Wines from the Punchdown
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Tasted Thursday, July 9, 2020 - Saturday, August 8, 2020 by alpha_ori with 151 views
Introduction
Wines that we bought from the Punchdown, Oakland, CA. Normally we drink there and take a bottle or two home, so I don't have a lot of notes on wines from there, which is unfortunate because I definitely get in the mood for them. But with COVID, our wine club wines built up for many months, and then we bought some extra as our inventory at home has flagged. I want to keep better notes on them going forward.
I find them a challenge to rate. I often find myself wanting to give them one rating, but then when I compare wines that I've given similar ratings to, I feel like I enjoy these Punchdown wines more -- more comparably to wines I rated a point or two higher. So keep that in mind when you read these notes.
2018 Sauro Maule "Bianco Granselva" Veneto IGT 90 Points
Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT
(7/9/2020)
Stinky on opening the bottle, but be patient. Touch of gunpowder on the nose. Saline, unripe pineapple, pickled fruit on the palate. Way better than anything I've had in this price range produced domestically.
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2019 Jauma Cabernet Franc Ujo 89 Points
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
(7/10/2020)
Taut, weedy, raspberries with some fine mouth-drying tannin on the finish.
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2016 Nicolas Reau Anjou Pompois 89 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou
(7/11/2020)
Light to mid-bodied, but still compelling and complete; good acid. Like the youthful elemental soul of a Loire Cab Franc. Don't drink it too cold.
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2018 Domaine La Dernière Goutte Tisane de Bois Tordu 91 Points
France, Vin de France
(7/12/2020)
A bit of zesty, natty energy. Enjoyable. R particularly enjoyed this one.
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2019 The Hermit Ram Sauvignon Blanc Methode Ancestral 92 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara
(7/15/2020)
Hazy, canary yellow in color. Nose is weird and funky, but not offensive. Soft, light texture. Palate is definitely sauvignon blanc, but leaning toward the orange rind and unripe pineapple side of the spectrum. Finishes with a light brush of skin tannin. Super fun, and QPR is excellent.
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2017 Alfredo Maestro El Marciano 92 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León
(7/19/2020)
Dark fruit flavor comes first, ripe tasting, but then it is almost immediately joined by a zesty, sprightly acidity, and that makes it a whole different kind of party. Fine tannin at the end, but nothing that stops the party, especially if you’re drinking this with rich food. This is serious fun!
This might be a point or so of activist rating, but I think this is quite underrated here.
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2017 Nicolas Reau Anjou Enlevement Demande 93 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou
(7/16/2020)
Now this is what I want from a Loire CF. Nose is stinky — fertilizer and fruit. Palate is savory, fruity, decent acid but loosely textured, a little pencil lead, and a touch of blood; this is the perfect weeknight wine. As natural wines go, this is straight in my wheelhouse. At this price (I paid $23), this is a no brainer.
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2018 La Senda Mencía Bierzo 1984 89 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo
(7/18/2020)
Straight out of the bottle, it’s briny, and tart, like a pickled plum. And maybe it's a bit slight. Decent, and not without flavor interest, but not something I’d follow up on. But with a little air and food, it’s stepped up just a little. In addition to the pickled fruit, there’s a sweet fruit element that precedes and balances it. But the mid palate is still light, and the finish is mostly about tartness rather than its flavor. It’s tasty and intriguing, but I just want a bit more from it.
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2018 Domaine Jean Ginglinger Pinot Blanc 91 Points
France, Alsace
(7/20/2020)
A little salty, a little lemony. Very good. Don’t know that it meets my definition of “glou glou”, as it proclaims on the bottle, but it’s worth drinking, for sure.
As it warms, the nose (previously quiet) gives off a little more perfume, and more delicate flavors spring up. A touch of spiciness, too. At 64F, it becomes strongly aromatic, though I think the palate is a little loose at that temp. Best compromise is at around 61F, if you ask me.
I know, I know, you didn't ask me.
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2018 Sonser Gamayleon 92 Points
France, Vin de France
(7/22/2020)
Yes! Don’t know how to characterize these weird smells, but it makes me excited to taste it.
Visually, it's a glorious cloudy orange-red translucence.
And it is exciting on the tongue. Verve and barely-ripe strawberries, just a bit of acetic touch; solid mid-body, interesting finish. I'll take it.
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2018 Il Signor Kurtz Umbria 93 Points
Italy, Umbria
(7/25/2020)
Dark purple in the glass. Nose is quiet for me, but could be the temperature.
Simultaneously austere, juicy, dry, and darkly fruity. Tart, lightly acetic — in a good way. This wine is extremely appealing. Finishes with a bit of fine tannin that should be tamed by food.
Geez, if this is what is happening in Umbria these days, I need to go. I mean, when Americans aren’t the world’s idiots any more. Christ, I’m never going, am I?
[N.B.: I may have not gotten the name of the wine for this entry; each of their wines have their own names. I wish I knew which one it was!]
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2016 Sylvain Martinez Anjou Corbeau 91 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou
(7/31/2020)
A quiet undercurrent of energy. A touch of florality. Mouth-filling, dense red fruit, counterbalanced by tartness. Good, but I've preferred other of these natty wines.
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2018 Sébastien Bobinet Saumur-Champigny Ruben 92 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur-Champigny
(8/2/2020)
Zesty red fruit. Softly textured midpalate, tangy and lightly bitter finish in the way that I like it. Mouthfeel is loose but the wine manages to keep it all together.
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2017 Nicolas Reau Anjou Enlevement Demande 93 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou
(8/1/2020)
Electric cherries, earth, smoke, excitement. To my taste, this may be the best QPR wine I've ever bought at retail.
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2019 Lucy Margaux / Domaine Lucci Light Red 91 Points
Australia, South Australia
(8/2/2020)
Thickly textured for such a light wine. Briny, a touch ascetic, but pleasant. The sort of wine that's probably Just Perfect for some odd dish that I haven't had yet.
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2018 Damien Bastian Vin de Savoie Ça boit Libre 86 Points
France, Savoie, Vin de Savoie
(8/2/2020)
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2018 Domaine La Dernière Goutte Bonheur 92 Points
France, Vin de France
(8/5/2020)
Ah, this is delicious. Smells like strawberries and turnips. Red raspberry fruit cloaked in a cloudy, slightly viscous, zesty wrapper.
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