I had the new Problem Child the other night. Quite tasty, but clearly needs some time.
For the winter release today. Beautiful showing at 10 years of age. Starting to get some of that claret development but retains that zin fruit purity.
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Over the weekend wines:
The 2011 Virage was the WoTW (wine of the weekend) for me; the Viberti Papalot was WotW for my bride. I knew it — I had this first at a Voix de la Terre Barolo evening in Manhattan and I knew it was squarely in the Mrs’s wheelhouse.
This is not to say the Aisana disappointed. Far from it — it was a learning experience about how to serve it more than anything else.
2022 Osvaldo Viberti Nascetta Langhe Papalot
Citrus, lily-like florals, sage on the nose. Lovely mix of pear, lemon, rosemary/sage on the palate. Was a bit reticent on first opening, reflecting excessive chilling. A slight warm up and air really helped let this wine sing.
Addendum a day later. The acidity is more noticeable but a new sea brine/seaweed scent has been added to the mix.
2011 Virage Vineyards Bordeaux Blend
Sorry for the fuzzy photo - that’s what I get when I try to mix the steak porn thread with this one….
Followed the advice of some posters on CT and just popped and poured. The right choice — this started singing after only a couple of minutes in the glass. This was a medium bodied, classic CA meritage. Delightful mix of red berries and cherries, light vanilla, a little spice all in beautiful harmony. This wine really set itself apart by giving me a rare spatial idea of the fruit flavors in particular— like they were all scattered evenly around a target. Weird, but a very particular image, like a Star Wars sequence where the lasers lock on target and all the crosshairs line up and flash.
The winery’s notes on the 2011 vintage are instructive btw: they go into detail about how 2011 was not everywhere the bad weather challenge that critics’ summaries relate. This 2011 is a knockout. A great BD purchase.
2022 Kinsman Eades Aisana Sauvignon Blanc.
Great anticipation on this one and it is a fine Sauv Blanc.
Well this was interesting. Made the mistake of serving it too cold - typical Sancerre cold — and this came across as a little too acidic and brusque at that temp. A little warmer — slight chill — and this opens up nicely. Lots of lemon and grapefruit zest, a strong pebbly minerality — it tastes a little like a Graves but, eh, a little too emphatic for that. What it is however is amazingly versatile: it’s a wine for food. In our case that meant charcoal grilled BBQ pork chops with roasted Brussels sprouts. Went great. I can also see this — at a little below room temp — with cheese.
I think I have read some TNs suggesting this is not age worthy. I disagree — I think this has plenty of stuffing to develop extra complexity with several years in the dark.
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Initially, I thought, “Oh no, this wine has absolutely nothing to it—and I’ve got more in the cellar.” But after a little time in the glass, I was relieved to realize it was corked.
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Have you had any premox problems with this producer? I can buy a good amount of current releases at attractive prices but don’t have enough experience to know if I should worry about the use of cork over DIAM.
No, have you? I’ve only opened that one corked bottle. I have another, plus a 2016 Langoureau Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru La Garenne, so I’m not deeply exposed nor invested.
I haven’t but I’m always wary of buying much from unknown (to me) producers still bottling under natural cork, and I couldn’t find much discussion elsewhere on the forum. Thanks.
Used to buy these at University Wines over by Sandpoint.
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Fairly mature on the schnoz, showing more forest floor than fruit. Pretty. Tight winemaking. Drinking nicely but tannins are still grippy vs what’s left of the fruit. Low on the complexity meter. Nice and worth the apx $30 on release. A fun experiment to see what low level Burg can do in a good vintage. It will go several more years but I doubt any upside. Pretty sure I got it at Garnet. Seems like Garnet is more dried out than this wine today.
2 Likes
Champagne Mademoiselle Marg’o Vintage 2015
Disclaimer: we sell this.
Domaine Puech Cuvée Élisa 2022
Not bad but lacking acidity to my taste. Fell flat.
Jean-Marc Pillot Montagny 1er Cru Les Gouresses 2020
Same as the previous bottles. Really darn good.
Domaine Louis Michel & Fils Chablis 1er Cru Forêts 2020
Rich fruit, some fresh butter (malo?) and assertive mineral cut. Less iodine than 2021 and riper fruit.
Domaine Pierre Amiot et Fils Morey-St-Denis 1er Cru Les Blanchards 2018
I didn’t expect to like this as much! Dark fruited and exotic spices on the nose. The palate is a burst of fresh dark berries but with a cool and fresh mineral undertone and good acidity to drive on the long fruity finish. Very nice wine and another lovely 2018 Burg 1er Cru.
La Réserve de Sociando-Mallet 2014
No picture, in a restaurant in Lausanne.
Great nose: cassis, dark cherries, leather, cedar amd cool minerals. The palate didn’t do justice to the nose but it’s still a useful claret to pair with food. Redder berries, medium acidity, a little dilute on the mid-palate and short to medium finish on tobacco leaves and red plums. Okay but not at restaurant pricing!
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2021 Guilbert-Gillet Savigny-les-Beaune Aux Petits Liards Vieilles Vignes - needs air but was gorgeous after 3 hours in the decanter.
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2017 Roederer Estate L’Ermitage Brut
I strongly suggest not drinking this at ice bucket or refrigerator temperature. Take it out 30 or 40 minutes before. Its flavors will have a better chance to show. Delicious American sparkling wine, compares very favorably to very good French Champagne. Underrated, IMHO!
Very Recommended
2017 Ramey Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay
Very impressive. Subtle. Complex. Delicious. Integrated oak . Add some finesse.
In short, WOW!
One of the most pleasing white wines that I have ever had.
Very Recommended
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2015 Lionel Faury Saint Joseph VV - very little fruit for the first 30 minutes and then it hit its stride with black fruit and violets joining the roasted meat and black olive. This St. Joe was perfectly balanced and next thing I knew, the bottle was empty.
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2014 Copain Brosseau Syrah (so nice! And I miss Wells Guthrie’s influence)
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By the glass at Agriscape near Sapporo. The food at Agriscape was phenomenal.
Two local Hokkaido wines.
The Pinot Gris was floral and balanced with high acidity that worked great with the seafood courses
The Domaine Takahiko Rose (made mostly with Pinot Noir) was genuinely excellent. A superb savoury elegant balanced wine.
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Part of a group treated to a wonderful dinner at Daniel’s Broiler in Bellevue on Friday. Opened with a couple bottles of 2008 Feuillatte Palmes d’Or, then migrated to these 2014 bottles of Figeac. Wonderfully balanced wine. Epic nose of sage, rosemary and this gorgeous stony perfume of dark fruits. Medium weight, medium/full body with taste of graphite, cassis, and ripe bing cherry. My first Figeac and was nervous about the vintage after numerous experiences tasting left bank wines. Loved this wine. Want more for the cellar…to drink over the next few months!
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