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WTN: Miscellanea; Cornas,delicious quaffing Chinon & Bojo...

PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2013 6:28 am
by Tim York
Why this sudden spate of TNs from me? Simply because Spring never seems to arrive. Vegetation is in some cases 6 weeks later than last year. The maximum temperature is scarcely 10°C (50°F) and it has been raining for 24 hours. At least this gives me the opportunity to catch up with my backlog of indoor tasks, including a month's TNs.

Cornas 2003 – Franck Balthazar – Alc.13.5%. This was a “wow” in its youth, a bottle in 2009 confirmed its early promise and had civilised some of its excesses but another a year ago had turned porty and full of varnish, so I opened this one with misgivings. Happily it was back on form with well developed with notes of bright red and black fruit with a lot of sour cherry, a dash of wet leather and earthy minerals on the nose and a full bodied palate, complex and invigorating with lively acidity, pungently tangy and savoury fruit, pepper, crisp minerals and excellent firm tannic support towards the long finish. Very good 16.5/20.

Chinon Les Granges 2011 – Bernard Baudry – Alc.12.5%. This is a model Chinon for drinking young with delicious fruit with a typical noble “green” edge and charcoal notes as well as lively minerals and acidity. From memory I think that the 2010 was slightly fuller at a similar stage. Very good 16/20.

Beaujolais Vieilles Vignes Cuvée traditionnelle 2012 – Domaine du Vissoux, Martine & Pierre-Marie Chermette – Alc.12%. Chermette says that the main problem with 2012 was low quantities and I agree that, on this evidence, quality does not seem to be deficient; lots of quaffable tasty fruit and a surprising amount of backbone for a “light” year; good 15.5/20.

Fleurie Poncié 2011 – Domaine du Vissoux, Martine & Pierre-Marie Chermette – Alc.12.5%. This was more refined and charming than the previous as is appropriate for Fleurie but not markedly fuller as the vintage might lead one to expect. Delicious 16/20.

Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne Haut-Coustias 2001 – Domaine de l’Oratoire Saint-Martin – Alc.13.5% - was distinctly fresher and more lively than my recent bottles of 2000 and 2003. This is a lovely Mourvèdre dominated southern Rhône with still firm tannic structure (though my impression of this may have been enhanced by having just returned from a tasting). Very good 16.5/20.

Pays de l’Hérault IGP Old Vines Carignan Les Crouzes 2012 – Producteurs Réunis A F34360 – Alc.12.5% - (c.€5). I picked this out at a tasting for its full bodied burgeoning spicy fruit and liquorice tinge towards the finish. At home, I noticed that, with some pairings, the liquorice veers towards dry caramel which I dislike but overall I am happy with this buy. The seller knew nothing about the producer but, judging by “Old Vines” and a back-label in English as well as by a Google search, it seems aimed at the UK market. Good 15/20+ QPR!

Re: WTN: Miscellanea; Cornas,delicious quaffing Chinon & Bojo...

PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2013 7:15 am
by David M. Bueker
Thanks for the early peek at 2011 Baudry. I don't buy the "Granges" often, preferring the Domaine, but it is, as you say, model Chinon.

Re: WTN: Miscellanea; Cornas,delicious quaffing Chinon & Bojo...

PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2013 8:13 am
by Rahsaan
David M. Bueker wrote:Thanks for the early peek at 2011 Baudry. I don't buy the "Granges" often, preferring the Domaine, but it is, as you say, model Chinon.


Me too. In fact I rarely buy Chinon of any kind any more, but got the 2011 Granges as a convienent dinner gift the other week and everyone was quite taken with it, even - much to my surprise - people who usually drink big CA wines.

Re: WTN: Miscellanea; Cornas,delicious quaffing Chinon & Bojo...

PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2013 8:50 am
by David M. Bueker
Rahsaan wrote: In fact I rarely buy Chinon of any kind any more...


:shock:

Re: WTN: Miscellanea; Cornas,delicious quaffing Chinon & Bojo...

PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2013 9:02 am
by Tim York
David M. Bueker wrote:
Rahsaan wrote: In fact I rarely buy Chinon of any kind any more...


:shock:


I've just read elsewhere a post on Baudry's La Croix Boissée 1996 where one of the tasters likened it to a Pauillac 1er cru :!:

Re: WTN: Miscellanea; Cornas,delicious quaffing Chinon & Bojo...

PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2013 10:10 am
by Bob Parsons Alberta
Not me!! Pauillac LOL.

Re: WTN: Miscellanea; Cornas,delicious quaffing Chinon & Bojo...

PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2013 11:36 am
by Rahsaan
David M. Bueker wrote:
Rahsaan wrote: In fact I rarely buy Chinon of any kind any more...


:shock:


I've become more focused in the past few years, mostly concentrating on Beaujolais, Burgundy, and Northern Rhone/ESJ for red wines at home.

That said, I had an amazing 07 Olga Les Picasses the other week at my mother's house that reminded me why I used to love Chinon, so crisp and so silky. So I went out and bought some more Chinon these past weeks, but it's an aberration!

Re: WTN: Miscellanea; Cornas,delicious quaffing Chinon & Bojo...

PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2013 12:16 pm
by David M. Bueker
Rahsaan wrote:I've become more focused in the past few years, mostly concentrating on Beaujolais, Burgundy, and Northern Rhone/ESJ for red wines at home.


I've tried that. Unfortunately my tastes buds are too broad minded. They are refusing to be trained to only want a few types of red wines. I've got them pretty well under control with the whites though. :wink:

Re: WTN: Miscellanea; Cornas,delicious quaffing Chinon & Bojo...

PostPosted: Wed May 22, 2013 12:25 pm
by Rahsaan
David M. Bueker wrote:
Rahsaan wrote:I've become more focused in the past few years, mostly concentrating on Beaujolais, Burgundy, and Northern Rhone/ESJ for red wines at home.


I've tried that. Unfortunately my tastes buds are too broad minded. They are refusing to be trained to only want a few types of red wines. I've got them pretty well under control with the whites though. :wink:


Yeah, from time to time I'll get a taste for something else and branch out. But I pretty much only drink wine on the weekends, which is 2 bottles per week maximum (assuming I don't have other plans), and there is so much Beaujolais, Burgundy, Northern Rhone wine that I want to drink, plus the whites, it can take me a long time to get to it all!