Catching up.....

I was filing a couple of months worth of bill away (ugh!) this afternoon and came across some notes from two fairly recent wine tastings. The first set of notes are from a work tasting where we sampled a number of wines from across France:

NV Duval-Leroy Brut, Champagne - Yeasty, borderline mushroomy, red apple nose Green apple on the palate. Thick and oily texture that finishes crisp and clean. A beautiful blend of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. About $40

2008 Chateau de Valmer, Vouvray - A long time favorite of mine. We used to serve this by the glass at the wine bar where I bartended for a couple of years. Floral (think: magnolias), green apple nose and palate. Good texture and acidity. Moderately sweet with a long finish.

2008 Paul Blanck Pinot d'Alsace - Complex nose of truffles, earth, wet rocks and diesel. Mushrooms and diesel continue onto the palate. Quite acidic with a mineral and grapefruit notes on the finish.

2007 Alex Gambal Cuvee les deux Papis Bourgogne - Cherry/raspberry nose with orange peel, clove, oak and tart raspberry on the palate. Moderately tannic. Finishes with an unappealing note of orange/grapefruit pith.

2006 Chateau Mont-Redon, Chateauneuf-du-Pape - Coffee, oak, crushed black pepper, raspberry, garrigue - in short, everything you would want or expect from a well made Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

2005 Segla, Margaux - Another favorite of mine from my time at A Wine Flights Bar and Bistro. Earth, leather, cedar, horse collar nose reveals a bit of licorice with some time in the glass. Blackberry, coffee, graphite and licorice on the palate. Quite tannic in a built-to-age sort of way. Finishes with a touch of cough syrup.


2005 Chateau Hallet, Sauternes - Light color and body. Burnt sugar, petrol and vinyl on the nose and palate. Moderately sweet with a long, honeyed, alcoholic finish. Would fare well with light, fruit-based desserts.

And the following (brief) notes are from the most recent Wilderness Winos tasting:

NV Villa Sandi Il Fresco Prosecco - Pear nose and a nutty palate. Fine mousse

2008 Santa Cristina Antinori Campogrande Orvieto Classico - A light white wine with lemon-lime aromas and flavors. Great pairing with asparagus wrapped in proscuitto as well as goat cheese smeared on a cracker.


2007 Giustiniani Quattro Leoni Barbera d'Asti - Rich (buttery) and yeasty nose with cherry and cranberry aromas and flavors. Nice acidity. A bit alcoholic. Pretty wine.



2008 Cecci Chianti Classico - Dense and structured with licorice, tar and asphalt notes. Considerably more tannic than expected. Packs a punch and a very reasonable price.

2006 Antinori Toscana IGT - A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Dusty, meaty nose with blackberry and oak on the palate. Very dry with a really long, elegant finish