Rhone 2007

Last week we had the opportunity to taste some wines of the famed Southern Rhone vintage 2007. La Cave hosted this tasting and the wines were overall really good and as I realized afterwards we tasted a (98-100) wine rated by Mr. Parker!! Actually it wasn´t my favorite but you know ...  everybody got his own preferred taste/style!

Note: All wines were tasted open and are from vintage 2007!

1. Domaine Font Sarade - Cotes du Rhone - ok/good - €7,50

middle color depth, purple reflections, red berries, sour cherry, fresh, CO2 on the palate, fruity on the palate, bit unbalanced (from CO2).

2. Domaine de la Janasse - Cotes du Rhone - yech - €8,90

purple red, very reductive nose, acid driven and very lean, reductive aromas are very persistent, unpleasant even after several minutes aeration!

3. Domaine de Fondreche "Fayard" - Cotes du Ventoux - ok/good - €9,50

qute dark red, purple reflections, soft and supple fruit, some spices, tartrates visible (no stabilization made??), rustic on the palate, middle length, simple.

4. Dom. des Escaravailles "Antimagnes" - Cotes du Rhone - good - €9,50

middle red hue, purples reflections, fruity and spicy on the nose, ripe fruit, elegant tannins on the palate, good integrated acid structure, good length, acid gives freshness.

5. Dom. des Escaravailles - Resteau - good - €9,50

hints of strawberries, bit reductive, red fruits, good tannin structure, good acid structure.

6. Domaine Font Sarade - Vacqueyras - ok/good - €12,50

deeply colored, some purple reflections, quite broad, supple fruit on the nose, hints of overripeness, astringent!, Tannin to the max, alc. rather high, bit unbalanced.

7. Domaine Richaud "Villages" - Cairanne - good - €16,50

fruits in rum, like liqueur, cinnamon, Christmas tea, soft tannins, middle length, balanced.

8. Domaine de Fondreche "Persia" - Cotes du Ventoux - good - €16,00

fruity, bit alcoholic, hints of overripe fruit, spicy, good tannin structure, good length but bit alcoholic finish.

9. Dom. des Escaravailles "Boutine" - Cairanne - very good - €17,50

fresh, fruity, cassis aroma and spices on the nose, very spicy on the palate,very juicy tannin structure, lingering.

10. Dom. de la Mordoree "Reine des Bois" - Lirac - very good - €19,90

floral, violets pure on the nose, juicy tannin structure, very lingering.

11. Domaine de Fondreche "Nadal" - Cotes du Ventoux - ok/good - €??

fruity, cassis drops, quite lean on the palate, tannins good, bit alcoholic finish.

12. Domaine de la Janasse - Chateauneuf-du-Pape - good - €32,50

floral and fruity, very distinctive, elegant tannin structure, bit short and alcoholic finish.

13. Dom. Giraud "Les Gallimardes" - Chateauneuf-du-Pape - ok - €34

quite high volatile acid aromas on the nose, good tannin structure, high alcohol level, overripe fruit on the palate.

14. Domaine de la Janasse - "Vieilles Vignes" - Chateauneuf-du-Pape - good/very good - €75

fruits in rum, very bold fruit, super soft tannins, bold body, good length, alcohol a bit unbalanced and high.

Try to guess the "Parker" wine!!

Robert Parker´s bitch ...

If it´s really boring in the office today take the time to watch this most interesting, funny picture on the Californian wine industry and the influence of wine critics. (26min.!!)

Enjoy responsible!

Robert Parker's Bitch from Josh Hermsmeyer on Vimeo.

France, Italy and Spain

A friend of mine hosted a tasting last week in the small but very charming "Vinoe - Vinothek". Theme was a journey through the biggest wine producing countries in Europe. Starting with some bubblies we move to Chabils and afterwards toward Burgundy, Chianti and Rioja. Actually it was a nice interesting tasting with some pleasant surprises. 

All wines were tasted non-blind.

Find some more infos: VINOE - Die Niederösterreich Vinothek

They have a really fair price policy!!

1. Rosé Frizzante 2007 from Walter Schenzel - ok

rather low in CO2 and a quite neutral nose, slightly sweet, bit boring.

2. Cidre from Obsthof Reisinger - ok/good

CO2 visible, shows nice ripe apple fruit, dry with good acid structure.

3. Chablis 2007 from Bovier & Fils - good

fresh, floral, ripe apple, some herbs, good acid backbone but balanced.

4. Puligny Montrachet "La Garennes" 1990 from Domaine Jean Chartron - very good

honeydew and butter, tobacco, good acid structure and very lingering, amazingly fresh for the age.

5. Hautes Cotes du Nuits 2005 from Jayer Gilles - ok/good

red fruits, just a touch of Brett detectable but not ugly, bit to much acid structure, very lean, easy drinking.

6. Bordeaux Superieur 2005 from Chateau de la Ligne - still ok

overripe plums, fruit in rum, bit acetone, fruit is fading very quickly, would die with more O2, lean, coarse tannin, middle length.

7. Confiance 2005 from Gerard Depardieu - ok

no fruit, tobacco, oak, cooked and overripe, alcoholic on the palate (15%abv.!), heady.

8. Tuttobene 2006 from Tenimenti Agnelini - ok

very closed, bit stinky, barnyard, remembers me at Pinotage, opens up with O2, bit plasticine, fruity on the palate, straight, simple.

9. Chianti 2005 from Fattoria di Scannano - ok/good

rather pale red hue, orange reflections, earl grey tea, spicy, Dr. Pepper Cherry Cola.

10. Rosso di Montalcino 2004 from Talenti - ox

brown, oxidative.

11. Tignanello 2000 from Antinori - ok

brownish rim, very soft, balanced, juicy tannin structure, declining, definitely over the peak.

12. Cepas Viejas 2004 from Domino de Tares / Bierzo - good

still purple with orange rim, fruity and spicy nose, very good structured but tannins good integrated.

13. Rioja Reserva 2004 from Bodegas Muga - very good

purple, very fruity and spicy, lush aromas, ripe tannin, very spicy on the palate, juicy, lingering.

14. Rioja Reserva 2004 from Marques de Murrieta - very good

orange rim, red fruit, red fruit jelly, dry tannins, good structured.

French wine in 1 minute

Try to speak this fast !!!

Wine of the month February 2009

Late again .. I know.. but find the wine of the month February 2009 at the wine list