Welcome to Peter, a new reviewer. After finding the site and contributing some comments, he's decided to take the plunge and contribute a review - you can too!
--- Peter's Review ---
Nose: Very rich and complex nose of earth, barnyard funk, red fruit compote, and baking spices.
Taste: Medium bodied, pleasant acidity, nice back bone of red fruit (I could not pick out which specific fruits), nice long finish. Well balanced wine. This wine pairs well with a variety of food, though it certainly can be lovely on it's own.
Some further notes: I have to admit a strong bias toward the wines of southern France. I crave the baking spices, garrigue, and balance they so often bring to the table. This one fit the bill. It may not for everyone, so be warned, if you want gobs of fruit or the creaminess of well-oaked wine, this one may not be for you. Wine Access magazine scored it 90 points. Gary Vaynerchuck of Wine Library TV scored it 88 points. I found it not dissimilar to Chateau Haut Bel Air from the same region, but a notch better. This one is far superior to the regular Domaine de Bila Haut red. I will be buying more. Would love to hear some opinions on this.
Price: $27.99
Score: 89-90points
Value: Fair price 4/5.
Producer: M. Chapoutier
Varietals: Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault
Region: Languedoc-Roussillion, France
UPC: 3391181390736
Showing posts with label Southern France. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southern France. Show all posts
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Caves des Papes Reserve de Fustiers Gigondas 2004
--- A Review from Iron Chef ---
I don't remember this being a 'Sale Wine', but it was on the Sale Table at Prospect today. It has been a long
time since I had the Perrin Gigondas, but this really reminded me of a restrained Vinsobres, which I just noticed is sold out at ANBL- a WS 91 pts for about $25. And the Perrin Gigondas was from a hot 2003 vintage- a little different.
Nose- Hot Cherries mixed with Raspberries and some Port-ish aromas. Spicy wood tannins like turmeric or cumin. Lastly some Leather notes that I really liked.
Palate- Right off reminded me of a Cherry Blossom chocolate bar. A bit hot with some cinnamon/nutmeg spice. Sweet like milk chocolate but not candied or over the top. Somewhat restrained taste which was odd especially given the hot-ness of the alcohol. Some thinner notes at the mid-palate. A sour cherry taste, which I hate, dissipated as it decanted and was replaced with a more refined licorice.
Overall I found myself really wanting to like this wine, even though I was in a pisspoor mood. My notes on the Vinsobres suggest I would have probably given it a 91-94 pts so this should be less as it is thinner, less extracted, but not a lot less.
Price: $23.47
Score: 90
Value: 4/5
Region: Southern Rhone
Grape: Grenache blend
Alcohol 14.5%
UPC: 714320144008
I don't remember this being a 'Sale Wine', but it was on the Sale Table at Prospect today. It has been a long
time since I had the Perrin Gigondas, but this really reminded me of a restrained Vinsobres, which I just noticed is sold out at ANBL- a WS 91 pts for about $25. And the Perrin Gigondas was from a hot 2003 vintage- a little different.Nose- Hot Cherries mixed with Raspberries and some Port-ish aromas. Spicy wood tannins like turmeric or cumin. Lastly some Leather notes that I really liked.
Palate- Right off reminded me of a Cherry Blossom chocolate bar. A bit hot with some cinnamon/nutmeg spice. Sweet like milk chocolate but not candied or over the top. Somewhat restrained taste which was odd especially given the hot-ness of the alcohol. Some thinner notes at the mid-palate. A sour cherry taste, which I hate, dissipated as it decanted and was replaced with a more refined licorice.
Overall I found myself really wanting to like this wine, even though I was in a pisspoor mood. My notes on the Vinsobres suggest I would have probably given it a 91-94 pts so this should be less as it is thinner, less extracted, but not a lot less.
Price: $23.47
Score: 90
Value: 4/5
Region: Southern Rhone
Grape: Grenache blend
Alcohol 14.5%
UPC: 714320144008
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Brumont Tannat Merlot 2006
Our run of modestly priced wine continues, but this time with one to avoid. Good to know, as I might have been tempted if I'd come across this wine - like Iron Chef, I've had good luck with wines from Alain Brumont in the past, and the Tannat grape is something different. Too bad this one didn't work out. Here is a review from Iron Chef.
--- Iron Chef's Review ---
After all the success I have had with the Brumont wines from Madiran, I was shock to realize there was one I had yet to try. I had it in the cellar for a while and was excited to find it buried.
The nose was oaky, spearmint gum, Leafy Green and a familiar smell of a dusty gravel road on a hot day. It smelled very young with a bunch of unripened grapes.
The palate confirmed the nose. Very Grippy front cheeks and jaw felt the sting of the tannins. Sharp biting acidity. Aromas of Allspice and nutmeg probably from the oak. The fruit was unripened cherries and cheap coffee. The palate was hollow in the middle- where the fruit should be and overall very chalky in the mouth. My wife called it harsh, I called it immature. I still expect at this price point some balance between fruit, acidity and tannins, I can’t even imagine what this would taste like without 50% Merlot. This was after 45 minutes in the decanter.
Price: $14.79
Score 70
Value 2/5
Region: Southwest France- Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne
Grape: Tannat, Merlot
Alcohol: 13%
UPC: 3372220000236
--- Iron Chef's Review ---
After all the success I have had with the Brumont wines from Madiran, I was shock to realize there was one I had yet to try. I had it in the cellar for a while and was excited to find it buried.
The nose was oaky, spearmint gum, Leafy Green and a familiar smell of a dusty gravel road on a hot day. It smelled very young with a bunch of unripened grapes.
The palate confirmed the nose. Very Grippy front cheeks and jaw felt the sting of the tannins. Sharp biting acidity. Aromas of Allspice and nutmeg probably from the oak. The fruit was unripened cherries and cheap coffee. The palate was hollow in the middle- where the fruit should be and overall very chalky in the mouth. My wife called it harsh, I called it immature. I still expect at this price point some balance between fruit, acidity and tannins, I can’t even imagine what this would taste like without 50% Merlot. This was after 45 minutes in the decanter.
Price: $14.79
Score 70
Value 2/5
Region: Southwest France- Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne
Grape: Tannat, Merlot
Alcohol: 13%
UPC: 3372220000236
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