2006 Éric Texier Côtes du Rhône-Brézème [Syrah] (Brézème, Côtes du Rhône AOC, Northern Rhône, France) cork closure, 12.5% - imported to USA by Louis/Dressner Selections, LDM Wines, New York, New York – appears dark murky purple, smell pretty complex freshly opened, peppered, faint barnyard, toasted marshmallows, opens up into a nice beauty with elements of earth, taste bare tartness upfront, the tartness grows as the wine opens up, easy going yet quite acidic, some battery acid here, it was a very very pleasant wine before I introduced the food with which it performed wonderfully. Lamb tagine with quinces: did it go with the lamb? It most certainly did, offering wonderful refreshment and calling out some nice herbal qualities with the lamb. Did it go with the provençal butternut squash gratin? Yes, it did, even the sweetness of the roasted squash in puree form did not clash at all with the acidity of the wine. Okay, okay, but certainly it couldn't go with the cranberry upside-down cake I had for dessert—well, actually, a delicious match there as well. I would've been happy having this wine alone, I'd have enjoyed it with just the lamb, but the fact that it was delicious and versatile with everything on my table, makes its $22 pricetag a steal indeed. My first wine from this producer, presumably not my last.
2007 Jean-Pierre et Jean-François Quénard Vin de Savoie Chignin [Jacquère] (Chignin, Vin de Savoie AOC, eastern France) synthetic stopper, 11 to 14% - imported to USA by Charles Neal Selections, Richmond, California – appears very pale, almost colorless, smell hay, light perfume delicate, herbal, very light and inviting, mouthfeel is heavier, tiny bit of spritz, taste refreshing stones, crisp and narrow—somehow this wine manages to taste this way though the mouthfeel is thick and totally not crisp, bright herbal and chipper in the mouth, very mouthwatering and increasingly delicious as I drink, tasty lavender and herbs, yum, great match for fat noodles stir fried with bok choy, mushrooms and pork meatloaf, this wine is delicious and my first wine from the Jacquère grape (and likely my first Savoie wine), tasty, easy to drink, easy to like (for me, not so sure about the general appeal), for $15, this wine is a delightful find.
From importer: The Chignin is made with 100% Jacquèrre from 40-year-old vines planted on clay and limestone soils. Fermentation is in stainless steel tanks, with partial malolactic fermentation. It has wonderful texture for a mountain wine, and shows notes of dried apricot, a touch of nut, minerals and white pepper. A crisp, dry finish completes the package. Delicious good value summer white.
2005 Kolheita de Ideias Douro Esboço Tinto [45% tinta roriz/tempranillo, 35% touriga franca, 20% tinta barroca] (Douro DOC, northeastern Portugal) cork closure, 13.5% - imported to USA by Vinum Wine Importers, Redmond, Washington – appears murky dark purple, eventually tons of sediment, smell beautiful dark violets, hint of cloves and brown sugar, certain sweetness, spicy plums, mouthfeel thick and viscous, but rounded and not too thick, taste fair amount of dustiness, light hint of ripe fruit, unlike nose, spice with some depth, lots of flavor and concentration, but didn't work well with my lamb and quince dish (becoming overly powerful and alcoholic), much better without food, I liked the elements of this that reminded me of a dried port, but overall I found the wine a bit tiring to drink, I'd pass on another at $16