WTN: '05 G. Descombes Brouilly

[Mark Lipton]

Treating the broader topic of what represents good QPR to me, I find that my "go-to" souces for QPR wines these days tend to be Beaujolais and Loire Cab Franc for red wines, and Muscadet and QbA Riesling for whites. (Steve E's Syrahs are a category all their own). With that in mind, last night Jean came home in a bad mood and feeling lousy, so I hied down to the cellar for a ready-to-drink red to help salve her aching soul. What I came back with was:

2005 Georges Descombes Brouilly
nose: meaty, verging on Band-Aid, raspberry fruit
palate: medium body, deep fruit, rich mouthfeel, bright acidity

This wine was purchased last fall in Paris for about €14, a price that I would gladly pay again. I can see why Lyle Fass likened this wine to a Vosne-Romanee in his blog: it's got the weight and fruit profile. But the fruit is still recognizably Gamay and the tannins are soft enough that I didn't regret opening it now. Will it get better? Dunno, but it's lovely now.

Mark Lipton

[David M. Bueker]

That weight seems to be a 2005 phenomenon, especially in that it is coupled with sufficient structure to not be top-heavy like the 2003s.

[Rahsaan]

Not bad. Although I think this wine is tough QPR in the States at close to $30.

[David M. Bueker]

Indeed it is. It's also a tough find, even in more recent vintages.