2007 Collovray et Terrier Pouilly Fuisse “Plenitude de Bonte”
Vintage: 2007
Producer/Winery: Collovray et Terrier
Wine: Pouilly Fuisse “Plenitude de Bonte”
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Appellation: Maconnais
Varietal Composition: 100 % Chardonnay
Aging: Barrel fermented 30% new French Oak
Climate: Continental micro-climate
Alcohol: 13 %
Winemaker: Christian Collovray & Jean-Luc Terrier
Production: n/a
Bottle Value: +/-$30 USD
Where: Walla Walla When: June 23, 2010 With whom: Tasting Group: Brian Rudin and Ashley Trout’s house
Perspective: Full bodied with sweet caramel apple aromas and well defined minerality. Definitely a new world style of Pouilly-Fuisse-starting to wonder if all Pouilly-Fuisse is now new world-with concentrated flavors of honey, citrus and tropical fruits. Very enjoyable wine for an afternoon with a fresh baguette and bloomy rind cheeses like Pierre-Robert, Delice d’Bourgogne and L’Edel de Cleron.
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear clarity. Brilliant pale golden core and pale yellow rim. No sediment or deposits.
Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of baked apple pie, honey and chalkboard.
Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium (-) tannins. Medium alcohol. Medium body. Medium (+) intense flavors of lemon, green apple, pineapple, mango, mature oak and chalky mineral. Balance – Unctuous. Refreshing acidity, generous alcohol and well defined fruit. Texture – chalky tannins and supple viscosity. Overall Impression – warm climate ripeness, expressive freshness and harmonious. Medium (+) length.
Conclusion: Good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 3-5 years.
2007 Maison Henri Boillot Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Pitangeret
Vintage: 2007
Producer/Winery: Maison Henri Boillot
Wine: Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Pitangeret
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Appellation: Cote du Beaune
Varietal Composition: 100 % Chardonnay
Aging: 50 % new French Oak
Climate: Continental micro-climate
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Winemaker: Henri Boillot
Production: n/a
Bottle Value: $40 USD
Where: Walla Walla When: June 23, 2010 With whom: Tasting Group: Brian Rudin and Ashley Trout’s house
Perspective: Out of six wines we tasted blind in the tasting group this was my favorite. Great balance, concentration, and lively acidity. This wine hit all the right spots with toasty oak and vanilla, citrus blossom and stony/chalky minerality. This is exactly what you would want out of a $40 bottle of white Burgundy. Showing great at the moment with the potential to hold for the next 5-8 years.
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear brilliant clarity. Yellow/green core and pale yellow rim. No sediment or deposits.
Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of toasty new oak, vanilla, citrus, stony mineral and floral blossom.
Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium (-) tannins. Medium alcohol. Medium body. Medium (+) intense flavors of lemon, white peach, and chalky mineral. Balance – Dry. Lively acidity, generous alcohol with well defined fruit. Texture – chalky tannins and creamy viscosity. Overall Impression – refreshing ripeness, vivid freshness and well structured. Medium (+) length.
Conclusion: Good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 5-8 years.
2007 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Vintage: 2007
Producer/Winery: Le Vieux Donjon
Wine: Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Country: France
Region: Southern Rhone
Appellation: Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Varietal Composition: 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault
Aging: 2 years new French Oak
Climate: Mediterranean
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Winemaker: Lucien Michel
Production: 5,000 Cases
Bottle Value: $65 USD 750ml / $37 USD 375ml
Where: Walla Walla When: June 21, 2010 With whom: Myself
Perspective: This half bottle was a gift from Nicole for putting together a cheese and antipasto platter for a baby shower she was hosting for her friend, “Thank you Nicole!” The first time I tried this was with Peter on New Year’s Eve after tasting through numerous other bottles of wine and champagne so I think, scratch that, I know I was a little too buzzed to capture its true essence. I remember it being extremely tight with grainy tannins and I knew that it was too young to drink. Now, almost six months later, it seems to have come around a bit more with fruit expression and aromas. (Remember this is a half-bottle so it may vary from a normal 750ml) Lots of grassy dark chocolate and plum on the nose initially, then after some air you start to get those barnyard bretty aromas that I love in CNDP. On the palate the wine is still very lean and showing mostly new oak characteristics like lead pencil and toasty vanilla. If you dig deep you can pick up hints of ripe strawberry, black cherry and baked plum. Great acidity and tannins on this wine will allow it to cellar very well for the next 10-15 years, possibly longer depending on how you like them. Need to compare a 750ml bottle to these notes and see if they differ.
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear clarity. Deep ruby core and pale ruby rim, deep purple highlights. No sediment or deposits.
Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of dark chocolate, lavender, plum, tobacco, barnyard, and sweet new oak spices.
Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium tannins. Medium (+) alcohol. Medium body. Medium intense flavors of black cherry, wild strawberry, dark chocolate, oily mineral and plum, Balance – Dry. Lively acidity, well integrated tannins, warm alcohol and well defined fruit. Texture – clay textured tannins and fluid viscosity. Overall Impression – Stemmy/refreshing ripeness, well defined freshness with great structure. Medium (+) length.
Conclusion: Good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 10-15 years.
2008 Maison Bleue “Le Montagnette” Grenache
Vintage: 2008
Producer/Winery: Maison Bleue
Wine: “Le Montagnette” Grenache
Country: USA
Region: Washington
Appellation: Horse Heaven Hills: Alder Ridge Vineyard
Varietal Composition: 85 % Grenache, 15% Syrah
Aging: 10 months in 3 year old French Oak
Climate: Continental
Alcohol: 15.4 %
Winemaker: John Martinez
Production: 303 Cases
Bottle Value: $25 USD
Where: Walla Walla When: June 18, 2010 With whom: Myself
Perspective: This is one of the most elegant Grenache based wines I have discovered out of Washington State. Velvety plum, strawberry and raspberry with complex mineral and hints of spicy vanilla-must have used some nice old barrels-make this wine incredibly easy to drink. Be careful, though it does not feel like it is 15.4 % it is! Enjoyed a nice block of Cabrales blue cheese from Spain with it, which was a match made in heaven. This is truly a wine to look out for. I will post more notes on some of Maison Bleue’s other wines which are proving to be very atypical for this region. Be sure to drink this wine at cellar temperature (55 degrees) it makes a world of difference. Check him out www.mbwinery.com.
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear clarity. Deep ruby core and pale rim with highlights of purple in the halo. No sediment or deposits.
Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of wet stones, plum, strawberry, kirsch, white pepper and sweet spices.
Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium tannins. Medium (+) alcohol. Medium body. Medium (+) intense flavors of red cherry, wild strawberry, raspberry and plum, Balance – Dry. Lively acidity, supple tannin, generous alcohol and fruit driven. Texture – supple tannins and fluid viscosity. Overall Impression – refreshing ripeness, expressive freshness and elegant. Medium (+) length.
Conclusion: Good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 3-5 years.