2001 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett, Weingut Karl Erbes, M-S-R
Everything seems to be there, but the overall impression is unexciting. There's riesling character in aroma and taste, good intensity, sufficient but not vibrant acidity, and moderately long taste.2001 Atlas Peak Sangiovese, Atlas Peak, Napa Valley
Regular price $14.
Rating: Good +
Note added April 7, 2009: Maybe a year-and-a-half of age helped, but this wine tastes much better than the above description. Delicious to drink, and certainly not unexciting, with lovely riesling aroma and taste.
Like many California versions of sangiovese, with more warm cherry rather than the sour-cherry fruit of a chianti. Lots of flavor and intensity, a bit soft, dark color, with moderately long taste. Mild tannins and oak. Regular price $14, less 20%.2003 Chalone Chardonnay, Estate, Chalone
Rating: Good ++
Deep golden color. More than medium-bodied, but not heavy. Lots of flavor and a long finish, very smooth with good varietal character and no excess of oak. Sufficient acidity, though not as much as a typical white burgundy. This is the kind of style one will often find on restaurant wine lists, even for burgundies; I still prefer the leaner, slightly austere style with higher acidity but not lacking in fruit or oak. Close-out price $22, regular price $32.2000 Castello di Poppiano Chianti Classico Riserva, Italy
Rating: Very Good
Somewhat atypical for a Chianti, it's softer than expected with a bit lower acidity as well. There's a touch of tannin and a light touch on wood, a good deal of fruity intensity, and a moderately long taste. Very dark color. Close-out price $14, regular price $20.2001 Hochar Père et Fils, Château Musar, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
Rating: Good ++
Hochar is the second label of Château Musar, which has a high reputation. This wine is quite soft, with intensity struggling a bit to get out of the glass. Mild aroma, and moderately long taste. Restaurant price $42 at Alex & Ika in Cooperstown, N.Y.; assuming the usual factor of two markup, it's over-priced.2006 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand
Rating: Good +
If this winery has been in search of a PN style, then they've found it with this one. Good raspberry/cherry fruit, with varietal aroma and taste, good intensity with some depth, and a lingering taste. Mild and well-integrated tannin and wood. Regular price $23, less 20% discount.2002 Pernand-Vergelesses, Les Combottes, Domaine du Château de Chorey, France
Rating: Very Good
Smooth and balanced, with white burgundy character, though not as much as the Jadot Côte de Nuits-Villages (just below). Acidity is a bit lower than some. Medium-bodied with some richness, and a fairly long taste. Close-out price $25, regular price $37.2004 Côte de Nuits-Villages "Le Vaucrain", Louis Jadot, France
Rating: Very Good
Refreshing acidity, dry but not austere, with good fruit and oak to give it good burgunday character. Medium-bodied with good intensity, and a long taste with some complexity. If this is Jadot's style with minor white burgundies, and this is the second I've tasted, then they're worth seeking out. Close-out price $19, regular price $26.2005 Maven Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand
Rating: Very Good
Strong acidity to go with full sour-cherry fruit. Varietal aroma and taste, flavorful, medium-bodied, dark red color, fairly long taste. Any tannin or oak is well-integrated. Regular price $25, less 20% discount.2004 Amadio Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills, Australia
Rating: Very Good -
Fleshy, jammy fruitiness of summer raspberies. Full-flavored, with moderate length. Some varietal aroma. Little noticeable tannin or wood. Regular price $17, less 20% discount.2006 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, "Cellar Selection", Marlborough, New Zealand
Rating: Good ++
Compared to Villa Maria's "Private Bin", this is their higher-level wine. Lots of Marlborough SB intensity with some grassiness, good acidity and a fairly long taste. Greater depth than most any NZ SB so far. Beyond medium-bodied. Overall well-balanced except for what appears to be a touch of residual sugar. Regular price $19, less 20% discount.2006 Te Kairanga Pinot Noir, Martinborough, New Zealand
Rating: Very Good -
Aroma somewhat reluctant, good acidity, a bit austere with some tannin and an excess of oak. Medium-bodied with moderately long taste. May devlop with some age as the components integrate. Regular price $22, less 20% discount.2005 Rüdesheimer Klosterlay Riesling Kabinett, Josef Leitz, Rheingau
Rating: Good ++
Lovely riesling aroma. Lots of peaches and pineapple in the taste, some spiciness, and superb acidity. Very flavorful intensity, and long taste. Spätlese-level sweetness. Close-out price $12, regular price unknown.2004 Condes de Albarei Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain
Rating: Very Good
Golden color. Similar to a Nigl Grüner Veltliner (below) but more dry and with a touch of austerity and some oakiness. Good intensity and length. Has a bit of oiliness to give it some body. Close-out price $10, regular price $15.2001 Gigondas, E. Guigal, France
Rating: Good ++
Has some substance and firmness. Dark-fruit flavors with a touch of tannin and some oak. Fairly deep color. Body and flavors characteristic of a good Rhône wine. Reasonably long taste. Close-out price $7, regular price $10 (half-bottle).2002 Pouilly-Fuissé, Les Bois Dayer, Vin non filtré, cuvée unique, Michel Rey, France
Rating: Good ++
Has the white burgundy balance of fruit, acidity and oak, but also a bit more body than many, and some depth and complexity. Deep golden color. Fairly long taste. Close-out price $22, regular price $33.2004 Grüner Veltliner, Kremser Freiheit, Nigl, Kremstal, Austria
Rating: Very Good -
Refreshing, very nice acidity, almost a bit riesling-like but without the residual sugar. Moderate intensity, fairly long taste. Close-out price $12, regular price $17.
Rating: Very Good -
Red-tag close-out sales this month:Whites:
2002 Pouilly-Fuissé, Les Bois Dayer, Vin non filtré, Michel Rey, France ($22, orig. $33) 2002 Pernand-Vergelesses, Les Combottes, Domaine du Château de Chorey, France ($25, orig. $37) 2004 Côte de Nuits-Villages, "Le Vaucrain", Louis Jadot, France ($19, orig. $26) 2003 Chalone Vineyard Chardonnay, Estate grown, Chalone ($22, orig. $33) 2004 Condes de Albarei Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain ($10, orig. $15) 2005 Rüdesheimer Klosterlay Riesling Kabinett, Josef Leitz, Rheingau ($12, orig. $???) 2001 Peter Lehmann Botryitis Semillon, Barossa, Australia ($9, orig. $12)
[Half-bottle]
Reds:
2001 Benton-Lane Pinot Noir, Oregon ($7, orig. $10)
[Half-bottle]2004 Domaine Coteau Pinot Noir, Yamhill County, Oregon ($26, orig. $32) 2001 Paraiso Pinot Noir, Monterey ($16, orig. $23) 2001 Gigondas, E. Guigal, France ($7, orig. $10)
[Half-bottle]
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