Wine Raconteur

Hello everyone ! I just finished crushing the grapes from my first harvest. There gonna be 100% Syrah from one of the most profound viticultural area in north of Napa, Clear Lake. I m very excited ! However, fermentation is not gonna kicked started til another 4 days. There are some documented video of the harvest posted very soon, let me know what you think.

10) Le Macioche


Score: 13.5/20

Enticing aromas of Pomegranate, apple and bilberries. Has some great fruit character but alcohol not balance. Wine seems over riped. Bold but lack definition. Much of oak lingering around with a nice bright acidity on the finish. It’s a monster.

11) Pertimali di Livio Sassetti

Score: 17.5/20

A sturdy, well defined tannic structure. Trace of earth from the nose and the back palate. Impeccable balance and subtle minerals on the finish. The wine seems shy at the moment. Fruits evolve gradually in the mid palate. A very focus wine, need time to unfold. I will re-visit this wine in 3-5 years.

12) Le Potazzine


Score: 18/20

This wine is elegant than power, it is symmetrical and harmonious. Multi-layers of earth, marjoram & dash of pepper as overture. Silky and well paved tannins grips firmly with the acid. Undertone of cassis emerging to the front. Mineral subtleties marry playfully & graciously with the thyme nuances. Finish has good length but a bit one dimensional.

7) La Poderina


Score: 14/20

Spicy & bold blackcurrant, smoky & oaky. Some dusty strawberry expanding in the mid-palate. It certainly not as sexy as its nose. The wine lack depth. It gains some points on the subtle mineral and bright tone of acidity. Finish is decent but overall lack a nice frame.
It doesn’t evlove much, the flavors stay the same from the nose to the back.

8) La Serena


Score: 17.5/20

Extravagant & engaging. Young vibrancy rings in the palate like blackberries, currants & cedar. Nose of some barnyard in a good way. Elegant and persuasive. The dense fruits evolve into black tea and basil in the middle. Gently expending into luscious fruits again at the finish. Great depth with earthy subtleties. A lot of wisdom in this wine. The only complaint is the tannins was a bit too low.

9) La Serena , Gemini


Score: 15.5/20

Massive concentration of bilberries, black currant & strawberries. It has a complex profile of fruits. Well extracted & define. Its a big but tight. There are no subtleties to be found. Very toasty at front. Lacks of posture. The finish is long enough to impress but comes along predictable flavors.

Something to discuss before I post the rest of the reports.
I recently read an article from a wine writer, John Radford. He stated that the wine world never going to have another appalling quality like we witnessed before, like the 1965 and 1968 in France. He explained with many of the technologies developed for the wine growers for the past years, the crops are no longer ruined by bad weather or some of the diseases.
I have to say I agreed mostly of it. But I doubt it is completely a good thing.
Yes, it is true that the state of the art techniques might help to avoid disastrous vintage, however not many small growers can afford them. The wineries backed by the deep-pocket mother companies or financial giants may have no trouble installing thousand of dollars of equipment. But for the individual farmers or small family owned business, it might not be affordable. Their produciton might not justify the investment. On top of that, what is the beauty left into tasting a wine if all wines are the same and they all lost the subtleties identification of an vintage ?

Anyway , let’s carry on with my reports…

5) Brizio


Score: 17.25/20

Multiple layers, demonstrating black currants ,violets, earth. wide spectrum of dark fruits dominates the whole palate with a lively acidity. It’s rather tight, mineral slowly revealing & tackle along the way. The stiff & unyielding frame promise a bright future.

6) Fossacolle


Score: 18/20

Immense concentration. The core is a meaty blackberries with tons of minerals support to it. It probably has the best texture among all the 2004 that I ve tasted. The subtle earth subsided with the pepper & leather and dusty berries. Its muscular & precise. Well rounded tannins give it an impeccable lush & balance. Hint of mint & dried herbs mingling in the finish which is long & fabulous.

There are going to be 12 wines reported, many of those are freshly released.
The vintage considered to be one of the best, some people even made comparison to the 1997. Its rival or not, time will determine. Now let me give you my report.

1) Le Presi


Score: 17.25/20

Complex nose. Herbs, rosemary, touch of gamey like venision.. Smooth & gradually unfolding flavors of black currant, fresh peppercorn, supported by good & balance acidity. Ripeness were spot on, not over done. Great length of finish, soft but tangible subtleties.

2) Argiano


Score: 12/20

Nose of butter, cooked black plum. one dimensional, quite predictable. Ripe fruits like black currents & cherries fill my front palate. Lack of depth, and where is the acidity. It got me turned off by the hint of medicinal nuances like Band-aid in back of my palate to finish. It got some muscle on the finish but boring.

3) Camigliano


Score: 11.75/20

Tons of up-front fruits with dark cherry & coffee beans. Layers of black fruits punctuated with cinnamon spice at the middle. Overwhelming alcohol and sugar mask any possible subtleties. A lot of force but no brains. Finish with ripe fruits and oak linger on. Straight forward wine.

4) Ciacci Piccolomini d’ Aragona


Score: 16.75/20

Nose of bitter skin of plums. Well extracted, layer of herbs.
Palate of dark coffee, cherries, cinnamon, mocha, wide spectrum of flavors fill the sensation. Firm structure of fruits along with some vanilla nuances but not dominating. Beautfully paved tannins supporting the immense extraction. Finish is medium long and tight. It will certainly gain more ground in the next 3,4 years.

2007 - Domaine Olivier Pithon - La Coulee - Cotes du Roussillon


Score: 15/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method

Nose of spice, touch of cranberries. Touch of anise 7 intensifying cinnamon & apple, feels like having a apple pie from Macdonal. Overall one dimensional but hit the spot. Well balance of tannins. The fruits seem to come from young vines.
Lingering finish but a bit boring.
The producer, Pithon, is one of the pioneers of the modern dry style of Roussillon region. He owns 15 hectares of vineyards in the eastern Pyrenees. Soils are primarily granite and shale with bits of clay & marl.
Certified Biodynamic. This wine is made form a 3 hectare of parcel. Blending are Grenache, Carignan & syrah. Typical blend from the south.

1) Chateau Montlisse - Grand Cru Classé - 2003


Score: 14.25/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting notes.

Great density. Blackberries with a mélange of rustic currants & peppercorn. Consider it has some depth, enough of vibrant elements such as minerals, it however still a bit one dimensional to me. Finish falls a bit short.
Cépage: 85% Merlot, 7.5% Cabernet, 7.5% Cabernet Franc.
The wine aged in 100% new oak barrels for 18-22months.
7 hectare of Vineyard situated on a southwest exposure with clay & limestone soil.

2) Chateau Pavie-Macquin - St. Emilion Grand Cru 2006
Note: This wine was once promoted to a Premiere Grand Cru status in 2006 however, due to a chaotic system disputing, it reminds as Grand Cru. Arguement & dispute are still going on, this Chateau may gain its status back in the near future.

Score: 17.5/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method

On & off , it’s tight. When it loses up a Top note of bright spices like pink peppercorn. trace of raspberry on the nose. Well built structure in the palate with a grip of cassis & smoke meat, like a exotic belly dancer. Rich velvety finish but disappear sooner than I expected. Impeccable balance. Looking for more nuances.
Cepage: Merlot (70%), with 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
The wines come from a 15 hectare of Vineyard , with typical clay/limestone soil. Aged in barrel for 20months.
One of the most improved wineries in St.Emilion.

3) Chateau Figeac - St. Emilion - Premier Grand Cru 2006


Score: 17.5/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting notes

a tough call to the Macquin ! Completely well balance all the way. Striking aromas of bell pepper & spearmint. Tannins lay a good foundation for the velvety fruits like black currant & mulberries. Quite some obvious oak, I believe its gonna blend in really well in few years. Finish is gracious & long.
Cepage: 70% Cabernet Franc , 30% Merlot

4) Clos Fourtet - St. Emilion - Premier Grand Cru 2006


Score: 18.25/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method

Hiding massive complexity behind the admirable purity. Supple & compressed Tannins. Looking for 6-8 years for flavors to be unzipped and to develop. Deep rock earth, blackberries , mineral and whiff of licorice with a multi-berry spectrum finish but has not truly show its gracious yet. Great luster in the colour.
Cépage: 85% Merlot 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cab. Franc
One of the oldest vineyard in Bordeaux, dated back to Middle Ages.
The vineyard situated on the limestone plateau with 19 hectares planted vines. Around 5000 cases produced annually. Average of 30 year old vines.