Wine Raconteur

1) Chateau Chantegrive - Rouge - Pessac-Leognan 2005


Score: 17/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method

Full of viscosity. Layers of licorice, wood spice, subtleties of minerals. Has a firm tannins with bright acidity. Guarantee a bright future.
This is a 42 hectare estate, very mineral rich soil with sand & clay.
Wines are aged 18 months in oak.
Cépage: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Cab. Franc

2) Chateau Latour-Martillac - Blanc - Pessac-Leognan 2006


Score: 15.75/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting note.

Fruits of pineapple in the front. Demonstrate some vegetable notes in the nose. Hint of tropical fruits on the core, coconut & toasty oak driven all the way. Decent length.
The wine aged in oak barrel for 15 months.
Cépage: 55% Semillon 40% Sauvignon 5% Muscadelle
Mostly on gravel soil, Vines are 40 yrs old.

1) Chateau Cantemerle - les Allée de Cantemerle 2005

Score: 16/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method

Expressive earth, underbrush and violet. Warm dried herbs fill in the mid palate with the support of spiciness. Hay & fresh mushroom mingling. Finish off with some exotic asian spice and minerals. Uplifting nuances. A good tannin foundation. Overall it lacks of oomph.
Reminiscence: a mellow guy taking his time. Californian attitude.

2) Chateau Pichon Langueville Comtesse de Lalande - Pauillac 2002


Score: 16.25/20 Concluded by my 5elements tasting method

A close call. both the wines has there course.
This one has more richness. Nose of hickory smoke. Deep blackcurrant in its core. expands to the classic mouth feel of Pauillac. Tangibly chewy black fruit with whispers of mineral. Finish is engaging and classic. Overall , this one has more complexity.

Petit Cheval - 2nd label - Cheval Blanc - St. Emilion - Bordeaux 2001


Score: 14.5/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: Immense of concentration, uplifting black currant, toffee pudding, with undertone of mushroom.
Palate: (attack) a bit tight at first, but has some weight to it (mid-palate) Blackberry tartness, peppery, a lttle restraint on the power. Good to locate some acidity, along with Tannins. Building up backbone on top of my palate.
Texture: Grainy tannin, very silky at the end.
Finish: Medium to long, enjoy the minerals the most.

Cheval Blanc - St. Emilion - Bordeaux 2004


Score: 18/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: it reached out & said hello, pronouncing, friendly. very focus black currant. Whiff of dried herbs.
Palate: (attack) rich, expanding cassis (mid-palate) Black tea & minerals, has some herbs hiding behind.
Texture: herbecious velvety.
Finish: Long & solid finish.

Cheval Blanc 2003

Score: 17.75/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: a bit leaner compare to the 04′. Pomelo & grassy on the nose.
Palate: (attack) Big fruit unexpectedly exploded. (mid-palate) Good deal of tannins hold up the fruits, well structured. Hint of raspberry & violet. bright acidity.Requires sometimes to develop
Texture: sandy tannins, good mouth feel.
Finish: Elegant, very engaging finish with trace of orange peel.

Cheval Blanc 1999

Score: 18.5/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: Earthy, hint of cedar, seems just starting to blossom.
Palate: (attack) Tannins mingling with plum, figs (mid-palate)Fruits carries on with impeccable balance of freshness, acidity, layers of coffee, cedar, truffles, chinese 5 spice underspinning. A touch of mineral. Harmonious all the way.
Texture: Velvety tannins, vivacious.
Finish: Admirable definition, the earthy fruits gliding along the finish. It will be interesting to see how well this wine will hold up for another 5 years.

Cheval Blanc 1995

Score: 17/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: Very supple, lively. rich black currants, coffee bean, cigar box overtones.
Palate: (attack) toasty, cedar, spicy red currant (mid-palate) great foundation of minerals & tannins, body not as forceful as the bouquet. Raspberry, very bright & fresh in tones.
Texture: Transparent, yet chewy minerals
Finish: Hint of fresh peppercorn with bergamot, bright acidity in the long finish.

1) Clendenen Family - Pinot Noir - Le Bon Climat - Santa Maria 2007


Score: 11.75/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method

Good bright & fresh cherries, raspberries. Lack posture, quite homogenous flavors in the new World of Pinot. Split personality between texture & finish not in a good way. Finish not memorable.

Clendenen also owns Au bon Climat winery.

2) JCB (Jean Charles Boisset) - Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir N.11


Score: 13.75/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method.

Quite straight forward flavors of cherries, wild berries with good brightness of acidity reminds of orange peel. Stimulating nuances of grapefruits. I love the bright freshness of this wine. Good but not lingering finish.
This is a project by the Boisset company in France led by Jean Charles Boisset.

1) Peter Michael - Chardonnay - Belle Cote - Knights Valley - Sonoma county - 2007

Score: 8.75/15 Concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: Top note of pineapple, apricot, hawaiian star fruits, ripe intense, lack depth.
Flavor: Sugar bamboo cane, lack subtleties, very ripe fruits. Mid palate reveal a little apple & minerals. General bit rough, unsettled, finish with pineapple & pepper. Lacks persistence.

2) Peter Michael - Chardonnay - La carriere - Knight Valley - Sonoma - 2007


Score: 12.25/15 Concluded by my tasting notes.
First of all the wine was served too cold.
Nose has more definitions. Pear, green apple up front with mineral behind the curtain. it’s quite predictable flavors of fine chardonnay.
The attack is progressively revealing flavors of grapefruits, toasty banana, pepper & apple. Much more refine texture compare to Belle cote. Good balance of acidity echoing with minerals. Finish is long with pinapple, minerals gliding along.

3) Peter Michael - Les Pavots - Knight Valley - Sonoma - 2006


Score: 17.5/20
First hint of oak on the nose, well extract. smells like skin of dark cherries, a bit toasty. bit tight at beginning.
Very refine from mid palate onwards. Traces of minerals & Tannins, cherries, blackcurrants. Concentrated but not over done. Finish with lots of subtle nuances like rose petals, root vegetables. Its gonna be much interesting in 5-6 year time.
The Les Pavot has always been consistent to me. One of my favorite meritage style in California.
The vineyard situated approx. 1200 ft up by east sonoma mountain, nestled in the AVA called Knight valley. Soils are rocky, volcanic type.
The fruits harvested during October 21-31, 2006. Spent 18 months in french oak. Vines are average of 20 years old
Cépage: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cab. Franc, 8% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot
Pretty much a Bordeaux blend.

Cimarossa - Cabernet Sauvignon - Howell Mountain (AVA) 2005


Score: 11.75/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method.

Nose: very extract. aromas of cherries, in your face blackberries. over the top. It became boring after my 3rd sniff.
Mid palate, the structure fell apart. its like drop from 20 stories. Overall one dimension, trying really hard of being persuasive.
There are some good grip of Tannins however lack refinement. Finish off with some mid tastiness.

2006 J. Bookwalter - Merlot - Columbia Valley - Washington

Score: 13.5/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method

It certainly has some good characters. Nose of red cherries intermixed with bell pepper. Attack was a bit boring and lack dimension. It might be lttle tight. Mouthful of red currant & raspberries. Its not over the top, but its not shy. Hint of nuts emerging in the middle. I respect its honesty of this wine. It starts losing grip in the back palate. Finish is fairly good, just lacks surprise.

Tablas Creek - Mourvedre - Paso Robles 2006


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

Very classic Rhone style. Nice posture of earth & minerals. Well defined rustic cranberries & dried herbs. A ultra fine velvety entry & finish. Great tune of harmony.
It was totally a surprise to find a wine like this, especially in California.
Story behind: Later, I found out this was a project of Chateau de Beaucastel. Vines cuttings were imported from Beaucastel estate. The vines grow on limestone sil found in the Las Tablas district of Paso Robles, chosen for its similarity of Chateauneuf du Pape, Mmmm…well, where is the goblet ?
100% Organically grown grapes. I really respect them by using native yeast.

Tenuta Alberice - Tocai Friulano - Corno di Rosazzo 2008 - Colli Orientali del Friuli

Score: 18.75/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method

I don’t remember when was the last time I ve tasted a wine with so much of minerals like crystal of clarity. The rocky elements of subtleties are the unbearable force of lightness. Young vibrancy rings my whole palate. This is truly the pinnacle moment when acidity , ripeness in its finest tune. I m expecting to give it a perfect score next time I revisit this vintage, may be in 5,6 years.
Oh..I forgot to mention the floral & dried autumn leaves left behind…

MORE stories on this producer are coming later on this year……