2005 Clos de la Roilette, Fleurie Cuvée Tardive:
When first opened, simply too much for me. Recorked and left on the counter overnight. 24 hours later it’s a superb, old-viney Fleurie with a core of focused flavors and burgeoning complexity. Lots of concentration here and plenty of stuffing to last the decade or so it probably needs. Still, with a little air, mighty fine.
2005 Foreau, Vouvray Sec:
Pretty fruit on the nose but, on the palate, too early to the glass when first opened. Recorked and put back in the cellar. All wool aromatically on day two but better in the mouth with ripe chenin fruit, a strong mineral undercurrent and a lanolin note; intense and long. Needs a lot of cellar time.
2005 Cellar Magic, Sauvignon Blanc:
Made by friends in Sonoma from Amador County fruit. Vinous, no grassy or cat pee smells, pleasant citrus and some tropical hints, 13.5 abv with a crisp, clean delivery. Good with lighter fare or on its own.
2005 de Villaine, Bourgogne (blanc) Les Clous:
Great wine, young wine; ideal balance, lovely mineral tones amid equally charming fruit. Obviously, will benefit from cellaring. $25; ‘stealing.
2007 Dönnhoff, Riesling:
This is the bottom-end Estate riesling from this producer but one would have a tough time convincing me there is anything bottom-end about it. Bright, clean riesling scents with a lightly honeyed tone, some flint and spring water; lightly sweet in the mouth but plenty of mineral driven acidity - lovely balance, nuanced flavors – some fresh cherry/cherry pit, excellent length. Imagine you are very thirsty and you get that first taste of mountain stream water; that’s the feeling this delivers with each sip. A fascinating wine and one with a future, no doubt. 10% abv.
Best, Jim
