TN:2004 Domaine Mestre Santenay 1er Cru

This is my find of the holiday season. It is $18.99

I can't find this in New York, Just a local joint in my parents neighborhood in Connecticut.

This has an interesting pale amber brown color, The nose reveals dusty cherries, and earth. The palate shows a super lively Pinot style with a tremendous earthiness I am really loving. Subtle red fruits that are not dominating, just stealthly there. A great acid level which tells me this is probably screaming for a great meal, I am just not listening .

All in all a Super QPR. I have a few more in the cellar. I actually broke my moritorium to get these, but hey, at 19 bucks each who wouldn't?

This drinks as great or better than many $40 Gevreys I have had. It also beats any village level wine I have had up to the $25. range.

90/100

TN: 2005 Rapet 'Bully' Bourgogne

This has a very medium pale color, but vibrant. The nose is expressive of cherry, and the crushed stone, which I really enjoy. On the palate there is a great smooth integrated fruit/acid/tannin level. The cherries carry on as do the stones. Very elegant indeed. Finishes nicely.

I gotta say, this is a very nice $17.00 bottle of Bourgogne. Speaks a bit of terroir, and that ain't an easy thing to do at this price point.

89/100

2004 Lucia Syrah Garys' Vineyard

Super dark inky color. The nose shows some varietal character and some over-extracted black & blue fruits. The palate has the grapey-soy-dark fruit profile that FMIII speaks of below. I noticed some dark plum, black pepper, and some minerality. I think this showed better when last tasted (September 06?). The tannin level is nice and seemless, and the acid a bit high. A food wine for sure. Will hold my ast bottle for a year. Now onto the Susans.....The finish is a bit short and flat.

TN: 2004 Mondavi Cabernet Napa

This is a real dark cabernet, Nice casis and cocoa on the nose. The palate reveals super smooth sweet tannins, and medium dark fruits. A beautiful aftertaste finishes off nicely.

A very nice Mondavi that has me on the fence . Although better than the '03, I am not a big fan of the sweet tannins style. This wine also seems to be at best, a 3-4 year wine. I can see this falling off the cliff in a few years. Although not my style, it's gonna get a 88 from me. It has a good beat, and you can dance to it....For the same price Ehlers Estate Cab BLOWS it away.

88/100

TN: 1999 J. Lohr Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Hilltop Vineyard Paso Robles

I found this on closeout at $11.99 for a 375ml

The color is deep garnet. The fruit is a bit subdued on the nose. On the palate its a bit dry, but not unpleasant in any way. There is nice dark red cherry, currant. Its a bit bright, and somewhat brambly. A quality I usually like. There is no green associated with Robles Cabernets. Ok Tannins that may be a bit rough around the edges. A commendable medium aftertaste. Not a groundbreaker, but all in all a very pleasing Cabernet. Great for pizza/pasta/meatloaf night-(bingo!).

88/100Not bad for $12.00 I wish I could still get a round pie for that

a 2003 Cali Cab that is actually a good QPR

Funny, I have had about 75 Cabernet offerings from 2003. Some have been great (Gemstone), some decent (Mondavi), but most dissapointing. Here is one that actually has decent QPR qualities; Louis Martini 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast. Yes, you are reading correct, Martini, North Coast. It's about $12 and blows anything in that range away. (even McMannis! , which I did not like).

Bright pleasant cabernet style with not too much negative. Can you ask for more @$12?

a selection of 2004s from Maison Champy

Last night I attended the Champy tasting at the Burgundy Wine Co.

The line-up was 3 whites and 4 reds from this 250+ year old house, all from the 2004 vintage. The winemaker Pierre Meurgey was present and did a great job of explaining Champys philosophy to a group of about 40.

2004 Bourgogne Blanc, Signature. Simple and fruity quaffer, nice acid which echoed in all the whites. NR - $22.00

2004 Pernand-Vergelesses, Blanc AC, This village wine had much more character and great depth and intensity. Crushed stones abound. Wonderful floral notes, some light notes of green apple and pears. A fantastic example of what Chardonnay should be, all for $28.50. This showed much better than price suggest. More like a Grand Cru. For present day enjoyment. 92/100 - $28.50

2004 Saint-Aubin, 1er Cru, Les Murgers des Dents de Chien.
This has all the hallmarks of its breed, but understandably not as approachable. All the intensity and acid level to carry it with food. I say in about 2-3 years this would shine. 90/100 - $40.00

2004 Chorey-les-Beaune. AC. This is a wild clumsy Chorey, not my style. Bright red cherries, Great acid level. I am sure some bottle age would help. 88/100 - $27.00

2004 Gevrey-Chambertain AC Vielles Vignes. Now we are talking. Big intense as my Gevrey should be. Wonderful prettiness on the nose of flowers, black cherries, and slight oak, just enough to almost not notice. Nice. Fantastic bright Gevrey character. Cellar for a year or two, or enjoy now. I will. 93/100 - $45.00

2004 Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru, Les Suchots. In doubling the price from the Gevrey, I knew there was a lot expected. This opens with great bouquet of dark intense fruit. The fruit is hiding a bit on the palate. A very intense wine that is made for the journey. Not showing enough now, but I am sure the patient will be rewarded. 90/100 - $84.00

2004 Gevrey-Chambertain 1er Cru, Les Cazetiers. Very similar to the Vosne, These wines will payoff dividends in 3-5 years. 89/100- $75.00

My taste for Burgundies seems to lean toward immediate enjoyment. The Vielles Vignes hits that mark nicely.
Pierre Meurgey is an affable and pleasant man. It was a nice way to spend 2 hours.

This is why you can't find '02 SHS on the market

This Winecommune guy has 22 bottles for sale!!

TN: 2003 Henschke Johann's Garden Grenache

This is the best Grenache blended wine I have ever had. Period.I usually avoid this blend, but was wowed with this bottling. Dark concentrated crimson color. Amazing floral elements on the nose, slight chocolate as well. The palate opened to reveal a wonderful 'tight rope trick' of smooth cherry fruit, with an amazing level of tannins. This went on and on. I can't find the correct words for this, and that must be a good thing. Sublime elegance.

The tables WOTN.95/100

TN: 2002 Etude Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

This is one amazing wine. deep dark almost opaque color. The nose showed wonderful dark currant, cassis, slight cedar, and tobacco. On the palate there was a wonderful seemless flow of currants, plum, and cassis, The tannis were fully resolved. This had a 30 second finish that finished with a murmur of 'wow' .This has a breeding and classiness that one would expect from a Soter wine. I love it. Did I tell you that this is one amazing wine?

94/100