardonnay. People who like buttery chardonnay should seek this out, as the same juice from Napa would cost 3x +.
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Had the Heitz 2018 at a friend’s horizontal of 2018 cabernets and was very disappointed. Perhaps it was a matter of the other wines being so damn good (Honig was the bargain choice of the night), but it came off as flat and a bit flabby.
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They have definitely upped their game since I was last there in May! Fantastic selection compared to #482 and #132, where I normally shop.
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I opened the first of these this week, and unfortunately it was bretty/sulfury. I’d exchange it if they had more, but I think they’re gone.
I’ve never gotten anything close to brett on a Mastroberadino. Though I did have one with possible low level TCA taint. Have you had many Taurasi before?
Recently had a couple Pinots from Costco. The Johan Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley ($29.99) was Brett-y to an extent that I really couldn’t finish it. Drain poured most of it.
The 2019 Convene Pinot Noir ($39.99) from Dan Kosta was really really great new world Pinot. Pretty ripe red fruit, but the earthiness was totally there also. Would definitely buy again at this price.
I’ve had just a few Taurasi - most of the Italian Aglianicos I’ve had been lower-level (Aglianico del Vulture, etc.). I can’t remember having one that I didn’t like. This particular bottle was pretty unpleasant to me and to my wife when it was opened, with an spicy, band-aidy character that I’ve associated with brett, and the small taste I tried the next morning wasn’t any more pleasant.
That said, your comment inspired me to retry the mostly-full bottle that’s been on the counter for three days…and I must have misjudged what was going on. The acrid character is greatly diminished - maybe just a hint of something sharp remaining on the finish, but I probably wouldn’t have thought anything of it if I wasn’t paying close attention. So thanks for the prompt!
I did a little quick reading up to refresh my memory on wine faults, and considering that this was much more of an issue on the palate than on the nose, that seems to point towards a reduction-related issue which may have sorted itself out with long oxygen exposure? I’m not sure, but whatever it was, I’m glad it seems resolved…we’ll probably have it with dinner this evening.
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Some of you guys don’t know how good you have it. 
Come to the Santa Clarita, CA warehouse if you’re into Meiomi, Kim Crawford, and (for special occasions) Caymus…
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That’s great news Bret. I’m glad you revisited.
These wines tend to be heavily structured and often really need years on their sides to show their best. I think maybe what you are saying about reduction is a good bet. One of the nice things I find about the Taurasi that come to the states is that most of them are made more traditional. Among them I find this Radici to be the most fruit forward of any of them but they are very far from “modern” wines even then.
I’m also sad I wasn’t able to catch this wine at the extra steep discount some of you were. I don’t think this '17 is one of their best vintages but the bottles at $40 and under are certainly a good value and will benefit from age.
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Imo, based on the '20, worth $80. Wonder what is going on with this producer.
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