Blind Wines at the Farmer's Table
Farmer's Table
Tasted Monday, March 26, 2012 by RajivAyyangar with 543 views
Introduction
w/ Erica, Joanne, Kirk, and a bunch of others.
Flight 1 - Whites (4 Notes)
Kirk's was the wine of the night easily (the Botanica Chenin). Seemed designed just for my palate. Obscure tropical fruits, rippling acidity, great complexity and integration. Forget guessing where it's from, I was just happy drinking it!
Flight 2 - Reds (3 Notes)
I had better luck analyzing the reds, though I clearly have work to do on understanding age markers (I was pretty much guessing in the dark).
2010 Quinta das Arcas Vinho Verde Arca Nova 79 Points
Portugal, Minho, Vinho Verde
Clear, day bright, light straw-green in the glass. No tears, faint bubbles.
Nose: med- intensity nose of light detergent fruit, faint green apple stems. Some sweetness/warmness/ripeness to the nose.
Palate: slightly off-dry, light apple core, fruity, light body, med acid (mostly malic, light finish, light alcohol (10-11%).
Old World due to low alcohol, acid structure.
Possible varietals:
moscato based on nose and frizzante?
ould be a new world sauv blanc, cool climate (reminiscent of a particularly light sauv blanc from california). Upon revisiting the wine, more waxy character is emerging, so probably old world.
Pinot grigio? (since it's a light wine).
Guess: Moscato D'Asti.
Actually: Vinho verde, 2010 (a bit old for a VV). 11%
Solidly made. though I'm not familiar with this genre. 78-80 pts.
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2009 Botanica Chenin Blanc Mary Delany Collection 91 Points
South Africa, Olifants River, Citrusdal
Light straw, bright, clear in the glass.
N: Waxy, with a tinge of balsamic vinegar. Med+ intensity. Petrol, durian and ripe jackfruit character.
P: Rich, hint of banana-y creaminess. Slightly off-dry. Med+ body, ripping lactic acid that also hits the tongue immediately. Med+ alcohol, med+ finish. Some wood - well-integrated. Complex, well executed, AND a style I like = I like this wine!
Developing. There are some secondary fruit and non-fruit characteristics.
Thinking old world based on acidity and subtle oak. Chardonnay. Great fruit integration. ....
Actually maybe New World - reminds me of Hyde De Villaine Chardonnay with its rippling acidity and well-integrated fruit and oak.
Guess: HDV Chardonnay, 2007-8, California.
Actually: Botanica 2009 Chenin! 100% chenin. 13.58%
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2009 Blason de Bourgogne Montagny 1er Cru Blanc 65 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Montagny 1er Cru
Light straw, clear, and bright in the glass.
N: Mostly nose-deaf on this wine, in contrast to others in the group. Hints of animal scents, barnyard, some wood (actual wood, not well integrated). Faint lemon.
P: Acid-deficient on the midpalate, woody bitterness. Some malic tartness on sides of the tongue, med+ acidity on the finish. Nose seems vaguely familiar, but I'm not sure why. L Body, med- alcohol - 10-11.5%. Significant bitterness on the finish, which should help me narrow down the varietals.
Old world, definitely.
Varietals:
Pinot gris/pinot grigio (because of lightness and bitterness).
Picpoul - because of malic acid and bitterness and lightness.
Gewurz - no, the aromatics and body aren't there.
Marsanne-roussanne blend (rhone white). Not fat/oily enough. too much acid.
Verdejo - no, I don't find verdejo bitter.
I'm going with Kirk's guess of a dry pinot gris from Oregon.
I'm not a fan of this wine.
09 Montagny 1er cru, Blason de Bourgogne. 13%. ??????
Never had a chard this bitter. Maybe it was something to do with the fermentation/crushing? Or maybe the grapes weren't ripe, which would explain the distinct lack of fruit. Usually I get this level of bitterness only in specific varietals - pinot gris, verdicchio, gewurz, picpoul.
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This explains a lot:
From a fellow taster on CellarTracker:
"According to the Wine Doctor, Kris Kissac (website) "Montagny premier cru is one of those most aberrant of misnomers, like Bordeaux Supérieur, nomenclature that clangs with grandeur but in fact relates to little more than alcoholic strength." The only qualification for the premier cru classification in this region is that the alcohol be more than 11.5%.""
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2010 Château Graville-Lacoste Blanc 75 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves
Nose: stinky, a bit reductive - burnt rubber. Faint body odor. Distinct note of marijuana. Lime.
P: Med- body, med alcohol (11.5-12.5%), med+ acidity, both tart (malic) and clean (lactic). Light bitterness. Bitter on the finish.
Old world, cool climate. No friggen idea where.
Possible Varietals:
Sauv Blanc - lime, acidity, bitterness. Pouilly-fume?
NZ Sauv blanc?
S. African sauv blanc?
Someone proposed Chablis, which could also make sense.
Actually:
2010 Ch. Graville-Lacoste, Graves. 12%
(Kermit Lynch)
Weird.
Didn't really like this wine. Found it quite puzzling and strange.
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