by Ray Johnson | Jul 29, 2009 | Chenin Blanc, France, Late Harvest White, Loire Valley, White Dessert
Domaine Huet, Vouvray, Le Haut-Lieu, 1ere Trie, Moelleux 1990 This wine has developed a beautiful tawny color over almost 2 decades. The nose smells of toffee, caramel and raisins. The mouth is an absolute explosions of fresh oranges covered in caramel – really....
by Ray Johnson | Jul 29, 2009 | Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Pessac-Leognan
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan 2005 The nose smells of leather, earth, smokiness, horse blanket and a host of descriptors that get at a sense of brettanomycees as complexity rather than a flaw. That said, I know that this level of brett would be too much...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 29, 2009 | Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaux, Merlot
Chateau Giscours, Margaux 2005 The berry fruit is ripe and expressive in the nose, with a sense of cedar and a light touch of earthiness. The fruit comes through on the palate, with some chewy though ripe tannin and a touch of creaminess. 80.5 hectares of vines are...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 29, 2009 | Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Saint-Emilion
Chateau Rolland-Maillet, Saint-Emilion, Grand Cru 2005 Upon first opening this bottle was uncharacteristically rustic for a Rolland wine; patience is rewarded with 10 minutes or so of air. In the mouth however, the fruit is immediately apparent and the texture is...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 29, 2009 | Chenin Blanc, France, Loire Valley, Vouvray
Domaine Le Peu de la Moriette (Domaine Pichot), Vouvray 2008 In the nose there is a sense of herbaceousness, candied green fruit and floral notes. In the mouth there is that familiar balance of the sweet and the tart, as this wine has consistently shown. There’s...