2002 Mâcon-Villages Quintaine, Pierrette et Marc Guillemot-Michel, France
Has some of the white-burgundy character, with good acidity and fruit, dry, and a touch of oak. Moderate intensity and length. Better than many innocuous Mâcons. Close-out price $21; regular price $27.2004 Giesen Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Rating: Good ++
Some of the NZ SB grassiness peeks out. There's good acidity with a bit of austerity. Moderate intensity and length. Nothing eye-opening, but a good wine. Close-out price $9; regular price $14.2004 Sancerre, Domaine Cherrier et Fils, France
Rating: Good +
An old-fashioned Sancerre with bracing acidity, no noticeable wood, good intensity and a fairly long taste. Still very fresh despite the age. Regular price $20, less 20% discount.2005 Stellenzicht Sauvignon Blanc, Golden Triangle, South Africa
Rating: Good ++
Good as a house wine, but without special character. Intensity is good, with moderate length, and sufficient acidity. There's no grassiness. Close-out price $98; regular price $12.2006 Tavel "La Dame Rousse" (Rosé), Domaine de la Mordorée, France
Rating: Good +
A really good rose, with good intensity, depth and length. Dry, with a distinct strawberry aroma, with good acidity. Apparently I wasn't the only one to notice; after two days all the bottles were gone. The 2007 was on the shelves at $30. Close-out price $11; regular price $22.2004 Château de Cruzeau, Pessac-Léognan, France
Rating: Very Good
If one can tell the difference between this and the La Louvière (just below), it's no more than minimal. The price favors this by a wide margin. Close-out price $16; regular price $25.2002 Château La Louvière, Pessac-Léognan, France
Rating: Good ++
Bordeaux is at present a somewhat neglected region for white wines based on sauvignon blanc and semillon. This one is typical in being less fresh than the Loire wines, yet with good acidity, and with some more wood and a touch of austerity, but all in good balance. Good length and intensity, and golden color. Still, for the price and reputation, I expected more. Close-out price $23; regular price $36.2000 Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico Riserva, Italy
Rating: Good ++
Fairly dark color, a bit of residual tannin, sour cherry fruit. Moderate intensity and length. A bit subdued and without the complexity one might expect after ten years of age, but a good acoompaniment to food. Close-out price $19; regular price $27.1998 Marsannay Les Ouzeloy, Joseph Roty, France
Rating: Good ++
Age gives this some tealeaf character; there's also good acidity and some firmness from a touch of tannin. Not perfumed like a Californian, but with raspberry fruit and a moderately long taste. Close-out price $20; regular price $40.2006 Sauvignon Republic Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Rating: Good ++
Characteristic NZ SB, with some grassiness, good acidity, intensity and length. More body than some others. Close-out price $10; regular price $15.2004 Riesling Gueberschwir, Zind Humbrecht, Alsace, France
Rating: Good ++
Deep golden color, real depth, intensity and long taste. Just a small touch off-dry, moderate acidity. Restaurant price $68 at Harvest.2002 Meursault, Domaine Caillot, France
Rating: Very Good
Elegant and well-constructed, but without the flavor depth one would expect. Good chardonnay fruit and acidity, light on the wood. Close-out price $21; regular price $35.2002 Beaune du Château Premier Cru, Bouchard Père et Fils, France
Rating: Good +
White burgundy character, but on a minor scale. Well-balanced, but one would like a little more intensity and depth. Close-out price $25; regular price $42.2005 Mission Hill Vidal Ice Wine, Five Vineyards, VQA, Okanagan Valley
Rating: Good ++
Color of burnished gold, superb acidity to balance the sweetness, good but not incredibly long taste. A touch of peach to go with the honey. Moderate depth without the complexity that makes one want to savor every molecule. Close-out price $15; regular price $30 (187 ml).
Rating: Good ++
Red-tag close-out sales this month:Whites:
2002 Beaune du Château Premier Cru, Bouchard Père et Fils, France ($25, orig. $42) 2002 Meursault, Domaine Caillot, France ($21, orig. $35) 2002 Macon-Villages, Quintaine, Pierrette et Marc Guillemot-Michel, France ($21, orig. $27) 2002 Château La Louvière, Pessac Léognan, France ($23, orig. $36) 2004 Château de Cruzeau, Pessac Léognan, France ($16, orig. $25) 2006 Sauvignon Republic Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($10, orig. $15) 2004 Giesen Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($9, orig. $14) 2004 Stellenzicht Sauvignon Blanc, Golden Triangle, South Africa ($8, orig. $12) 2006 Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spätlese, Karl Jostock-Thut & Sohn, M-S-R ($10, orig. $17) 2004 Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese, Weingut Joh. Haart, M-S-R ($14, orig. $20)
Reds:
2000 Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico, Riserva, Italy ($19, orig. $27) 2001 Rioja Reserva, Conde de Valdemar, Spain ($13, orig. $20) 2003 Bonny Doon Vineyards Le Cigare Volante, California ($20, orig. $30) 2004 Freeman Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ($30, orig. $42) 2006 Tavel "La Dame Rousse", Domaine de la Mordorée, France (Rosé) ($11, orig. $22)
|
|
|
|