Friday Walk Around Tasting at Sams Fine Wine & Spirits, Lexington SC 8/29/2014

On a 3 day weekend, holiday Friday, with a 97 degrees temperature at 6 PM, it looks like most people were not all that interested in wine tasting today. Instead of the typical crowd at the bar, just a few at a time trickled in. The lineup was pretty unusual. Starts with a value priced real Champage, then an unoaked California Chardonnay, a French Pinot from a relatively obscure district, and a superb Italian red blend.

• NV Francois Montand Crémant du Jura Brut 85 Points

  France, Jura, Crémant du Jura

  You can tell this is Champagne, the base wine has an underlying, tell tale, character and structure. The color is quite golden. The nose is toasty and yeasty, characteristics that immediately also show themselves on the first sip. Nice heft to the mouth feel, Not necessarily very flavor expressive. Behind the earthy, mineral, yeasty flavors is a hint of pineapple, peach and apricot fruit. Does not overwhelm you with acidity. Quite a good value for real Champagne.

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• 2012 Hob Nob Vineyards Chardonnay 81 Points

  USA, California

  To enjoy this Chardonnay is definitely an acquired taste. There is no oak to smooth out some of those jagged edges Chardonnay can exhibit, especially if picked at a slightly under ripe brix. This is not a bad wine, but certainly is not for everyone. There are some weird, spicy, weedy, vegetal flavors and aromas that very few would willingly pay money to taste. There is a reason for aging in oak barrels or casks that they avoided to try and make a politically correct wine, that basically fails and to most will be barely drinkable.

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• 2012 Cave Saint Verny Côtes d'Auvergne Le Pinot 86 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Côtes d'Auvergne

  Don't think I have ever tasted a Cotes d'Auvergne before. This is from the Midi section of France, and definitely has a slightly different flavor and aroma profile. The nose, and the first taste across the palate is decidedly spicy, almost like volcanic or high iron soil. The color is dark for a French Pinot. Beside being spicy, the nose is earthy with red fruit and a very slight smell of violets. The fruit, for a few seconds, hides behind, or is dominated by, a super jalapeno type spiciness. What emerges is red raspberry and cherry. Very fresh, but moderate acidity. Little or no oak. More medium bodied than expected. Spicy red fruit finish.

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• 2010 Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso 89 Points

  Italy, Campania, Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio

  Even though this is a 2010 which is still relatively young, this one tastes like a wine that has been aged for quite a while. It is already browning a little on the color. The nose has some earthy rusticity, and maybe even a touch of oxidation, befoe some candied cherry fruit. When it first hits the lips, (we were not able to decant) it tastes a little shop worn, but just give it a second, and there is an explosion of well matured maraschino and dark cherry with black fruit, red licorice, wet earth, mionerals and graphite. Medium plus bodied with a very lingering mature fruit flavor on the roof of the mouth. Probably caught it just in time. Sneaky little tannins. The cherry finish lasts for minutes.

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