TN: Jose Michel Cham Pinot Meunier, Green & Red Zin and Hyde Belle Cousine

WINE TALK
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  • 2006 Green & Red Vineyards Zinfandel Chiles Canyon - USA, California, Napa Valley (9/10/2009)
    I haven’t had a R&G Zin in ages but I’d always been impressed. This is one their basic Zins from 4 Chiles Canyon vineyards, probably $18-20 retail. Nose shows earth and tart berry fruit. Alcohol 14% I think. A leaner Napa cooler region style, more earthy than big round fruit. A nice mix of just ripe berries with a touch of the bite still in them. A more Claret style that I think will be very nice for over the next 2-4 years. I really enjoyed this. (90 pts.)
  • N.V. José Michel & Fils Champagne Brut Pinot Meunier - France, Champagne (9/10/2009)
    At GlassHalFull by the glass. Lovely toasty nose. Fairly rich, lively acidity. Tart peach, minerally, lemon. Clean full finish. Lovely (90 pts.)
  • 2005 Hyde De Villaine Belle Cousine Hyde Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (9/10/2009)
    maybe I’m just drinking this too young. I preferred an earlier bottle and gave it a good upside. This one I found more overblown, oaky, very tannic, vegetal and not particularly fun to drink over 2 nights. I have a couple of bottles left and I think I’ll avoid them for several years. Perhaps this will turn into some more. (85 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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Addendum:

I checked CT for other notes on the above and the Jose Michel notes were striking:

I think we had 6 different wines! A couple of people agreed with me score wise but not the notes. Others liked it significantly less but the notes are from another planet. Maybe it is that this is a NV wine and one could expect this. But still…