- 2007 (d.) de Blanes Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Muscat Sec - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes (10/9/2008)
A floral and very typical Muscat scent, but a restrained style and very mineral. Though the scent promised a sweetly fruity wine, it gladly was dry and with almost steely acidity and grip. Long and strongly mineral aftertaste. Very nice! - 2004 Montenidoli Vernaccia di San Gimignano Carato - Italy, Tuscany, San Gimignano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano (10/9/2008)
A little bit of new oak/vanilla on the nose, but also more interesting scents: bright, citrussy fruit and some hay - when served blind, it reminded me of Basque whites from the Pyrenees. Deep and moderately full bodied palate, good acidity, but once again with a touch of oak. I don't think most people will find this amount of oak problematic, but it did diminish my appreciation. Possibly nice with more age even for me? - 2007 Cosimo Maria Masini Trebbiano - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (10/9/2008)
A sample; I don't think it is commercially produced? A wild wine: the colour is orange and cloudy - "natural" wine! A wild and funky nose at first with lots of oxidative apple notes and funk reminiscent of Cantillon's Gueuze. I thought it was absolutely fantastic stuff, though I guess it is a bit of an extreme wine. But over the evening it developed into a more mainstream style, with the funk blowing off and brighter, more fruity aromas appearing. Deep and tangy palate, tannic and acidic, more like a red wine than white - I guess this is what Gravners are like? Endlessly fascinating but much more than a curiosity: to me at least this was very, very drinkable and moreish. I love it! - 2007 Nicolas Potel Auxey-Duresses Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Auxey-Duresses (10/9/2008)
13% abv; 22,50€; 0,25ha parcel of Auxey-Duresses; 10 months in oak of which 30% was new. Immature colour, of course. Citrus and bitter oak notes and some nuttiness. Bitterly oaky palate, but at least it has high acidity and fruit to counter it. I'm not hugely excited, but perhaps if the oak calms down it might turn into something palatable. - 2001 Montenidoli Sono Montenidoli Vino da Tavola - Italy, Tuscany, Vino da Tavola (10/9/2008)
Blind taste: Deep colour, very primary. Ripe fruit, dark toned yet still very Sangiovese, lifted and refreshing, perhaps some oak notes too (though we were later told that it doesn't see new wood). Big, concentrated palate, yet very light on its feet: much, much ripe fruit, but much, much "natural" tannins as well. Despite its size it seems very bright and refreshing. Young, and I have slight reservations about the sheer size of it, but thanks to the very upright structure, I think I would enjoy it with quite a bit more time (this still seemed more like a barrel sample than a finished wine!). - 2000 Quinta do Fojo Douro Fojo - Portugal, Douro, Cima Corgo, Douro (10/9/2008)
A nice, dark toned wine, with a slightly raisiny/figgy character, but with lots of bright and refreshing herbal notes, too, so it isn't all about sweetness. Full bodied, but light on its feet, refreshing and palate-cleansing. Very nice! - 2007 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon Les Charmes - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon (10/9/2008)
As classic a nose as can be: slightly reductive at first, but opened up to be very gravelly with bright, raspberry fruit. Fairly light and juicy palate, but with wonderful structure and purity; clean, rocky and long; firm but friendly. Very nice! - 2005 Podere le Boncie Chianti Classico Le Trame - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico (10/9/2008)
This was the only, slightly disappointing wine of tonight's tasting! Le Trame was sublime in 2002 (yes, that's right, it was sublime in a year that no one says anything good about) and 2004 so I had high hopes for this, but when it was served (blind of course) it smelled very ripe and international - not overly oaky, but simply anonymous. Juicy palate and with nice structure. There was nothing wrong with the wine except that it lacked the magic of the '02 and '04. Drinkable and well made but not exciting. - Sample of unspecified vintage of Cosimo Maria Masini Vin Santo - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (10/9/2008)
A nice wine, rather Muscatty in its aromas, some metallic scents, too. Sweet, but bright. Nice stuff, but not hugely exciting.
