2014 Billaud-Simon Chablis 1er Cru Les Vaillons

Young with bracing salinity that frames a lemony palate.  This gets more interesting after an hour or so. The minerally cut is very mouthwatering. Fairly substantial texture and a slight oily-ness as it warms in the glass.  Highly enjoyable and early enough in the drinking window to hopefully avoid any premature oxidation.

2010 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Monfalletto

Slow-o for around an hour before dinner.  This is a nice mid-weight blend sourced from estate parcels (each lot being vinified separately),  including a parcel of rosé clone. Drinking quite nicely with lithe tannins. There is an overall balance that showcases the classic nature of this vintage. Pretty cherry, tobacco, sous bois. Lovely food friendliness. Paired well with locally sourced goat cheese, sweet peppers and toast points. Cellaring should bring out more character over the next handful of years.

2007 Schloss Lieser (Thomas Haag) Riesling Auslese Niederberg Helden

A nice treat since I dont have as much experience with Auslese as with Kabinett and Spatlese...... although I don't feel like I was able to get a truly accurate impression of this wine.  Opened several days ago and had a glass. Vacuvined and was able to devote more time several days later.

Overall, a ripe burst of pineapple fruit ... very mellow acidity allows the savory salinity to shine thru on the mid-palate. Nice bit of complexity but this is a rounder wine that is somewhat lacking in structure.   I miss the bracing framework and freshness provided by some of my favorite Auslese from Selbach-Oster, for example. 

2008 Produttori del Barbaresco Pora and 2008 Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo

This was great fun comparing these two. Paired with hamburgers grilled over charcoal topped with caramelized onions, tomato and alfalfa sprouts on brioche bun. 

Pora is very open and approachable. Round, velvety fruit with fully resolved tannins.  Pleasant but lacking in structure ... low acidity and tannins... seems advanced age-wise.  Nose has subtle attractive florals.

Rio Sordo is more complex with savory structure.. .dusty tannins, mid-weight fruit and nice tobacco accent. Very enjoyable aromatics that lean toward burgundian perspective ... super food friendly... a very interesting rendition of this vineyard...
Peaking in a handful of years....

2014 Pattes Loup Chablis

Delightful wines with scallop & lobster soup followed by shrimp etouffee. 

The scallop & lobster soup was mind- bendingly delicious.  The 2014 Vorberg paired really nicely with it.

The shrimp etouffee was complemented by sauteed sweet potatoes that had been marinated. An interesting preparation that was wonderfully savory.
The Chablis went well with the etouffee... but was quite basic and uncomplex compared to the Vorberg.

The sparkling wine was new to me. From an appellation near Carcassonne. Made from Mauzac varietal.