2008 Domaine Arlaud Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Millandes

 

OK on its own... very cranberry-ish with more acidity than fruit. 

But with air and time, nicely complemented Korean BBQ Smoked Chicken and bacon-braised collard greens ... 

Cru tasting February 24th, 2025

 

Recent single blind tasting.

All wines showed very well.

I was enamored of the Celestins because I'd never tasted one before.  Its garrique nose was quite remarkable. Somehow, it reminded me of the nose on a bottle of Les Beaux Monts 1er cru Burg from years past. IMO, the nose on Celestins is as uniquely identifiable as that of a Burlotto Monvigliero ...

Whites:

2022 Sine Qua Non Distenta: California, Roussanne, Chard, Petite Menseng

2022  Aubert Powder House: Sonoma, Chardonnay

2021 Pášxa Rockgarden: Walla Walla, Marsanne, Roussanne

2019 J Rochioli Little Hill: Russian River, Chardonnay

 

Reds:

--------------- 1st flight

2012 Neely Upper Picnic Block Spring Ridge Vineyard: Santa Cruz Mtns, Pinot Noir

2019 Emmolo: Napa, Merlot

2007 Petrolo Galatrona Valdarno di Sopra: Tuscany, Merlot

2017 Booker Vineyard 'Ones': Paso Robles, Syrah

2013 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon 9 Oaks French Blend Lot M: Napa, Cabernet

2015 Bodega Numanthia Termanthia: Toro, Tempranillo

 

--------------- 2nd flight

2011 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve: Tuscany, Sangiovese

1990 Jaboulet La Chapelle Hermitage: Rhone, Syrah

2012  Familia Nin Ortiz Planetes de Nin: Priorat, Carignan Garnacha

2016 Henri Bonneau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve des Celestins: Rhone, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Counoise and Vaccarese.

2015 Le Dome: St Emilion, Cab Franc Blend

2018 Calon-Segur: St Estephe, Cab Merlot     

2022 Lo Nuevo Pocapalla Jumilla: Murcia, Spain, Cab Sav

 

                  

2019 Pepiere Briords

2019 Pepiere Briords (magnum)

Cracking good showing. Although this could easily benefit from another handful of years in the cellar. Lovely bright fruit, with almost a chenin blanc-like texture to the melon varietal. Warm growing season yielded fleshy delicious fruit, but the acidity is there to support it. Paired nicely with wood fire seared tuna belly with sesame seeds, and a sweet homemade cornbread.

1994 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Day 2 notes for 1994 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon Napa...

Winemaker and Proprietor: Tony Soter

For the 1994 vintage, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Cabernet Franc. Aged in 100% new oak.

Black fruit, creme de cassis, graphite and cedar supported by a resolved framework of fine tannins with a lengthy, elegantly juicy yet minerally finish. Threw off a lot of sediment. 

Sourced from Madrona Ranch at the base of Spring Mountain near St. Helena and Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard near Oakville.

Burgundy, Barolo, Napa, Santa Rita Hills

2010 Albert Morot Beaune Teurons 1er Cru 

2008 F. Rinaldi Brunate (Favorite)

1994 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

2007 Arcadian Pinot Noir Francesca (2nd Favorite)

Tony Soter made the Etude... sourced from the Madrona and the Vine Hill Ranch vineyards. The wine, a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc, are aged in 60% new oak casks. 

The Arcadian Francesca is produced from selected barrels from Fiddlestix, Solomon Hilla and Pisoni vineyards in Santa Rita Hills appellation.. 👍🍇 

2021 Thomas Finot Crozes-Hermitage Blanc "Cuvee Anais"

100% Marsanne.

Stone fruit palate with almond, lanolin and hint of orange on a medium viscous complex finish.
Slight petrol note on citrus influenced nose.
This is a wow wine upon first taste and gets better with air. Paired beautifully with lobster bisque and Oysters Bienville.
Buy as much as you can IF you can find it.

Producer notes:
"..Thomas Finot, who is making fascinating wines in the Coteaux Grésivaudan in the Isère, makes a tiny quantity of Crôzes-Hermitage Blanc and Rouge. This beautiful Crôzes Blanc is from 100% Marsanne grown on the family's 1.8 hectare parcel of old vines in Larnage on a hillside with granite and limestone subsoils under interesting topsoils of white clay (kaolin). The Cuvée Anaïs is from a single parcel of the oldest vines...."

2007 Petrolo Galatrona

 100% Tuscan Merlot

I've had the pleasure of trying a couple of these over the past few weeks, and , wow! It's a stunner!

In the zone currently,  with plenty of stuffing to stay in peak form for another decade at least.

Really showing now at heights one comes to expect from another great Tuscan merlot, the SGN La Ricolma...

Two striking things are evident:
- dazzling purity of fruit and balance for such a rich vintage
- the mid-palate minerality that lays the foundation for the delicious fruit

Dark red fruit on the front end transitioning seamlessly with mocha-inflected complex, lengthy finish with blue fruit accents. 

This would go perfectly with a beautiful filet mignon.