Čotar Sauvignon Blanc 2004 - Slovenia, Primorska, Kras (label)
12,8% abv. Back label: "Nature friendly, macerated, sulphor (sic!) free fermentation, natural cellar temperature. No added encymes (sic!) or selected yeast. Unfiltered." Lovely orange colour, slightly cloudy due to lack of filtration. A wonderful scent, very "natural", so not to everyone's taste. It doesn't really smell like Sauvignon, but rather transcended the limitations of the grape to become something worthy of contemplation. It smells earthy, lifted and coppery. It tastes as if it were alive; it tastes electric, deep and tangy. It grips my attention and palate. Awesome wine!
Marcel Lapierre Vin de Pays de Gaules 2007 ( label )
12,5%; screw cap. Light red. Beautiful scent of red fruit that retains its brightness and slight tartness despite its sweetness. It also has a lovely savoury scent that reminds me of game birds' blood! Quite full body for what was supposed to have been a light Beaujolais, lively, thirst quenching acidity. Very natural and light on its feet. Much more substantial than I expected. Very nice! What is this bottling, though? I thought it was sourced from Morgon, so why isn't it labeled Morgon?
(d.) de Blanes Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Le Clot Rouge 2007 Roussillon ( label)
12,5% abv; Roughly half and half Syrah and Grenache with a touch of Carignan. The fruit was wonderfully ripe. And I really mean that - this wasn't over-ripe, but optimally ripe, with a refreshingly low abv for a Southern wine. The scent still has a little lactic aroma to it that I am not too fond of, but everything else about the wine is wonderful. Only Texier's S. Rhônes have interested me as much when it comes to S. Rhône blends. Dark fruit, some garrigue, bright and red fruit rather than dark fruit and sucrosity. Full body, extraordinary liveliness for the South, great grip. Do lactic/yogurt aromas disappear with age? If so, I think this will be wonderful. If not, this is "only" very good.
(d.) de Blanes Maury 2006 ( label )
16,5% abv. IIRC, from Grenache vines of extreme age (c.100 years). This smells of strawberry and good, unlit Cuban cigar. Fully sweet, but not cloying. It is low in acidity but the tannins are wonderfully refreshing. Long. An optimal sweet wine in every way except for it being so primary.