Browse Month

July 2008

The trouble with Tribouley

Tribouley 2005 “Orchis” Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes “Vieilles Vignes” (Roussillon) – Extremely quaffable. Strawberry and a great deal of bubblegum, with a slightly darker blood orange component, presented in a simple, pure, and direct fashion. The effect is a wine full of the flavor of the rich hot-climate wine that it is, but with the spirit of a much lighter wine. A good value, as well. (6/08)

Saumur’s here, and the time is right

[cave]Cave de Saumur 2005 Saumur “Réserve des Vignerons” (Loire) – Hums along at about 50% volume, showing some dirt, some herbs, some dark fruit skins, some this, some that. It never really rises above or falls below some-ness. Amiably drinkable. (6/08)

Turn the kerner

Köfererhof 2006 Valle Isarco Kerner (Alto Adige) – Crescendos from general inoffensiveness to a fairly round, polished sphere of sandy minerality, then fades again. Deftly made, but there’s just not all that much here, and for the price it’s a little insufficient. (6/08)

I once knew a girl

[vineyard]Villa Maria 2006 Sauvignon Blanc “Private Bin” (Marlborough) – Simpler than it used to be, with clean, basic tart citrus and apple flavors, a touch of gooseberry, and a very minor crunch. Nothing’s amiss, but… (6/08)