TN: Four for the road

[Florida Jim]

On my way to the left-coast in two days, so we tried some interesting wines:

1999 Barthod, Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras:

Red/black color but translucent; moderately expansive nose with depth and nuance, earthy/stony/leafy, some secondary development; cool but rich in the mouth, some tannin, more nuance than on the nose, black cherry, the impression of quartz dust, harmonious, balanced, intense; good length and grip but nothing drying. A very classy wine with an earthiness that accents a medium bodied fruit profile nicely. Feminine but firm and very Chambolle.

(Diane is enthusiastic – a very rare occurrence.)

2000 Raveneau, Chablis Butteaux:

Perfect fill, no evidence of seepage, pristine cork and oxidized beyond recognition – my first encounter with premox in white Burgundy and I don’t like it one bit.

2005 Tribut, Chablis Côte de Lechét:

Starting to close down – only decanting and vigorous swirling helps; lots of promise but pretty tight and funky tonight. Seems to be snapping shut very rapidly. Hold.

1999 Nigl, Sauvignon Blanc:

Grassy/perm solution evident on the nose but also fresh mango-like fruit with some unripe melon aromas; much less of the grassiness in the mouth with fresh jalapeño, citrus and white fruit flavors mixed with mango, lip-smacking, complex and very bright; very long, crisp finish. The grassy odors and flavors are not for me; the rest of the wine is off-the-charts delicious.

Best, Jim