skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Now that the seasons are changing and the days are getting shorter and cooler, I always look forward to a nice Pinot Noir. Something about the crispness in the air brings out the reds that I just don't seem to crave during the summer months.I give you the 2002 Gérard Raphet Chambolle-Musigny "Les Bussières" Cuvée Unique.Perhaps considered a baby, this particular wine has been in the cellar only about five years, but is interesting to note that the wines from Musigny actually can be drunk relatively young. It is wines from nearby Bonnes-Mares that are usually more full-bodied, tannic and require more years aging before they are mature. Producer Gerard Raphet is famous for producing fruit-driven, aromatically complex and lushly textured old-vine Pinot Noir from some of Burgundy's finest terroirs that have historically proven time and time again that they can age gorgeously. Yes, this one will keep going for many years more, but we just couldn't wait that long. It is actually ready to enjoy now.
In the glass, it is a wine of finesse and elegance. Not too dense or dark, this wine actually exudes pure affluence. This is the way a Pinot Noir should be from Chamboelle-Musigny. Nice.
On the nose, there is an aroma of bright red berries and sweet plums mingling with some light oak spices. Not overbearing and powerful, but more elegant and structured. 
In the mouth, it is silky with the impeccable Burgundy balance. Fresh plumbs and raspberries dominate, as well as some backbone and spice which these older vines pull from the region's limestone-rich soils. Subtle hints of oak, licorice and touches of roasted nuts. Caramelly oak and light tannins on the quick finish. Elegant, refined. Still youthful but enjoyable now.
I've been away from the wine scene for a little too long, but getting back into it with this wine was a little disappointing. Now I've heard good things about this Merlot, but unfortunately I think this bottle was either too old, got too warm at one point during its life, or was a dud. Sorry to be a little succinct, but that's my opinion. A half hour in the decanter and it was time to taste. The nose was hot with cherry aromas and tobacco. I was actually surprised by the intensity of the fumes, and then realized this comes in at a whopping 16.3% alcohol. Color looks good, but definitely not from Saint-Emilion or Pomerol. Plenty of sweet black fruit wafting up from the glass. Yes, definitely loads of fruit. Okay then, let's continue:
In the mouth there was a high level of sweetness, similar to Kirsch and cherry liqueur. As a matter of fact it is virtually all fruit at the moment and super-high in sugar. The high alcohol was throwing me off as well so I must say I was disappointed with this one. There's no oak left and virtually no tannins, so there you go - all fruit. Next time I won't hold my California Merlots as long as I did. At least not this one.
Burger season is upon us, so why not enjoy a nice juicy one with a good Zinfandel from Paso Robles? Our choice is the 2004 Eagle Castle Zinfandel, and this is just what we needed! Now this Zinfandel is not your typical stain-your-teeth Zin, but rather more earthy with a modest 16.8% alcohol content. It is the kind of wine you must definitely serve while listening to some classic Johnny Cash because it just oozes masculinity with not a lot of over-the-top jaminess. Yep, this is raw, earthy, in-your-face traditional Zinfandel hiding most of the heat in a nice little package. In my opinion, this is the way Zin should be.To start off, this winery has won more accolades than I can mention. Their 2005 Zinfandel won a double gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition earlier this year and their wines keep turning heads across California. So with that in mind, let's head back one vintage to 2004 and give this wine a try. Most of this wine's package is in the palate, and the nose really hides what it is all about. There is some minerality and white pepper aromas, but at the very first sip there are fresh plums accompanied with pepper and Italian spice. There is plenty of vanilla, oak, and a beautiful rich mouthfeel with a perfectly non-traditional clean finish. Woah! A clean finishing Zin? We'll take it. 
May I suggest serving your Zin with a ground beef burger topped with goat cheese spread and Serrano chilies. Enjoy!
Now that the seasons are changing and the days are getting shorter and cooler, I always look forward to a nice Pinot Noir. Something about the crispness in the air brings out the reds that I just don't seem to crave during the summer months.
In the mouth, it is silky with the impeccable Burgundy balance. Fresh plumbs and raspberries dominate, as well as some backbone and spice which these older vines pull from the region's limestone-rich soils. Subtle hints of oak, licorice and touches of roasted nuts. Caramelly oak and light tannins on the quick finish. Elegant, refined. 
Posts
