Not so Riesling

Descombes 2010 Morgon

Region:

Beaujolais

Country:

France

Vintage:

2010

Alcohol:

13.0 %

Size:

750 ml

Price:

$22

Tasted:

05 May 2012

Morgon is probably the most serious Beaujolais Cru there is. This is not just pretty, easy-drinking fruit wine, this is Gamay with depth. And minimal sulfur.

Medium ruby color. Youthful nose full of strawberries, cherries and mineral aromas. Dry and very fruity on the palate. Refreshing and vibrant, the ripe fruit flavors of strawberry and plum get a touch of minty spiciness and hints of thyme which extend through a medium long length. The alcohol is well integrated, the tannins rather shy. Touch of wet stones on the finish.

This Beaujolais seems relatively simple at first, but after decanting reveals a really nice herbal character, well balanced with fruit and subtle tannic structure.

In short:

Good - Very good

Altenkirch 1983 Lorcher Bodenthal-Steinberg Spätburgunder Auslese

Producer:

Friedrich Altenkirch

Region:

Rheingau

Country:

Germany

Vintage:

1983

Alcohol:

10.0 %

Closure:

Cork

Tasted:

23 February 2012

Elegant nose, both sweet and earthy. Medium intensity of strawberry and port-like aromas. Medium sweet on the palate, soft and round but with vivid medium(+) acidity. Low alcohol. Medium intensity of ripe strawberry flavor and mild spices. Medium(+) length.

Extremely elegant and well-balanced Pinot Noir, which has softened nicely over the years without losing its earthy character.

In short:

Very good

Les Faverelles 2010 Bourgogne Rouge

Region:

Burgundy

Country:

France

Vintage:

2010

Cultivation:

Biodynamic

Alcohol:

12.0 %

Closure:

Cork

Price:

$21

Tasted:

14 April 2012

A delightful Pinot Noir from the Yonne department in Burgundy. The Yonne is fairly far up north in Burgundy and mostly known for its Chablis wines. Les Faverelles is biodynamic and farms 6 heactares of vineyards in the small village of Asquins.

In short:

Very good

La Lunotte 2010 Le Haut Plessis

Region:

Loire

Country:

France

Vintage:

2010

Alcohol:

12.0 %

Closure:

Cork

Size:

750 ml

Price:

$18

Tasted:

09 April 2012

Made from 50 year old vines of Menu Pineau, a white variety that is sometimes also called Arbois in the Loire Valley. Although its buds burst early in spring, nevertheless Menu Pineau likes to ripen its berries as long as possible to produce a wine with relatively high acidity and low alcohol levels. Winemaker Christophe Foucher grows his vines organically.

In short:

Very good

Heron Hill 2008 Ingle Vineyard Pinot Noir

Producer:

Heron Hill Winery

Region:

New York

Country:

USA

Vintage:

2008

Alcohol:

12.5 %

RS:

2.0 g/l

Acidity:

6.3 g/l

Closure:

Cork

Size:

750 ml

Tasted:

04 April 2012

The grapes for this Pinot Noir come from the Ingle Vineyard on the west side of Canandaigua Lake. Heron Hill owner John Ingle planted the 3 hectares of Pinot Noir in 1987 on gravelly loam and limestone soil. The grapes for their Pinot Noir are hand picked and then de-stemmed, but not crushed to maximize fruit and minimize any bitter flavors from seed tannins.

The 2008 Ingle Vineyard is a well structured Pinot Noir from the Finger Lakes with a fresh fruit and earthy herbal character. The oak is well-integrated and the wine overall is leaning more towards Old World then New World. If you know what I mean.

In short:

Very good

Heron Hill 2008 Ingle Vineyard Cabernet Franc

Producer:

Heron Hill Winery

Region:

New York

Country:

USA

Vintage:

2008

Alcohol:

12.5 %

RS:

3.0 g/l

Acidity:

6.4 g/l

Closure:

Cork

Size:

750 ml

Tasted:

27 March 2012

The Ingle Vineyard is located on the west side of Canandaigua Lake, half way between Canandaigua City and Naples. The soil consists of glacial outwash, gravely loam, ovid silt loam and aurora silt loam. The sub soil consists of clay and limestone, well-drained with shale and slate. The 3 acres of Cabernet Franc vines were planted in 2000.

The 2008 Ingle Vineyard Cabernet Franc was fermented in stainless steel and then matured in 80% European and 20% American oak. 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot were blended in.

A vibrant Cabernet Franc, with varietal bell pepper character and intense fruit. A fine wine to drink by itself or to accompany rich meat dishes.

In short:

Very good

Chateau Margaux 2001 Pavillon Rouge

Region:

Bordeaux

Country:

France

Vintage:

2001

Alcohol:

13.0 %

Closure:

Cork

Size:

750 ml

Price:

$36

Tasted:

07 March 2012

Chateau Margaux is one of the five Premier Crus of the Bordeaux region. The estate is located in the commune of Margaux, which itself is part of the Medoc region on the left bank of the Garonne estuary. Pavillon Rouge is their second wine, which means that it is made of those wines that were not used for their prestigious first growth bottling. Nevertheless, it is quite an impressive drink.

Balanced and elegant Bordeaux. Lush fruit with a nice touch of bitterness. Since it is "only" the Chateau's second wine I was worried that I may have waited too long with opening this wine, but the 2001 vintage of Pavillon Rouge is still very fresh and vibrant and probably would have benefitted from a few more years in bottle.

In short:

Very good - Excellent

Clos du Val 2001 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Country:

USA

Vintage:

2001

Alcohol:

13.5 %

Size:

750 ml

Tasted:

03 March 2012

Clos du Val was founded in 1970 and it was only their second vintage (the Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon 1972), which was voted into 8th place in the famous Judgment of Paris tasting. The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is made from the winery's Stags Leap District vineyards.

The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Clos du Val is utterly delicious and elegant. It still very young and fresh tasting and should further develop for another decade. I found the light herbal overtone (which reminded me a bit of Cabernet Franc) quite charming.

In short:

Very good - Excellent

Heron Hill 2009 Ingle Vineyard Chardonnay

Producer:

Heron Hill Winery

Region:

New York

Country:

USA

Vintage:

2009

Size:

750 ml

Tasted:

26 February 2012

Heron Hill in the Finger Lakes makes two Chardonnays, one that is barrel fermented in European oak (which is a blend of mainly Hungarian oak, Russian oak and Romanian oak) and one that is fermented in stainless steel. Both wines I tasted were from the 2009 vintage and the grapes were harvested from the estate's Ingle Vineyard. The grapes for the unoaked Chardonnay actually came from a small elevated parcel of the Ingle Vineyard called Carl's Vinyeard.

I enjoyed both wines very much. Even Riesling purists may want to give Heron Hill's Chardonnay a try.

In short:

Good

Prieure-Lichine 1998

Region:

Bordeaux

Country:

France

Vintage:

1998

Alcohol:

12.5 %

Closure:

Cork

Size:

750 ml

Tasted:

17 February 2012

Deep ruby color with thin a garnet rim. Pronounced intensity of dark fruit aromas, black cherry, black currants, blackberries, with elegant overtones of tobacco and leather. Very harmonious. The tannins are ripe and firm, but there is nevertheless a nice vegetal character to this wine, bringing it back to earth and revealing the fruit flavors thus in an even brighter light. Medium(+) length with a gracious herbal finish.

In short:

Very good