WTN: Arbois, Argentina, Chianti
Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 11:18 pmTuesday Betsy was making a Bolognese sauce, needed a cup of white wine. Over phone I steered her to a 2005 San Felipe Chardonnay(Argentina) I had bought on a recommendation. I tasted when I got home- apple and tropical fruits, some vanillay oak, a bit short. Retasted tonight it seemed real short and dilute (if less oaky). Even at $7 I don't see this as a bargain. C+/B-
With the pasta and sauce, the 2005 Piazzano Chianti. This I do see as a bargain. Not especially complex, but jeez it's a basic Chianti for crissake.
Black cherry with accents of dried cherry and flowers, medium bodied with a little forest floor. Good acidity lets it stand up to the food quite well. Good wine for the $9ish tag. B
Knowing that tomorrow we were in a pesce-vegetarian No Turkey Zone, Betsy made poultry tonight. A chicken-parsnip salad with shallots. Because I wanted to, I opened a bottle of the 2002 Pierre Overnoy (bottled by Emmanuel Houillon) Arbois Pupillin Poulsard. Very light color, strawberry and citrus with a rather unusual funk. Zippy acids, nice length. I like , but Betsy is unenthusiastic, and I decide I don't like enough to overcome the spousal override, so this drops off rebuy list. However.....retasting a couple hours later, the pretty good but unexciting wine has made the transition to yeehah! wine. Ripe strawberries and cherries, damp earth and just a hint of cow patty. Showing more depth, more length, more everything. OK, just buying a couple more. B/B+ originally, but bump to B+/A- after maybe 2 hours air.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.
With the pasta and sauce, the 2005 Piazzano Chianti. This I do see as a bargain. Not especially complex, but jeez it's a basic Chianti for crissake.
Black cherry with accents of dried cherry and flowers, medium bodied with a little forest floor. Good acidity lets it stand up to the food quite well. Good wine for the $9ish tag. B
Knowing that tomorrow we were in a pesce-vegetarian No Turkey Zone, Betsy made poultry tonight. A chicken-parsnip salad with shallots. Because I wanted to, I opened a bottle of the 2002 Pierre Overnoy (bottled by Emmanuel Houillon) Arbois Pupillin Poulsard. Very light color, strawberry and citrus with a rather unusual funk. Zippy acids, nice length. I like , but Betsy is unenthusiastic, and I decide I don't like enough to overcome the spousal override, so this drops off rebuy list. However.....retasting a couple hours later, the pretty good but unexciting wine has made the transition to yeehah! wine. Ripe strawberries and cherries, damp earth and just a hint of cow patty. Showing more depth, more length, more everything. OK, just buying a couple more. B/B+ originally, but bump to B+/A- after maybe 2 hours air.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.