2011 Produttori del Barbaresco Asili Riserva

 

Opened and decanted to aerate this evening ... paired with dry rub smoked pork ribs and collard greens.

Beautiful wine and quite giving at first. Tannins started kicking in and shutting the wine down on the finish after a couple of hours of air. 

Overall, a nice showing with solid balance for a "warmer" vintage. The fruit should outlast the tannins, IMO. A keeper for the cellar. 

2016 Chapelle St. Théodoric CdP La Guigasse

 

Producer notes from Josh Raynolds:

"..One of the most exciting new projects in the Rhône Valley, these wines are the result of a collaboration of Domaine de Cristia’s Dominique and Baptiste Grangeon and American importer Peter Weygandt, who are seeking to harness and express the singular aromatic complexity and delicacy provided by Grenache grown on the sandy soils of the vaunted Pignan vineyard.

To that end no new oak is used, just neutral foudres and the wines are bottled without fining or filtration. The wines are made with whole clusters and their light color belies the flavor intensity that is delivered, making this a highly appealing source for those who usually steer clear of this region’s wines out of fear of their being too rich, too heavy or too dark-fruited in character.."

15% abv. 100% Grenache. Whole cluster.  Decanted to aerate. Paired very well with spicy Asian chicken and steamed pork dumplings. 

Warm, luscious fruit nose. On the palate, the impression is one of very high quality raspberry inflected fruit. The inclusion of whole clusters is a welcome balance to the richness of the fruit. Fine grained, elegant tannins are quite resolved at this point. Although, I would not hesitate to cellaring this wine for another decade or more. 

I'd still appreciate any effort to moderate the alcohol content to perhaps a more reasonable 13.5%.

With this wine, I'm just not getting the beautiful garrigue or black tea notes that I so prize in traditional CdP. 

As a reference point, one of my favorite CdP producers is Laurence Féraud at Domaine du Pégau, who I believe incorporates all or most of the 13 varietals permitted in CdP into their Réservée cuvee to create a truly magical wine.

2018 Masseria del Pino Caravan Petrol Vino Bianco

 

Field blend of Carricante, Catarratto, Minnella, Pizzutella from vineyards situated on the north slopes of Mt. Etna in Sicily.

This is a skin contact white wine, with no sulfur added. It is very cloudy and unattractive.  Tastes OK, but the sediment is suspended and imparts a grainy texture. Not much nose. IMO, this wine's flaws overcome it's potential. Bummer. The winemaker needs to step up their game so people can appreciate the unique field blend.

2021 Pra Soave Classico Monte Grande

 

70% Garganega, 30% Trebbiano di Soave.
@"Eric Guido" nailed it on this vintage of Monte Grande. Very luscious and full bodied with fruit/acidity/salinity in balance. 
Wonderful to drink now with air. Has enough stuffing to really blossom over the next handful of years. Superb lifted complexity on the finish. 

2011 Domaine Pavelot Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Gravains

 Hint of fizzy feel on the palate that dissipated. Decanted to aerate. Slightly green influence on the finish, typical of 2011 vintage Cote de Beaune reds. Drank with meat ravioli and it improved somewhat over a couple of hours. Green-ness on the finish not as noticeable with food.

2018 Domaine Brégeon Muscadet Sèvre et Maine "Les Vigneaux"

 

Day 1
Pop and pour paired with blackened catfish accompanied by crawfish & sausage étouffée. 
Beautiful nose with ripe and ready fruit. Quite round on the palate. Very nice. Drink up.

Day 2
Not as good as yesterday.... showing much less in the way of crispness.

2014 Kanzler Family Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard Reserve

I've always enjoyed the Reserve, which I believe is made from a selection of favorite barrels. Clones represented are Dijon 667, 115 and Pommard 4 grown on legendary Goldridge sandy loam soils.

From a historical perspective, the 2009 vintage Kanzler Reserve has always showed very well, comparing favorably even with red Burgundy from Côtes de Beaune.

https://lestastevinsdulac.blogspot.com/2019/01/2009-kanzler-family-vineyards-pinot.html?m=1

This 2014 bottling showed quite young and tight upon opening. Decanted to get some air which loosened it up a bit after a couple of hours and let the fruit show thru. And oh what fruit! Savory dusty cherry up front with a tart pomegranate finish. Nothing is out of place in this supremely balanced example of top notch Sonoma Coast pinot noir. Right now, it's a wine of beautiful potential. 

I'd give this at least another five years to approach optimal drinking window. It seems to have plenty of structure to easily age another 20 years.