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.