January/February tasting notes

[sjw_11]

Hi all, filling in this thread for another two months...

• 2013 Château Batailley - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (2/21/2021)
  Mid red. Lovely claret style nose. Red berry notes, a complementary touch of green, a bit of spice. Quite cool and fragrant which carries through on the palate. Quite firm tannins still to close. This is drinking nicely today, though certainly the structure is there to see it through a further spell in the cellar. Very pleasant. (91 pts.)
• 2017 Ghislain Kohut Marsannay Blanc - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay (2/21/2021)
  Mid yellow. Tart citrus on the nose, sharp lemon, and an almost sherry like note as well. Angular and a bit disjointed on the palate with clear citrus and a slightly almost saline like character. Improves with air, but it just lacks a touch of depth or richness. Improves a bit with air. Overall, it just doesn’t really push my buttons. 86-87pts. (87 pts.)
• 2019 G.D. Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC (2/20/2021)
  Light to mid red, this is very “pretty” and floral on the nose. Some raspberry fruit as well. In the mouth these flavors carry through, backed up by a fair whack of tannin. Still it’s pretty juicy and drinks fine today. I suspect it will be slightly better in 1-2 years. (93 pts.)
• 2018 Domaine Ostertag Riesling Les Jardins - France, Alsace (2/20/2021)
  Mid yellow. On the nose there is some lime cordial, cut citrus, and an almost honeysuckle like floral character. Nice balance on the palate, with plenty of lemon/lime character and quite crisp acidity to close. Decent drinking now, but the acid suggests it could evolve for at least a couple more years in the cellar. (90 pts.)
• 2019 Jean Foillard Morgon Cuvée Corcelette - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon (2/17/2021)
  Deep red. Slightly hazy. Ripe, fruit driven and slightly confected on the nose. Not too lollyish though, in fact there is a mineral note as well. Sweet raspberry compote on the palate. Very pure and juicy. Nice drinking now but does it have the stuffing to age? It does veer a little sweet fruited. At €20+ is the value there? Undecided, although I would probably buy again so I guess that’s the answer. (90 pts.)
• 2015 Domaine Rolet Chardonnay Côtes du Jura - France, Jura, Côtes du Jura (2/16/2021)
  Last of a six pack. Mid yellow. Classic slightly aged Jura Chardonnay nose. Nice character. Still quite fresh. Plenty of ripe apricot/stone fruit on the palate and decent acid balance. Excellent everyday drinking wine at a price under €15. I would err towards drinking sooner than later but no rush as long as you are a fan of the style. 86-87pts (86 pts.)
• 2017 Domaine de Bellene Beaune 1er Cru Cuvée du Cinquantenaire Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru (2/15/2021)
  Consistent comments to my last note, except to add that on this occasion the wine freshened notably on the third day open, displaying more sweet raspberry and strawberry and less sour character, which surprised me and suggests possibly waiting a couple more years before opening to get the best result. (90 pts.)
• 2017 Casa Castillo Jumilla Valtosca - Spain, Murcia, Jumilla (2/14/2021)
  Straight Syrah, this apparently is fermented in oak and then gets nine months in new French oak. Very dark purple red, the nose is quite dense with red and purple fruits and vanillin oak. The palate offers spicy red berries and surprisingly firm tannin to close. Feels more Spanish than varietal. Maybe overall just a little too sweet fruited, but really quite an enjoyable and interesting drop that I would happily buy again to drink now to at least 3-5 years. (88 pts.)
• 2019 Domaine de Martinolles Limoux Vieilles Vignes - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Limoux (2/14/2021)
  Clear yellow in the glass. The nose on this would have you guessing new world more than anything in France. Ripe stone fruit, distinctive French oak, which carries through on the pretty full bodied and creamy palate. I am secretly a fan of the retro, slightly blowsy kind of Chard so I rather like this. (86 pts.)
• 2017 Paul Jaboulet Aîné St. Joseph Le Grand Pompée - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph (2/13/2021)
  Deep red. Polished red and dark fruit on the nose. Quite fresh and glossy. The palate carries this through, with a touch of undergrowth as well, and quite gritty tannins to close. By the second day open it seemed a touch thin, which suggests maybe one for earlier drinking. (88 pts.)
• 2008 M. Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Les Meysonniers - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (2/12/2021)
  Mid red trending to brown. I had six of these over the last 18 months or so (bought for a good price). This one seems definitively over the hill although it isn’t totally without interest. Some red berry character lingers but there is plenty of leather and mulch characters as well. It does wake up a bit with more air. Finishes a touch short and bitter. Others were fresher but I would still drink up if I had anymore. (85 pts.)
• 2018 Chanson Père & Fils Viré-Clessé - France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Viré-Clessé (2/11/2021)
  A real step up from the 2017 I opened the other day. Much fuller and more structured on the nose, with ripe stone fruit and a clear oak character. Rich apricot and melon on the palate. Certainly “new world” more than finely boned top level Burg but the acid balance is pretty good and at the price I would happily buy again to drink now to 2 years. (88 pts.)
• 2017 Chanson Père & Fils Viré-Clessé - France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Viré-Clessé (2/9/2021)
  Mid yellow. Ripe nose of stone fruit and citrus. Rounded fruit on the palate. Finishes quite clean, if a touch short. Quite decent if not super memorable, not sure why the last taster was so unimpressed. (87 pts.)
• 2018 Cave de Roquebrun Saint-Chinian Terrasses de Maynard - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Saint-Chinian (2/8/2021)
  Dense purple red. Vibrant, fruit driven nose of ripe plum, blackberry and vanilla. Juicy with fleshy red and purple fruit on the palate. Excellent QPR. (87 pts.)
• 2019 La Scolca Gavi Villa Scolca - Italy, Piedmont, Gavi (2/6/2021)
  Very clear pale colour. Exceptionally fresh and clean. Light citrus and an almost chalky note on the palate. Plenty of crisp acidity. Nice drinking, not sure about the value proposition. (87 pts.)
• 2011 Rafael Cambra Valencia Minimum - Spain, Valencia (2/5/2021)
  A nice story here, a winery founded out of a family who run a vine nursery. This wine is apparently produced only in good vintages and in small volumes, with minimal intervention. The 2011 as best I can tell is 70% Monastrell (Mouvedre) and 30% Cab Franc, and gets about 16 months in French oak.
  
  Medium garnet red. Some age to the colour, but pretty good definition still. On the nose, this could fool you well away from Spain. There is crushed red berries, some ferrous iron like notes, a touch of tobacco leaf, and a bit of greenness as well. The palate is distinctly medium bodied, despite the apparent 14.5% abv. I wonder blind I might be guessing a cool climate Cab Franc? Maybe falls a little short and angular. Intriguing, but not sure I can say it is pushing my buttons. (87 pts.)
• 2019 Le Cellier Savoyard Vin de Savoie Apremont - France, Savoie, Vin de Savoie Apremont (2/3/2021)
  Bright clear green/yellow. Very fresh and crisp. Quite simple, but nicely balanced with cleansing acidity, citrus and a bit of minerality too. Excellent easy drinking for €5. (86 pts.)
• 2013 Château Ormes de Pez - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (1/31/2021)
  Mid red. Restrained but classical nose. “Claret-like”. Red berries, some green or undergrowth like notes, a touch of spice. Pretty good definition. Even with air the tannins actually emerge quite firmly. Nice drinking now for lovers of balanced, traditional Bordeaux while better or more souped up versions sleep in the cellar, but equally this should keep for at least a while more. (88 pts.)
• 2019 Domaine Millet Petit Chablis La Perle de Millet - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Petit Chablis (1/31/2021)
  Fresh and clean with a slight hint of salinity and pretty pure fruit flavor. Not bad especially for the price. (87 pts.)
• 2019 Domaine Trotignon Touraine Les Silex - France, Loire Valley, Touraine (1/26/2021)
  From 25 year old vines, this is remarkably fresh and zippy with great, clean fruit flavors and none of the sometimes off putting characteristics of Sav B. Fantastic value. (87 pts.)
• 2018 Zorah Karasi - Armenia, Vayots Dzor (1/25/2021)
  Mid red. Sour cherry and red fruit on the nose. Light to medium bodied with brambly fruit. Intriguing wine and quite unusual. Maybe not quite worth the money, but overall pretty good. (87 pts.)
• 2018 Domaine des Rémizières Crozes-Hermitage Cuvée Christophe - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (1/24/2021)
  Dark purple red, this has an intense and layered nose. There is plenty of ripe plum, spice, and a more savory, charcuterie like character as well. Quite glossy but not overripe at all. Good weight and length on the palate, closing with firm, even tannin. I definitely see this improving further over the mid-term, although it also drinks well now. Pretty good value around EU19. (90 pts.)
• 2014 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (1/18/2021)
  Much more open and expressive than the 2015 I tasted in December. There is still a touch of varnish, but much more red berry notes and some bright floral characters. Really harmonious and detailed on the nose. The palate opens surprisingly juicy, although there a decent whack of tannin behind it. I am sure this will cellar well for at least another decade, but this is genuinely approachable and enjoyable now with a bit of air. (92 pts.)
• 2018 Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Montlouis-sur-Loire Clos du Hochet - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire (1/17/2021)
  Mid yellow. The nose is not quite what I was expecting. There is some broad tropical fruit, a touch of peach and a slight almost sherry like note in the background. A bit of minerality as well. There is a quite a lot going on but it somehow doesn’t quite blend together to a harmonious whole. The palate is quite ripe and full, with characters of peach and nashi pear. Altogether not bad, but the QPR is perhaps questionable. (87 pts.)
• 2019 Clos Culombu Vin de Corse Calvi Blanc - France, Corsica, Vin de Corse Calvi (1/15/2021)
  Pale yellow, this offers plenty of fresh appeal on the nose, with elements of stone fruit (peach/apricot), white floral notes and some citrus as well. This impression carries through on the palate, which is perhaps just a touch broad, albeit finishing with good, crisp acidity. I commented on the 2018 this would be very good value at the cellar price of c€14, and it is even better at the €12.90 I paid for this. (88 pts.)
• 2018 Baron Philippe de Rothschild Escudo Rojo Gran Reserva - Chile, Maipo Valley (1/15/2021)
  No formal notes, tasted casually, but I was quite impressed by this. There is a definite ripe, American oak type character - think ripe red and dark fruits and vanilla, but the balance is pretty good. Would like to try this again. (87 pts.)
• 2019 Château La Noe Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie (1/14/2021)
  Mid yellow, flecked with green. Pleasant nose. Slightly grapey but with some gentle citrus and floral hints as well. Quite crisp and refreshing on the palate, with firm acidity. Lovely easy drinking white. (86 pts.)
• 2019 Domaine de la Charmoise Gamay Touraine - France, Loire Valley, Touraine (1/13/2021)
  Bright red. Vibrant if slightly simple nose. To be fair there are some lifted violet like aromas adding to it. Classic Gamay red fruits. Juicy red berries and crunchy acidity on the palate. Look it’s not going to win any big prizes but for €8 this is a cracking little mid week wine. 86-87pts. (86 pts.)
• 2016 Daniel Bouland Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Mélanie - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Côte de Brouilly (1/12/2021)
  I think this is the last of a six pack (or maybe there is one more hiding somewhere). This is mid red in the glass. Despite four years of age this is very fresh and primary still. Lots of sweet raspberry and just a hint of confection - but some more savoury definition as well. Lovely balance on the palate. No rush to drink but very delicious now. A perfect “bistro wine” and great value under €16. (88 pts.)
• 2017 La Chablisienne Chablis La Sereine - France, Burgundy, Chablis (1/11/2021)
  Last bottle of a six pack. Still quite pale yellow. Plenty of grapefruit, pith and citrus on the nose. Very fresh and clean which carries through on the palate. Lacks a certain “x factor” to rate higher, but to be fair I’m not always the biggest Chablis fan so others may like it more. Great value for under €13. (87 pts.)
• 2018 Domaine de la Cotelleraie Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil Les Perruches - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil (1/5/2021)
  A proudly “Bio” wine, this fact shows up immediately on the nose, which has an unmistakable overtone of chicken poop (I would personally guess Brett, but at some point the cause is secondary to the impact). There are some more classic Cab Franc red berry characteristics as well. The palate comes across much cleaner, especially with air, showing fleshy red fruits and just a hint of confection. I actually don’t mind a bit of “barnyard-y” complexity but it sits so abruptly next to otherwise gently fragrant, relatively soft bodied Cab Franc characteristics that I can only view it as a winemaking fault. (86 pts.)
• 2018 Chanson Père & Fils Chablis - France, Burgundy, Chablis (1/4/2021)
  No formal notes. Pretty fresh and clean, but lacks a bit of personality. Maybe needs more time? Value is questionable at c€20. (87 pts.)
• 2017 Grosset Riesling Springvale Clare Valley - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (1/2/2021)
  A year on from my last note, this is in a good place right now. The acidity feels in the best balance of all the bottles I have had so far. Lovely lemon/lime juicy, still very fresh, nose. Quite round on the palate, with a bit of natural fruit sweetness. Very pleasant drinking now. (91 pts.)

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[Ian S]

Always a wonderfully eclectic journey through the wine world, so thanks for these Sam

Re: La Scolca price proposition - yes, it's so often the way that the leading name in the region offers questionable value. Some are even worse, and stand still / regress thinking the brand will support them without even trying (Marchesi di Barolo are my prime candidates for this)

Good to see the note on the Armenian wine - I've got a bottle of this lined up for an 'impossible' blind tasting with friends. Not in any way meant to be a serious thing, they will be aided along the way and commended when they start to get warmer.