Ridge Geyserville 2005
77% Zinfandel, 17% Carignane, 6% Petite Sirah
The nose is quite Californian (though I didn’t taste it blind) with sweet briary fruit yet a savoury quality of earth, soft-scented violets, some pepper and cinnamon spice and a slightly resinous quality. Smooth plummy briary palate with moderate powdery tannins. It holds its 14.6% alcohol well: it’s not too full or hot in the finish. Not profound, but very good and enjoyable I thought.
Yannick Amirault Bourgueil La Coudraye 2004
The previous bottle of this was a little dull on the nose compared to the 2005. This bottle is even stranger with a dominant musty/rotting fungal wood aroma with some semi-stinky flower (like foxglove or a stinky elder). The palate carries these flavours too, though it’s a nicely balanced and structured palate with good acidity and soft furry tannins. It was more pleasant to drink with food (beef stew, cheeses), and refreshingly moreish despite the flavours, but IMO this is nowhere near the fantastic 2005.