Some wines from this past week.
1998 Paitin di Pasquero-Elia Barbaresco Sori Paitin
The nose had some classic aromas of tart cherry, cedar, tobacco leaf, and rose petals. There was also an off putting subtle volatile chemical odor that I had trouble getting past. The wine has good amount of sour cherry, earth, and lots of acid and tongue coating tannins. The rest of the tasters liked it more than me. I think also this is still too young at this point. The wine was a good match with potato gnocchi with mushrooms.
A glass leftover the next day was much better. The high toned chemical odor was gone, the structure had softened considerably and the nose was full of dried roses and red cherry, the good aromas were more focused. A little of the cedar remained too.
2005 Mas Saint Joseph Costières-de-Nîmes Les Cypres Languedoc Roussillon
My third or fourth bottle of this wine and all have been good. It seems a bit more complex than the average solid drinkable QPR from Languedoc. Black and red berry fruit, light garrigue and this bottle had a little barnyard I didn't notice in previous ones. No oak flavors. Medium structure and very easy drinking. This bottle had a bit more dimension than earlier ones, and will probably improve a little over the short term. $10.
N.V. Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Brut 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs
This has a crushed oyster shell nose, fine mousse, very dry and almost austere. The sharpness in the mouth was tamed a little with a triple cream brie. A tightly coiled sparkler.
There was about a glass and a half left the next day that still had lively bubbles. The nose still shows that outstanding oyster shell minerality, but now the wine is not as taut and is showing a little fruit, something like under ripe pineapple and green apple. This will definitely benefit from cellar time.
2005 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett
Lots of slate and crushed stone, some grapefruit in the nose. Petillant, with crisp pear fruit, good acidity. It has some sweetness, but also an airy quality. We enjoyed it with curried butternut squash soup, a recipe posted by Traci on the old FLDG. Screw cap! This was better the next day also.
2002 Heinrich Mayr-Nusser Lagrein Alto Adige - Südtirol Riserva
Grapey and primary aromas initially, than some green herbal aromas develop. Medium bodied, very pure fruit with supple tannins and some pepper spice to the finish. This grew on me as it aired out. Very good. The price is up to $20, I think I bought the 2001 for $16.
Best,