Wine impressions 11-27-24
2023 Konstantin Frank, Gewurtztraminer - no perm solution smell, just fresh fruit and flowers, a light Gerwurtz spice/funk and a juicy, lasting finish. At about $20, this is a no brainer.
2010 Cowan Cellars, Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - the integration here is complete; this may hold awhile but I doubt it will further develop. Exactly what Sonoma Coast is supposed to be; savory, transparent, complex and slightly sauvage. At 14, quite pleasing.
2021 Vincent, Pinot Noir Temperance Hill - too young but everything I find makes me happy to have more. Hold.
2022 Vincent, Pinot Noir Temperance Hill - baby fat young, fairly open and even more impressive than the preceding wine. Great future.
2022 A Tribute to Grace, Grenache - not a grape I care much for but this is lovely. Needs a year in bottle to settle the tannins and become a lightweight wonder. About the only Grenache I’ll buy.
2021 Kir-Yianni, Xinomavro Cuvée Villages - more rustic than my recent tastings of the ‘22 Thymiopoulos, Young Vines but, with air, becomes a similar lightweight beauty that takes to food well. More of the grip I expect (but don’t necessarily love) from this grape but not drying.
I prefer the Thymiopoulos.
N/V Vilmart, Champagne Grand Cellier - tightropes between fruit and cut very well and keeps us coming back for more. Nice bubbles.
2022 Dominique Gruhier, Epineuil Bourgogne - medium weight, compact, lively and detailed; amazingly good Burgundy for about $30.
2022 Fritzsche, Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reunion - reminds of those extraordinary old ‘70’s Shafer and Phelps cabs. that drank well for 50 years, were low in alcohol and bore no resemblance to the Napa cabs. of today. This 12.5 abv wine from the Oak Knoll AVA is excellent. I doubt I’ll last 50 but, I have no doubt, this will last as long as I do and show well all the way.
The Napa project from Oregon’s Vincent Wine Company.
2023 Arnot-Roberts, Trousseau - some dissolved CO2 makes it slightly spritzy at the beginning but that dissipates, lightweight, some grip, concentrated fruit that’s almost (but not quite) sour and a delivery that is a touch earthy. It’s showing young but what’s there shows promise. Hold.
2021 Domaine Rolet, Arbois Trousseau - showing well now with layered fruit, excellent balance, Jura energy and sneaky depth. The difference between this and the foregoing wine is marked - not that one is better than the other but they are clearly different - one of the joys in the transparency of Trousseau.
2022 Sandlands, Cinsault - from Lodi, 12.6% abv; opens simple, reticent and quiet but over several hours with dinner becomes one of the most enjoyable wines I’ve had this year. Translucent, lightweight yet intense, expansive but focused, complex, elegant, energetic, supple and long. Superb wine showing well now.
Oh my!
2021 Felsina, Chianti Classico - certainly a classic expression of Classico (I’m sorry) but a bit stern and tannic. I’m okay with it, Diane is not. I’ll set this aside for tomorrow and see what happens.
Day two: pretty much the same - not bad but not something to buy again.
2019 Louis Michel, Chablis Forets - from first pour to last, the way Chablis should taste. Period.
Best, Jim
