*Apparently so new tasting notes haven't yet been posted, this bottling COMMONLY approaches threshold with its R.S. but with VERY low pH. On this particular bottle/day, however, I picked up *no* sensation of R.S.
N: Lemons, minerals
P: LM, poss L, body; Rndish entry with NICE frt met by crisp acidity which transitions into a LONG, slightly spicy, very, VERY slightly tart finish with occasional notes of honey. Still coming together, I suspect, yet another CONSISTENT effort from this excellent producer. Should improve into summer '18, then drink into if not through '21. My VG/VG+. [This vendor's $7.95 heads up the current wine-searcher class.]
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt nicely counerbalanced by acidity which transitions into a LONG, spicy, tangy/swt (50:50) finish. Very nicely done as an aperitif or with lighter fare for now & through '19. My VG-/VG, poss more if one takes into account the QPR vis-a-vis similarly styled wines. [Tough to evaluate this vendor's $10.95 as there's only one other (higher) listing currently on wine-searcher.]
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt met by some very, VERY slight astringency which DOES pretty much continue into the LONG, ult VERY slightly bitter/swt finish with a substrate of very, VERY fine tannins. For now & into mid '19 with poultry & lighter entrees. My VG-/VG. [This vendor's $11.95 CRUSHES the only other listed wine-searcher vendor by ~ $5!]
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages
[Judging from notes of previous vintages, LIKELY something like 80:20 Grenache: Mourvedre, & 14.5% or so ABV.]
N: RIPE, jammy berries with smoke & poss some choc; Poss some garrigue?
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) met by firming astringency which morphs into a LONG, bitterSWT finish with notes of very, VERY fine tannins which still retain the wine's init swtness. Interesting in a stylistic way, & could improve through '18, then drink for 2-3 yrs more. My VG, poss VG+. [This vendor's $12.95 is ~ $2 < than the only other current wine-searcher listing.]
Vines 14 to 38 yrs old, yielding 4.6 tons per acre; Aged for 16 mos in FR (25% new) & AM(10% new) oak barrels, bottled in March 2016; 14.2% ABV, "Dry", 3.48 pH, & 0.67 T.A.
N: Lingonberry jam, pyrazenes poss underneath
P: LM, poss M, body; ALMOST swtish frt beaut off-set by a puckerish acidity which slowly transitions into a LONG, tangy/swt (60:40) finish with the BAREST hint of very, VERY fine tannins. LOVELY stuff for now (though might still improve a bit into Summer '16) & drinking through '20, poss longer. My VG*/EXC- (at least given this vendor's $12.95 "closeout", which beats everyone else currently listed on wine-searcher by at LEAST $3!) 88 pts WS.
2017 MAN Vintners Chenin Blanc Free-Run Steen
South Africa, Coastal Region
*Apparently so new tasting notes haven't yet been posted, this bottling COMMONLY approaches threshold with its R.S. but with VERY low pH. On this particular bottle/day, however, I picked up *no* sensation of R.S.
N: Lemons, minerals
P: LM, poss L, body; Rndish entry with NICE frt met by crisp acidity which transitions into a LONG, slightly spicy, very, VERY slightly tart finish with occasional notes of honey. Still coming together, I suspect, yet another CONSISTENT effort from this excellent producer. Should improve into summer '18, then drink into if not through '21. My VG/VG+. [This vendor's $7.95 heads up the current wine-searcher class.]
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2017 Les Vignerons Corsicans Corse Terra Nostra
France, Corsica, Corse
N: Floral with minerals
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt nicely counerbalanced by acidity which transitions into a LONG, spicy, tangy/swt (50:50) finish. Very nicely done as an aperitif or with lighter fare for now & through '19. My VG-/VG, poss more if one takes into account the QPR vis-a-vis similarly styled wines. [Tough to evaluate this vendor's $10.95 as there's only one other (higher) listing currently on wine-searcher.]
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2015 Aliane Beaujolais-Villages Vieilles Vignes
France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Beaujolais-Villages
N: RIPE straws & rasps, poss flowers; CLASSIC Beauj allure!
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt met by some very, VERY slight astringency which DOES pretty much continue into the LONG, ult VERY slightly bitter/swt finish with a substrate of very, VERY fine tannins. For now & into mid '19 with poultry & lighter entrees. My VG-/VG. [This vendor's $11.95 CRUSHES the only other listed wine-searcher vendor by ~ $5!]
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2014 Les Vignerons de Maury Côtes du Roussillon Villages President Bories
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages
[Judging from notes of previous vintages, LIKELY something like 80:20 Grenache: Mourvedre, & 14.5% or so ABV.]
N: RIPE, jammy berries with smoke & poss some choc; Poss some garrigue?
P: LM body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) met by firming astringency which morphs into a LONG, bitterSWT finish with notes of very, VERY fine tannins which still retain the wine's init swtness. Interesting in a stylistic way, & could improve through '18, then drink for 2-3 yrs more. My VG, poss VG+. [This vendor's $12.95 is ~ $2 < than the only other current wine-searcher listing.]
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2014 Kunde Estate Merlot
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
Vines 14 to 38 yrs old, yielding 4.6 tons per acre; Aged for 16 mos in FR (25% new) & AM(10% new) oak barrels, bottled in March 2016; 14.2% ABV, "Dry", 3.48 pH, & 0.67 T.A.
N: Lingonberry jam, pyrazenes poss underneath
P: LM, poss M, body; ALMOST swtish frt beaut off-set by a puckerish acidity which slowly transitions into a LONG, tangy/swt (60:40) finish with the BAREST hint of very, VERY fine tannins. LOVELY stuff for now (though might still improve a bit into Summer '16) & drinking through '20, poss longer. My VG*/EXC- (at least given this vendor's $12.95 "closeout", which beats everyone else currently listed on wine-searcher by at LEAST $3!) 88 pts WS.
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