Bordeneuve-Entras/Maestrojuan Floc de Gascogne (Southwest France) – A very old bottle, and open for far, far longer than the ideal, so consider the note that follows in that context. Fierce alcohol over mixed nut liqueurs, spiced raisins, and prunes. Intact, this might have been rather striking. Even in highly oxygenated/decrepit form, it’s quite impressive. (12/08)
Browse Tag
southwest france
Etxegaraya, Etxegaraya!
Hillau “Domaine Etxegaraya” 2002 Irouleguy (Southwest France) – Harsh and metallic, with battery acid structure. A victim of its synthetic cork. (10/08)
Hillau, I love you, won’t you tell me your name?
Hillau “Domaine Etxegaraya” 2002 Irouleguy (Southwest France) – Dying, thanks to a synthetic cork. I wish I’d thought to open this sooner. I won’t make that mistake with the other three bottles. *grumble* (9/08)
Marcillac, Marcillac, Marcillac!
![[vineyard]](http://www.domaine-du-cros.com/fichiers/66.jpg)
Teulier “Domaine du Cros” 2006 Marcillac (Southwest France) – Huge green and red fruit slashed by razors and shards. Difficult to approach without being flayed. (6/08)
Three-star general
Château du Tariquet Bas-Armagnac “Classique ***” (Southwest France) – This is the entry-level Armagnac. Raw wood, leafy, and creamy. Chocolate and caramel over pecans and hazelnuts. Lush and seductive, with a long finish. It lacks the more complex and subtle characteristics of better Armagnacs, and it’s a bit dessert-like in character, but it’s quite pleasant. (3/08)
Gascogne guzzler
Domaine du Tariquet “Côté Tariquet” 2006 Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc (Southwest France) – Intensely fruity, with some apparent residual sugar (seven to eight grams), apple, and good acidity. In the context of this appellation, a powerful wine. (3/08)
Gascon-ay
Domaine du Tariquet 2006 Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne Chardonnay (Southwest France) – This wine sees six months in barrique; half new, half one year old. Some cream drizzled over light, crystallized peach. Short finish. Just OK. (3/08)
CC
Domaine du Tariquet 2006 Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne Chenin Blanc/Chardonnay (Southwest France) – Apricot and grapefruit, with good acidity and a hint of minerality. Long and balanced, and bigger than most of this lineup. A nice wine. (3/08)
Sauvignon money
Domaine du Tariquet 2006 Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne Sauvignon Blanc (Southwest France) – Linear, to the point of pure two-dimensionality. Simple grass braced by acidity. Eh. (3/08)
There can be ugni one
Domaine du Tariquet 2006 Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne Ugni-Blanc/Colombard (Southwest France) – Very crisp green apples. Clean, sunny, and nice with drying skins on the finish. (3/08)