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Just enjoying this Rosé, which at 13.5% holds its acidity very well. A biodynamic estate, but I don’t know the blend but is probably Syrah and Grenache.
Quite a full body, and a longish finish which is gentle and elegant. Fruit is a mix of raspberry and pear.
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Now discovered that it is 65% Grenache with Cinsualt and Mourvedre.
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Any relation to this, do you think:
https://www.thewinesociety.com/product/domaine-le-mesclances-charmes-igp-mediterranee-2022-organic
Hmmm…possibly but a whole degree of alcohol makes me wonder. A relation? probably a cousin looks about right
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Samuel Billaud Les Vaillons 2016.
Classic Chablis nose with a good amount of intensity, with some toasty notes as it opens up. The palate is refined without lots of fruit but with a fleeting elderflower note that appears and disappears. Not austere but mineral rather than fruit driven. The finish builds and lingers with a lovely lemony acidity and chalky texture. No tertiary flavours to note but the wine is evolved to the point that it is very harmonious. There’s also no obvious oak influence. I’ve got one more bottle that I’ll try to hang onto but it wouldn’t be a shame to drink it soon either. Seems to be opening up a little more with air as well.
Now wishing I’d picked up some of the limited amounts of Billaud that came in (and out of stock) a few weeks ago.
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Been craving some Nebbiolo, so trying one of these this evening:
This is a Sainsbury’s OL job (from the generally decent Araldica co-op) I picked up on the back of a Decanter recommendation. I previously enjoyed a half-case of the 2016 but hadn’t seen it since.
Clear, ruby red and not too pale, the nose has a some slightly confected red fruit notes (raspberries, redcurrant) as well as some more typical floral perfume. Palate is less fruity and shows prominent drying tannins, but there is definitely some of that tar and rose in there. It does seem to be benefiting from a bit of air as well.
Given that this came in at £9 (on a 25% off deal), I think it’s a decent example and vgv.
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Roasted vegetables and a pea risotto with Menetou Salon followed by this SAUMUR Champigny 2020. Sweet fruit of berries, no oak to speak of and a lingering palate of blackberry tartness brings it all together and alive. Merci beaucoup Camille et Nicolas.
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More Musar. I preferred this to the 2010 tried last weekend. A very wet year (2010 was very hot) and the wine seems to me to be more typical. Intense, savoury, long. Not very funky.
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This evening I cooked cioppino and sourdough poppyseed rolls, and a Californian wine seemed appropriate for a dish with origins in San Francisco. Au Bon Climat, Chardonnay Santa Barbera County, 2019.
https://www.thewinesociety.com/product/au-bon-climat-santa-barbara-chardonnay-2019
Bought in a mixed case last year, and this is really classy, with the oak very well integrated with ripe peach and melon fruit. Far from in-your-face buttered toast, this is lemony, rounded, and refined.
Have a good weekend!
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Delayed 40th BDay dinner with Mrs M this evening due to a hospital visit over the actual date. One of the first bottles I bought after joining the WS specifically to lay down for a few years; to go with steaks, brandy sauce and blue cheese jackets this evening.
Two hours in the decanter and full of promise-sinewy, bruised fruit nose + rich, dense plum, iron and pepper in the mouth.
First margarita of the summer to open with!
Happy weekend everyone.
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Given the heat in this part of England, i thought of go for something designed for a warmer climate.
A subtle noise, but lots of ripe red fruit, with a thread of tannin and acid on the aftertaste. Just the job. Served straight from the cellar, so nice and cool at first. As it warmed the acid began to come through a little more and the fruit faded a little. Still lovely though!
Last bottle of three
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To accompany a leisurely lunch today with guests came these wines - 2 bottles of each of the 75cl bottles were needed.
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Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port 2008. I will add a pic tomorrow with some daylight.
Because - bear with me - I’ve picked all the cherries off our tree (ok…about a third of them, the birds had the rest) so this evening had duck in a port and cherry sauce. Which needed port. So I opened the yongest bottle in the garage.
No idea the price because part of a TWS mixed Christmas case.
Ticks all the boxes for vintage port: primary fruit, black cherries, blackberries, black pepper, rich and vineous, not a lot of complexity & young tannins so perhaps needs another decade?
Drinking very well as the day cools off and the bats come out.
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I’m drinking this tonight and it’s very good as you say for a warm evening … top marks
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In honour of the Chateau Des Jacques EP that was released today, we went for a Chateau des Jacques Moulin a Vent 2018 (the basic cru, not the single vineyard options).
As discussed, it is neither one thing (typical Beaujolais) nor another (Burgundy). It doesn’t have the same freshness or acidic crunch as Beaujolais, nor the silkiness of Burgundy. There was a little tannin, at 5 years old, but no real tertiary flavours that are supposed to come in with this particular wine. Maybe it is just a little too young for that.
Pale purple colour, and a slight dustiness and plenty of blueberry on the nose. It was a lot of dark fruits, mix of blueberry and a bit of raspberry on the mouth. Smooth, and a long finish. Got a bit soupy and lost a bit of finesse as it warmed up - definitely best at about 14 or 15 degrees. I’ll leave the other bottles a bit to develop the tertiary flavours.
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A rare one …I remember Martinez wines (ilkley) liking this one alot
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How much silkiness would you get from Burgundy at that price, though? Pretty average villages I’d say, and probably a bit thin and rough.
For me, yes, neither one nor the other. But taken for what it is, pretty good for what it costs.
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2011 Lanzaga Rioja
Mature nose, stewed fruits. Plum, fig, leather, cedar, pencil box
Quite full, concentrated and rich. Acidity only middling. I think this is drink up territory. A decent finish
Rioja merging in style into a mature Bordeaux.
2011 a middling to low year. Absolutely no idea on provenance/sourcing
Happy Friday all!
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I picked up a discounted half case of the 2009 from TWS back in 2017. Very much modern/international style, quite rich and silky. Not my usual thing, but I really enjoyed them over a couple of years.
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