by Ray Johnson | Dec 3, 2008 | Arbois, France, Jura, Savagnin, Vin Jaune
Domaine Jacques Puffeney, Arbois, Vin Jaune 1998 The smell of Fino Sherry hits you directly in the nose, that sense of nuttiness and apples. There is also some sense of volatility. In the mouth, you are reminded of tart, green apples, graced with a dusting of almonds....
by Ray Johnson | Dec 3, 2008 | France, Gros Manseng, Jurancon
Clos Lapeyre, Jurancon Sec 2007 This wine is intensly acidic with great concentration of tart, green fruit. The intensity is on a par with what you get in the great Semillons of the Hunter, with an appropriate, underripe character. It’s reminiscent of tasting...
by Ray Johnson | Dec 3, 2008 | France, Marsanne, Rhône, Roussanne, Saint-Joseph
Domaine Pierre Gonon, Saint-Joseph, “Les Oliviers” 2006 This bottle of white Saint-Joseph sports a toasty nose, with minerality and nuttiness. The mouth follows a similar line, with toasty, smoky essence and buttery richnss. This is a fat and weighty white...
by Ray Johnson | Dec 3, 2008 | France, Rhône, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes, Viognier
Michel & Stéphane Ogier, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes, Vigonier de Rosine 2006 You would swear this wine is from the New World when you stick your nose in the glass. The peachy fruit is just so vibrant. In the mouth, this wine is full-bodied and luscious,...
by Ray Johnson | Dec 3, 2008 | Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Clairette, France, Grenache Blanc, Rhône
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, “La Crau” 2006 The wine today is Brunier’s white CDP. In the nose there is baking bread, straw and a subtle sense of stone fruits. In the mouth the wine is quite weighty, mineral driven and enhanced...
by Ray Johnson | Dec 3, 2008 | Chenin Blanc, France, Late Harvest White, Loire Valley, Vouvray, White Dessert
Domaine Huet, Vouvray, Clos du Bourg, Moelleux, Premiere Trie 2002 The nose sports minerality and citrus and the mouth is vivaciously alive, singing with acidity and joined in a chorus with flavors of tangerine and pineapple. This is certainly not as sweet as many...
