2 WTN's and a funny encounter...

2007 "Andezon" Cotes du Rhone: Lots of black fruit and pepper-I would guess this is more on the Syrah side of the Rhone blend. Smells like the whole family of mint-family-related herbs: oregano, mint, thyme, etc. A smidge high on the alcohol (its listed at 14%, but maybe that's what she weighed in high school), a smidge low on the structure. Nice, especially for a cheap bottle.

2004 Scavino Barolo: It is what it is. Modern-style barolo from a good vintage. Carmel oak, vivid purple fruit and floral aromatics. Tannic as hell- benefitted from being drunk with meat. I didn't catch the alcohol content on the label, but it definitely felt "heady". From half, off the excellent list at Il Capriccio in Waltham, MA.

My girlfriend and I frequently have dinner in the bar room at Il Capriccio, and there's often a lot of conversation between tables. Last night we ended up chatting with an older couple next to us who turned out to be the Giguieres, founders of R.H. Phillips. Very charming and friendly people! (We talked about Tempranillo.)

R H Phillips....have not seen their wines for a while. Good QPR in my book, must look around for this months Focus. Toasted Head Chardonnay was always readily available.

[Jenise]

My girlfriend and I frequently have dinner in the bar room at Il Capriccio, and there's often a lot of conversation between tables. Last night we ended up chatting with an older couple next to us who turned out to be the Giguieres, founders of R.H. Phillips. Very charming and friendly people! (We talked about Tempranillo.)

That's fun! Had a recent experience like that too, where the woman turned out to be the cousin of the founder of New Zealand's Villa Maria winery who she was heading out in a few days to spend a few weeks with. The fact that we not only knew of the wines but had been to the winery outselves, were conversant on various bottlings and even owned some of the single vineyard stuff was enough to make us BFFs for the night.

Lucky people. The only folks you can strike up a conversation with at a bar around are those who just bought their second skidder.

R H Phillips....have not seen their wines for a while. Good QPR in my book, must look around for this months Focus. Toasted Head Chardonnay was always readily available.

They sold their firm to one of the big multinationals, they said..I think perhaps it was Constellation? They had managed RH Phillips and Hogue for 5 years after they were acquired, and now had started a new winery:

http://www.crewwines.com/

Apparently, they're focusing on Spanish varietals b/c they think they'll do well in their Central Valley location since they're successful in the hot Spanish climate.

Scavino is usually a little much on the modern style for me but an 04 is really too young even for infanticide. You're a brave man even to try drinking a decent Barolo at that age.

[David M. Bueker]

The 2001 Scavino Barolo is still a total infant and very tannic.

Scavino is usually a little much on the modern style for me but an 04 is really too young even for infanticide. You're a brave man even to try drinking a decent Barolo at that age.

You're talking to a man who cracks open a bottle of Chateau Pradeaux right after it's released. I have a masochistic side.

FWIW, I like modern Barolo young, when it smells like you've literally coated the glass with violet petals. I know this makes me a barbarian.

Has Domaine de Andezon solved its quality problems? About a decade ago they were really hit and miss--one bottle would be fantastic and the next would have major flaws and be undrinkably bad. The QPR was excellent for the good bottles, but they were something of a crap shoot. If I was bringing De Andezon somewhere, I always brought an extra bottle or two just in case the first one was bad.

-Paul W.

Scavino is usually a little much on the modern style for me but an 04 is really too young even for infanticide. You're a brave man even to try drinking a decent Barolo at that age.

You're talking to a man who cracks open a bottle of Chateau Pradeaux right after it's released. I have a masochistic side.

FWIW, I like modern Barolo young, when it smells like you've literally coated the glass with violet petals. I know this makes me a barbarian.

I don't know about the barbarian bit, but I will admit you must have taste buds made of steel!

Has Domaine de Andezon solved its quality problems? About a decade ago they were really hit and miss--one bottle would be fantastic and the next would have major flaws and be undrinkably bad. The QPR was excellent for the good bottles, but they were something of a crap shoot. If I was bringing De Andezon somewhere, I always brought an extra bottle or two just in case the first one was bad.
.

I remember those variable bottles. In fact, I was commenting not long ago to a friend about how it seemed in late 90s that the larger production Cotes du Rhones (Jaboulet's Parallel 45 being prime example) were the last bastions of great bottle (or batch) variation.

David, pretty sure unless they changed recently, that the Domaine d'Andezon CdR is all Syrah, so your perceptions were on the money.