Mini Txoko with the gang

Sometimes, you just need a little Txoko in your life.

2007 Ameztoi Txakolina Upelean Hartzitua
A more relaxed version of Txakoli from Ameztoi. This one sees time in large wooden casks, and I think the breathing lets them uncoil a bit. Doesn’t have the carbon spritz, but still has that Txakoli profile. Actually, this bottle reminds me a lot of Muscadet, which the tank one doesn’t (BTW, this one has a brown label). Lots of shells on the palate, and a bit more length and doesn’t have the same spine tingling acidity, but makes up for it with a more mature presence.

2007 F.X. Pichler Riesling Federspiel Von den Terrassen
I’ve never been a particularly big fan of Pichler. I thought this wine was fine, others thought it too big and a bit sweet. I like ti really cold and didn’t drink too much.

1996 Louis Carillon Puligny-Montrachet 1er Les Perrières
Brilliant. No premature oxidation issues in this bottle. It seemed to have uncoiled into a middle aged gentleness, but actually put on weight as the night went on. It started out whispy and very, very clean, as is the norm for this wine. Carillon Perrières is almost always among my favorite white Burgundies of any vintage (not that I buy too many these days) which is not to say it is as good as top Grand Cru Burgundy, but I’m more of a Premier Cru guy anyway. As it opened up, the Perrières minerality really started to drive the wine, which had some nice fruit and floral notes to compliment the stones. The best white Burgundy I’ve had in a long time, I wish I had more but it’s my last bottle. If you have some, it may be able to keep longer, but for me, I like my Perrières to have some of that aggressive minerailty left, it is what identifies the wine to me, so I say drink now-ish.

1989 Foreau Vouvray Moelleux Réserve
This bottle was not pristine, but it was the first time I’ve been able to drink a wine that showed any sort of TCA. That gives you an idea of the true power underlying this wine. If you have good bottles, you are in for a real treat.

1999 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli
Pretty average. I just find it hard to get interested in Brunello these days.

2003 Edmond Vatan Sancerre Rouge Clos la Néore
This was a very controversial wine. Some of us liked it very much, like myself, while others did not. An argument raged over whether it was “clipped” or whether it was lacking in the mid-palate. I found it a little empty in the mid-palate, but that isn’t all that surprising, it’s red Chavignol. I loved the crunchiness of the wine and the firm, chalky finish that felt like getting smacked in the face with a limestone brick. This needs to be served on the cooler side to be really enjoyed. I’m not sure what this would turn into with age, so I would drink mine in the next 3-5 years.