Saturday

A Saturday full of interesting wines at Weygandt Wines and my house...

• 2011 Fess Parker Viognier 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Like potpourri on the nose, with aromas of lilies, honeysuckle, tangerine. Plump on the palate, but the acid is surprisingly fresh. Usually in Central Coast viognier I get too much thickness and not enough acid, but this is fresh and full of nice tart flavors. There’s some nice rich white peach and pineapple, backed up by some oily-nutty notes. Crisp finish.

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• 2011 Denis et Didier Berthollier Vin de Savoie Chignin Vieilles Vignes 86 Points

  France, Savoie, Vin de Savoie Chignin

  Aromas of green pear, crushed rocks and lemon zest, almost like a Muscadet in its brisk make-up. THe palate is tart with high acid and flavors of chalk, green melon and white grapes. Not the most complex wine, but this would be great on a hot day with a green salad or oysters.

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• 2012 Château de la Bonneliere Chinon Rosé 84 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon

  I've enjoyed previous vintages of this wine, and 2012 is slightly below the 2011 and 2010 for my palate, at least with this bottle. Wild strawberry on the nose. The palate shows tangy acid, strawberry, rose hips and a hint of green grass, almost like a vine of sorts. Interesting. On a hot day, this could cut through some goat cheese and be delicious.

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• 2011 Pierre-Marie Chermette Beaujolais Coeur de Vendange Vignes Centenaires 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Beaujolais

  Classic Chermette deliciousness. This wine is so fresh and lively, bracing with minerals. Aromas of strawberry, graphite, violets and tilled soil. Firm tannins, searing acid, brisk minerals. The cherry and cranberry fruit is so fresh and tangy, with notes of soil and graphite. Long finish. Very solid, and this will probably get better in a year or two.

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• 2008 La Ca' Növa Barbaresco Vigna Bric Mentina Montefico 88 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  A Peter Weygandt Barbaresco, and it sure tastes like it. So old school. On the nose, it's like someone stirred together sour cherries in with mushrooms, lamb meat, soy sauce and oregano. Solid acid and fine tannins on the palate, with flavors of olive paste, chewing tobacco and pepper mixing in with the sour cherry and red plum fruit. Very earthy and briny, this begs for food.

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• 2009 Chatom Winery Touriga Nacional 88 Points

  USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Calaveras County

  Dark berries on the nose, fig paste, mocha, these richer aromas play with herbal and broth aromas as well, and it makes for an interesting combo. Dusty tannins on the palate, medium acid and a balanced mix of fruit and non-fruit flavors: cherry, raspberry, olive, smoke, soy and garlic. Really earthy and briny, and coming from California, I'm enjoying it. The fruit is rich enough to indicate California, but the non-fruit flavors are off the charts. Love it.

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• 2010 Bersano Dolcetto d'Alba Coldelfosso 85 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Dolcetto d'Alba

  Sour cherries, raspberries and dusty earth on the nose. Tart acid, soft tannins, the fruit tastes like tangy cherries and raspberries. Some earth and charcoal flavors add complexity. That said, it's more of a simple wine for easy drinking. Medium finish. Seems to me like a drink-me-now wine.

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