What we are drinking

September 2009

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:06:45 -0700

2002 Navarro Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Alexander Valley (Calif.)
A bottle of their Mèthode Ancienne unfiltered release, this was drinking at it’s peak. The raspberry and cherry fruit was infused with chocolate and coffee. What tannins that were there were soft and complementary to food.

1988 Navarro Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Alexander Valley (Calif.)
In contrast to the 2002, this wine was very nuanced and very complex, confirming the ageability of this release. Less fruity than the later release (to be expected), this shows hints of eucalyptus and tobacco. Fantastico.

1988 Tain l’Hermitage, Rhône (Fr.)
Carried back from a trip in 1991, this Hermitage was from a co-operative producer that somehow is (or was at the time) connected with Girard Depardieu. We gave this bottle lots of time to breathe (we tasted it at intervals of 2, 3 and 4 hours). It was a good wine, not especially big, and perhaps we waited too long to drink it.

2008 Moulin de Ferrand (Bordeaux, Fr.)
A straightforward crisp white that is easy to drink and goes well with food. It’s a fantastic bargain at under $10.

August 2009

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:23:06 -0700

2007 Bird, Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
A straight forward white with enough acid to enjoy with food. We often use it to make and then drink with risotto. We used it for a shrimp and fresh corn risotto, and the wine offset the sweetness very nicely.

2005 Jade Mountain Grenache, Mt. Veeder, Napa (Calif.)
This grenache is made in a very Californian style. 14% alcohol usually implies very ripe grapes, and this was indeed the case with this bottling. Very ripe fruit, mostly blackberries and cherries, with hints of cinnamon.

1999 Dom. Robert Chevillon Nuits St.-Georges, A.C. (Burgundy, Fr.)
Chevillon is one of our favorite producers from the Bourgogne region. This was not a single vineyard, but an appellation controllée. We decanted the wine over 2 hours before we drank it, and that was not long enough. The initial aromas were characteristic cherry, but without much depth. Over the next 1-2 hours, the wine opened up significantly, showing off the distinct cherry and currant flavors mixed with coffee and chocolate. The gaminess we associate with his single vineyard bottlings was missing.

July 2009

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:10:11 -0700

2007 Navarro Rosé, Mendocino County (Calif.)
We always welcome Navarro’s summer release of rosé. True to form, this year’s is full of strawberry fruit, and good acid balance. An excellent quaff.

2007 Le Pigeoulet en Provence (France)
Another perennial favorite, this second label for the Brunier’s (of Vieux Télégraphe fame) is their everyday table wine. The grenache is predominant when the bottle is first opened, but it gives way to more depth as it breathes and the syrah comes forward.