WTN: This and that

[Florida Jim]

2010 Dom. Pépière, Muscadet Las Gras Moutons:
12% alcohol; Fuller and richer than most Muscadet with lemon, seashore and mineral tones, good sustain and nice balance. I marvel that folks still by white Burgundy when this costs only $16. Superb with pesto pasta.

2010 Dom des Braves, Régnié:
13.5% alcohol; also richer than expected with wonderful fresh and cooked fruit smells, good acidity, balance and sustain. Diane loves this wine (a rare comment from her), so I will be getting more soon. Other-worldly delicious with roast chicken. About $14.

2011 Qupé, Marsánne:
13% alcohol; 79% marsánne/21% rousánne; a nice rich wine with a bright delivery and good flavors; maybe a little too much rousánne for me but good accompaniment alongside pasta with broccoli. About $16.

Several of us met at Stark’s steak house in Santa Rosa for fun and dead burnt cow; here’s what we drank:

1998 G. Conterno, Barolo Cascina Francia:
Its pretty, deep, balanced and fleshy but has just enough new wood to make the palate less interesting than a recent Giacosa. Nice wine but it could have been great wine.

2010 Azienda Agricola Cos, Frapatto:
Oh boy is this good! Starts out similar to gamay but morphs into something like village Burgundy; yet it never mimics either one. Has its own distinct, delicious and fun profile and delivers pleasure at every sip. Terrific wine.

2005 Cuilleron, Côte Rôtie:
Distinctly of its place but suffers from the same fate as the Conterno; just a touch to much new wood. Still excellent with cow.

2006 Vall Llach, Priorat:
The perfect wine to put in a Napa cabernet tasting as a ringer. Soft, sweet, cabernet at 16% alcohol or thereabouts. No sense of place and, for me a bit cloying. Cocktail wine.

2007 Heymann Löwenstein, Riesling Schieferterrassen:
Probably at kabinett level but almost dry, this was crisp, clear and almost compelling. A great way to finish off this meal all by itself. My first wine from this producer and a good introduction.

Best, Jim

[Dale Williams]

I love Pepiere Muscadets (all versions!) and buy/drink a lot of them, but for me they fill a different role than white Burgundy.
Didn't think there was any new wood in G. Conterno wines, thought all aged in old botti.

[Florida Jim]

Didn't think there was any new wood in G. Conterno wines, thought all aged in old botti.

Yeast, maybe?
Whatever, it showed as would wood.
Best, Jim

[ChaimShraga]

Sometimes I get that with wines that everyone swears so no new oak and I have no reasons not to believe that. Sometimes you just need a winemaker to know which way the wood blows.

[Lou Kessler]

I love Pepiere Muscadets (all versions!) and buy/drink a lot of them, but for me they fill a different role than white Burgundy.
Didn't think there was any new wood in G. Conterno wines, thought all aged in old botti.

I totally agree, last weekend we picked up a couple of 2 and half pound lobsters from Ranch 99 Market (oriental in Albany CA) steamed them, melted some butter and served them with a Corton Charlie from Bouchard. I love the Pepiere Muscadets but with lobster the Corton is so much better, no comparison. My understanding of G. Conterno, no new wood. I wouldn't think they would go to a lot of trouble to blatantly lie about their wood treatment.

[Florida Jim]

I love Pepiere Muscadets (all versions!) and buy/drink a lot of them, but for me they fill a different role than white Burgundy.
Didn't think there was any new wood in G. Conterno wines, thought all aged in old botti.

I totally agree, last weekend we picked up a couple of 2 and half pound lobsters from Ranch 99 Market (oriental in Albany CA) steamed them, melted some butter and served them with a Corton Charlie from Bouchard. I love the Pepiere Muscadets but with lobster the Corton is so much better, no comparison. My understanding of G. Conterno, no new wood. I wouldn't think they would go to a lot of trouble to blatantly lie about their wood treatment.

You Napa people ate so set in your ways.
Best, Jim

[Lou Kessler]

I love Pepiere Muscadets (all versions!) and buy/drink a lot of them, but for me they fill a different role than white Burgundy.
Didn't think there was any new wood in G. Conterno wines, thought all aged in old botti.

I totally agree, last weekend we picked up a couple of 2 and half pound lobsters from Ranch 99 Market (oriental in Albany CA) steamed them, melted some butter and served them with a Corton Charlie from Bouchard. I love the Pepiere Muscadets but with lobster the Corton is so much better, no comparison. My understanding of G. Conterno, no new wood. I wouldn't think they would go to a lot of trouble to blatantly lie about their wood treatment.

You Napa people ate so set in your ways.
Best, Jim

Hey if it weren't for the high prices that our wines attain in the market you guys wouldn't be able to charge decent prices for your juice. A rising sea raises all boats even those made in Sonoma.

[Mark Lipton]

I love Pepiere Muscadets (all versions!) and buy/drink a lot of them, but for me they fill a different role than white Burgundy.
Didn't think there was any new wood in G. Conterno wines, thought all aged in old botti.

I totally agree, last weekend we picked up a couple of 2 and half pound lobsters from Ranch 99 Market (oriental in Albany CA)

Minor point of correction, Lou, but that Ranch 99, just off the Central Ave exit of I-80, is in Richmond, not Albany (the border is several blocks to the South). I make this correction since that Ranch 99 is about 10 blocks from my mother's house (not coincidentally the one I grew up in) and in the city of my childhood, which is better known for school district bankruptcies and random acts of violence. I of course wouldn't expect a SoCal transplant to appreciate such subtleties, let alone an NYC ex-pat, so you are of course forgiven for such an oversight.

Mark Lipton

[Lou Kessler]

I love Pepiere Muscadets (all versions!) and buy/drink a lot of them, but for me they fill a different role than white Burgundy.
Didn't think there was any new wood in G. Conterno wines, thought all aged in old botti.

I totally agree, last weekend we picked up a couple of 2 and half pound lobsters from Ranch 99 Market (oriental in Albany CA)

Minor point of correction, Lou, but that Ranch 99, just off the Central Ave exit of I-80, is in Richmond, not Albany (the border is several blocks to the South). I make this correction since that Ranch 99 is about 10 blocks from my mother's house (not coincidentally the one I grew up in) and in the city of my childhood, which is better known for school district bankruptcies and random acts of violence. I of course wouldn't expect a SoCal transplant to appreciate such subtleties, let alone an NYC ex-pat, so you are of course forgiven for such an oversight.

Mark Lipton

You are correct, when Googled the address is Richmond. My wife says the employees and people we know in Berkeley always refer to the market as being in Albany. I guess being a former residence of Mark Lipton is not looked upon as good publicity. My research on this project has been exhaustive and thorough.

[Hoke]

Albany exit; Richmond address. Only people from Albany and Richmond know the difference when they are there.

[Lou Kessler]

Albany exit; Richmond address. Only people from Albany and Richmond know the difference when they are there.

Some of us have to go through life not knowing the difference. I have this terrible feeling of deprivation. Or is it the Monday morning blues?