2002 Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Kabinett, Dr. Loosen, M-S-R
Peach-pineapple fruit with very good acidity, medium intensity and some depth, with a long taste. Lovely riesling aroma as well. Sweetness is at the higher end of Kabinett but carried well. The price can only be mislabeling - Dr. Loosen has a fine reputation with a higher price point. Close-out price $7, regular price $11.2000 Marsannay Les Ouzeloy, Joseph Roty, France
Rating: Very Good
One of the better red Burgundies in some time, more than high acidity and low fruit masquerading as terroir. There is good cherry-raspberry fruit of moderate intensity and some depth, good acidity, and a fairly long taste. Well-balanced, so oak and tannin do not stand out. Very good with roast chicken. Close-out price $22, regular price $40.2004 Sula Vineyards Chenin Blanc, Nashik, India
Rating: Good ++
Quite a good wine - some sweetness well-balanced by acidity. Moderate intensity with a fairly long, floral taste. Could be mistaken for a good riesling. Went superbly well with Indian food in the very good Cambridge restaurant Tamarind Bay. Restaurant price: $8 for a glass.2006 A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir, Oregon
Rating: Good ++
Not too much there. A bit light in color and body, with not too long a taste. Unburdened by tannin or oak, with moderate varietal character. A previous year's version appeared to develop with time, but this one doesn't seem to have the substance to improve that much. Regular price $21, less 20% discount.2004 Pouilly-Fumé, Les Rabichottes, Celestin Blondeau, France
Rating: Good +
Does not have quite the depth and length of flavor that I expected from this producer. There is still good acidity, moderate intensity; it may be showing a little age. Close-out price $12, regular price $18.2006 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Rating: Good +(+)
Note added 6/08: This bottle delivered what I had expected - it had good depth and length with good balance typical of a good Loire wine. Bright acidity but not the grassiness of a NZ SB. Bottle variation, or taster variation?
Rating: Very Good
A favorite from a previous year. Besides the good acidity it shows some body, depth and balance, with NZ grassiness well under control. Long taste with some complexity. Restaurant price $31 at Legal Sea Foods.2004 Pernand-Vergelesses, Domaine Laleure-Piot, France
Rating: Very Good
There's a bit of the white burgundy character that I prefer, but not enough to justify the price. The acidity is good, oak is under control, but there's not quite the fruit intensity that it needs. Moderately long taste. Close-out price $25, regular price $33.2005 Montes Pinot Noir, Limited Selection, Casablanca Valley, Chile
Rating: Good +
Well-balanced, with varietal floral aroma and taste, in a lighter style. A bit of depth, and moderately long taste. Accompanied grilled salmon very well. A very good buy at the price. Close-out price $9, regular price $13.2005 Kendall-Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon, Vintner's Reserve,California
Rating: Good ++
Not much varietal character or depth, but with good intensity and flavor. Easy-drinking, without much in the way of firmness, tannin or wood. Moderate length. Price unknown.2005 Benton Lane Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Rating: Good +
Lighter and somewhat uncomplicated style. Moderate varietal aroma and taste. Light on tannin and wood. Medium length. Close-out price $19, regular price $27.2002 Wither Hills Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand
Rating: Good +
A New Zealand PN with lots of character: dark black-cherry and black-raspberry fruit with depth and intensity but without sweetness. Every sip delivers layers of flavor and a long taste. Some tannin and wood in perfect balance. Moderate floral aroma. Close-out price $29, regular price $40.2000 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine de Bois Dauphin, France
Rating: Very Good +
Fairly dark red with orange cast signifying that this has aged as far as it should go. Medium-bodied rather than heavy with just a touch of tar, some tannin and some wood. No great depth with a bit of hollowness, and the taste is none too long. Close-out price $21, regular price $30.1997 Ksara, Château, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
Rating: Good +
Would beat out many French bordeaux in a blind tasting. Firmness with some tannin remaining, and very good acidity, with good somewhat austere fruit. Deep dark red with just a touch of age. The taste has a bit of complexity with good length. A very good food wine that can tolerate sipping as well. Close-out price $13, regular price $24.2004 Riesling QbA, Willi Schaefer, M-S-R
Rating: Good ++
Only a Qualitätswein, without a village or vineyard designation, but from a quality producer. Has good riesling aroma and taste, with the acidity to balance a moderate peach character, and moderately long taste. Sweetness is at the upper end of Kabinett. Close-out price $14, regular price $19.2004 Pouilly-Fuissé, Les Chailloux, Auvigue, France
Rating: Good ++
Has some of the real white burgundy character, although not quite the focus and definition of better ones. It's just a bit soft where a touch more acidity would make it stand out. Moderate intensity and length. Close-out price $22, regular price $40.2005 Spy River Gewürztraminer, Gisborne, New Zealand
Rating: Good ++
Good musty-apple varietal character in the taste though not very aromatic, dry. Moderate acidity, medium-bodied, golden color, taste somewhat short. The wine seems a bit austere to sip; maybe it would work better with food. Close-out price $9, regular price $18.
Rating: Good +
Red-tag close-out sales this month:Whites:
2005 Saint-Véran, Domaine Michel Cheveau, France ($19, orig. $27) 2004 Pouilly-Fuissé Les Chailloux, Auvigue, France ($22, orig. $40) 2004 Pernand-Vergelesses, Domaine Laleure-Piot, France ($25, orig. $33) 2003 Chablis Premier Cru, Domain William Fevre, France ($29, orig. $50) 2003 Santenay "En Foulot", Domains Saint-François, France ($29, orig. $50) 1999 Chassagne-Montrachet, 1er Cru Les Champgains, Domaine Amiot Guy et Fils, France ($29, orig. $50) 2004 Huia Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($12, orig. $18) 2005 Spy River Gewürztraminer, Marlborough, New Zealand ($9, orig. $18) 2004 Riesling QbA, Willi Schaefer, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer ($14, orig. $19) 2002 Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Kabinett, Dr. Loosen, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer ($7, orig. $11) 2004 Gleisweiler Hölle Riesling Kabinett, Theo Minges, Pfalz ($12, orig. $18)
Reds:
2003 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir, Waipara Valley, New Zealand ($28, orig. $40) 2004 Lynmar Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($27, orig. $39) 2005 Benton Lane Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon ($19, orig. $27) 2005 King Estate Pinot Noir, Oregon ($21, orig. $30) 1998 Talbott Pinot Noir, Case Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Monterey County ($28, orig. $40) 2005 Montes Pinot Noir, Limited Release, Casablance Valley, Chile ($9, orig. $13) 2005 Montes Malbec, Reserve, Colchagua Valley, Chile ($7, orig. $11) 2000 Marsannay Les Ouzeloy, Joseph Roty, France ($22, orig. $40) 1997 Ksara Chateau, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon ($13, orig. $24) 2000 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine de Bois Dauphin, France ($21, orig. $30) 2001 Chianti Classico Riserva, Monsanto, Fabrizio Bianchi, Italy ($17, orig. $25)
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