Sunday, June 06, 2004
Well, with the arrival of Summer here in San Diego, it was time to have a few friends (15) over for a rapidly organized BBQ on my view blessed home.
Needless to say, everyone left full and happy. Thanks to some friends who helped assist, like the ever present sous chef extroidanoairre, Jim Curl and to wine master David Derby who helped keep glasses full while I worked the grill, stove and crowd. Thanks to other who brought along food too....
Here's the wines in order of being served.
2001 Domaine du Poujol Coteaux du Languedoc Rose
Bone dry and very tasty. Perfect for the day as the fog was still hanging over the Pacific when the party started. Light notes of strawberry and raspberry. Good crisp finish.
2000 Mas Cal Demoura Coteaux du Languedoc Rose
Deeper rose petal color, with loads blueberry and black raspberry flavors. Richer, more complex. Almost tasted like a red wine, but was void of tannins.
1998 Piaggia San Giovanni Val di Cornia Tenuta di Vignale Bianco
A very refreshing wine that drinks and tasted like a Gavi, but sold for much less. If you enjoy Pio Ceasere you would did this wine.
1998 Domaine Sainte Andre de Figuiere Grad Cuvee Vielles Vignes
A very elegant, smooth, almost velvety red, with loads of cherry blossoms on the nose, a deep black currant middle and a long lingering raspberry finish.
1995 Domain du Poujol Vin D'Pays d'Herault Rouge
An amazing wine, even at age nine. I recall the time I first tasted this wine, with Steve Ledbetter of Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant at the neighboring Cafe Fanny. At the time we compared it to something else from the Languedoc that Kermit had just started importing. I felt this was the better wine and bought a case. It lasted this long and likely could go further. Soft and supple, firm, without any overloads of oak or tannin. Good blueberry and blackberry flavors, hints of plums. Excellent wine.
1990 Chateau de Tours Vacqueryas
This wine didn't last long, and was without a doubt the wine of the night. Made mostly from Syrah, with a hint of Grenache, the grandson of Reyas knows how to make a great wine. At age 14, the wine is ultra smooth, yet still showing unbelievable dark garnet color without any browning or orange around the rim. While you can smell some of the sauvage from the fruit still, the wine is not at all any longer as earthy as it was when first released. An amazing wine whose time is just around the corner for peakness.
2000 Domaine la Montagnette Cotes du Rhone
2000 La Granacha Cotes du Rhone Villages
We drank the two wines above in sequence because while they come from different sources, they are made at the same Cooperative in the Rhone Valley. Dan Kravitz's la Montagnette set a new standard in my mind for a generic Cotes du Rhone in 2000. It easily outclasses wines from Guigal and other more established names, and as I guessed at the time of purchasing, will outlive many others. The rich Syrah and Grenache blend is stunning now, and likely will age another three to four years without any difficulty. It's step brother, La Grenacha, is a winemaking tour de force. Clearly sourced from some old vines, the richness and complexity, with an almost endless full palate engulfing Grenache flavors of raspberry and black raspberry, with a hint of plums.
2000 The Fifteen, Grenache, Rousillion Vin D'Pays
When Dan Kravitz makes a wine, he makes a wonderful wine. The Fifteen from 2000 remains my all time favorite of the three years I've tasted. Made in an environment that is void of oak, the wine, which is named for fifteen different vineyard parcels the grapes come from has to be one of the best bargain wines around then, and now. Jammy, luscious and mouth filling, the wine was gone in a minute.
1998 Chateau du Trignon Cotes du Rhone (Kermit Lynch bottling)
This is one of those wines that has people asking for more. It's one of the most food friendly Cotes du Rhones around, and went perfect with the grilled legs of lamb. Mulberry, blackberry, blueberry and a hint of strawberry. Maybe it was the light aroma of the Herbs de Provence that tied in so well. A wine to guzzle.
1994 Mas Cal Demoura Coteaux du Languedoc
About a year has passed since I last opened this wine up. This is the last bottle, and it could not have been better. Easy to drink, well balanced and a real showcase for older style Languedocs.
1994 Domaine Clavel Coteaux Du Languedoc "La Mejanelle"
A blend of Carignan, Grenache and some Syrah I think, the wine is another wine that you just want to gulp down. It has lost the hard edge it first had when young, and now is a very drinkable, almost luxury cuvee style wine, proving that Languedoc's need to age 7-10 years when they are read to really hit their peak.
1994 Chateau La Sauvagneonne Coteaux du Languedoc
Of the three 1994 Languedoc red wines, this was by far the lightest, and yet had an almost Bordeaux like character to it, in the flavors and finish.
1995 Domaine L'Aigueliere "Tradition" Coteaux du Languedoc Montperoux
While I know some of the tricks the winemaker at L'Aigueliere likes to play, I won't belittle the result. Jam packed, highly concentrated, very well extracted fruit, in a tight encasement of gentle tannins. Copious quantities of blueberry and plums, nice hints of la Garrigue, which other than the Poujol, had disappeared from the rest of the Languedocs.
2001 K Cellars Milbrandt Wahluke Slope Columbia Valley
I played a trick on David Derby, who until recently was the winemaster at San Diego's Wine Sellar and Brasserie. After opening and decanting the wine, I hid the bottle and asked him, what is it? He guessed Southern French, possibly Rhone. When I showed him the bottle he smiled, as he knows what kind of wines Charlie Smith makes. This wine was a dense, deep, dark, smooth, red monster. Jam packed with Syrah the wine will live many more years but is one of those wines if you see on a restaurant list that you should not hesitate to enjoy now.
1994 Burgans Albarino, Rias Baixas
At the end of the party, a few brave souls stayed and helped me clean the kitchen. As a joke I pulled this wine out of the fridge, where I had put it a few months back. While Albarino is supposed to be short lived, this wine tasted as it did when first released, but with a more honey, almost Germanic Kabinett style sweetness. It was actually quite pleasing, much to all of our surprise.
Cheers,
Andy Abramson
Needless to say, everyone left full and happy. Thanks to some friends who helped assist, like the ever present sous chef extroidanoairre, Jim Curl and to wine master David Derby who helped keep glasses full while I worked the grill, stove and crowd. Thanks to other who brought along food too....
Here's the wines in order of being served.
2001 Domaine du Poujol Coteaux du Languedoc Rose
Bone dry and very tasty. Perfect for the day as the fog was still hanging over the Pacific when the party started. Light notes of strawberry and raspberry. Good crisp finish.
2000 Mas Cal Demoura Coteaux du Languedoc Rose
Deeper rose petal color, with loads blueberry and black raspberry flavors. Richer, more complex. Almost tasted like a red wine, but was void of tannins.
1998 Piaggia San Giovanni Val di Cornia Tenuta di Vignale Bianco
A very refreshing wine that drinks and tasted like a Gavi, but sold for much less. If you enjoy Pio Ceasere you would did this wine.
1998 Domaine Sainte Andre de Figuiere Grad Cuvee Vielles Vignes
A very elegant, smooth, almost velvety red, with loads of cherry blossoms on the nose, a deep black currant middle and a long lingering raspberry finish.
1995 Domain du Poujol Vin D'Pays d'Herault Rouge
An amazing wine, even at age nine. I recall the time I first tasted this wine, with Steve Ledbetter of Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant at the neighboring Cafe Fanny. At the time we compared it to something else from the Languedoc that Kermit had just started importing. I felt this was the better wine and bought a case. It lasted this long and likely could go further. Soft and supple, firm, without any overloads of oak or tannin. Good blueberry and blackberry flavors, hints of plums. Excellent wine.
1990 Chateau de Tours Vacqueryas
This wine didn't last long, and was without a doubt the wine of the night. Made mostly from Syrah, with a hint of Grenache, the grandson of Reyas knows how to make a great wine. At age 14, the wine is ultra smooth, yet still showing unbelievable dark garnet color without any browning or orange around the rim. While you can smell some of the sauvage from the fruit still, the wine is not at all any longer as earthy as it was when first released. An amazing wine whose time is just around the corner for peakness.
2000 Domaine la Montagnette Cotes du Rhone
2000 La Granacha Cotes du Rhone Villages
We drank the two wines above in sequence because while they come from different sources, they are made at the same Cooperative in the Rhone Valley. Dan Kravitz's la Montagnette set a new standard in my mind for a generic Cotes du Rhone in 2000. It easily outclasses wines from Guigal and other more established names, and as I guessed at the time of purchasing, will outlive many others. The rich Syrah and Grenache blend is stunning now, and likely will age another three to four years without any difficulty. It's step brother, La Grenacha, is a winemaking tour de force. Clearly sourced from some old vines, the richness and complexity, with an almost endless full palate engulfing Grenache flavors of raspberry and black raspberry, with a hint of plums.
2000 The Fifteen, Grenache, Rousillion Vin D'Pays
When Dan Kravitz makes a wine, he makes a wonderful wine. The Fifteen from 2000 remains my all time favorite of the three years I've tasted. Made in an environment that is void of oak, the wine, which is named for fifteen different vineyard parcels the grapes come from has to be one of the best bargain wines around then, and now. Jammy, luscious and mouth filling, the wine was gone in a minute.
1998 Chateau du Trignon Cotes du Rhone (Kermit Lynch bottling)
This is one of those wines that has people asking for more. It's one of the most food friendly Cotes du Rhones around, and went perfect with the grilled legs of lamb. Mulberry, blackberry, blueberry and a hint of strawberry. Maybe it was the light aroma of the Herbs de Provence that tied in so well. A wine to guzzle.
1994 Mas Cal Demoura Coteaux du Languedoc
About a year has passed since I last opened this wine up. This is the last bottle, and it could not have been better. Easy to drink, well balanced and a real showcase for older style Languedocs.
1994 Domaine Clavel Coteaux Du Languedoc "La Mejanelle"
A blend of Carignan, Grenache and some Syrah I think, the wine is another wine that you just want to gulp down. It has lost the hard edge it first had when young, and now is a very drinkable, almost luxury cuvee style wine, proving that Languedoc's need to age 7-10 years when they are read to really hit their peak.
1994 Chateau La Sauvagneonne Coteaux du Languedoc
Of the three 1994 Languedoc red wines, this was by far the lightest, and yet had an almost Bordeaux like character to it, in the flavors and finish.
1995 Domaine L'Aigueliere "Tradition" Coteaux du Languedoc Montperoux
While I know some of the tricks the winemaker at L'Aigueliere likes to play, I won't belittle the result. Jam packed, highly concentrated, very well extracted fruit, in a tight encasement of gentle tannins. Copious quantities of blueberry and plums, nice hints of la Garrigue, which other than the Poujol, had disappeared from the rest of the Languedocs.
2001 K Cellars Milbrandt Wahluke Slope Columbia Valley
I played a trick on David Derby, who until recently was the winemaster at San Diego's Wine Sellar and Brasserie. After opening and decanting the wine, I hid the bottle and asked him, what is it? He guessed Southern French, possibly Rhone. When I showed him the bottle he smiled, as he knows what kind of wines Charlie Smith makes. This wine was a dense, deep, dark, smooth, red monster. Jam packed with Syrah the wine will live many more years but is one of those wines if you see on a restaurant list that you should not hesitate to enjoy now.
1994 Burgans Albarino, Rias Baixas
At the end of the party, a few brave souls stayed and helped me clean the kitchen. As a joke I pulled this wine out of the fridge, where I had put it a few months back. While Albarino is supposed to be short lived, this wine tasted as it did when first released, but with a more honey, almost Germanic Kabinett style sweetness. It was actually quite pleasing, much to all of our surprise.
Cheers,
Andy Abramson
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