Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The gods frown

Sometimes the gods frown and you just can’t find a good wine experience. Maybe it was the high pressure system, maybe the phase of the moon, or maybe just coincidence.

1998 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape
What a disappointment. I was in the (very) rare mood where I wanted a nice, lush grenache and Charvin seemed like the answer. This bottle wasn't. It was flat and dull and without and of the richness and depth I would expect. In fact, only 1 off my 6 bottles of this wine lived up to my early expectations. This bottle didn't have any technical flaws other than being just average, even for grenache. This reminds me why I got out of the Châteauneuf game, it so rarely delivers what I want.

2006 Baudry Chinon La Croix Boissée
I had heard (or really read) rumors that this vintage of Croix Boissée was a replay of 2003, a wine that was drinking splendidly young. What better way to keep your hands off 2002, 2004, 2005 than have a ready to drink replacement for the Croix Boissée urge. Wrong. Tight, tight, and tight. Showed really piercing acidity and was like a limestone brick in the mouth. Some pretty things going on in the nose, but not in any sense showing well. I stuffed the cork back in to try in a couple of days.

6 comments:

slaton said...

Had the same experience with '06 Croix Boissée a couple of months ago. Looking forward to trying the '07 Grezeaux now that it has landed.

Florida Jim said...

Have you had a really good CdP rouge lately?
I can't think of one myself and thought it was me. Grenache just isn't my cup of vino, I think.
Best, Jim

Sharon said...

Too bad about the Baudry.

As for the Châteaneuf, I concur. In general, to quote my friend Ashlee, "I can't be arsed." Though 98 Clos des Papes is a very pretty wine.

the vlm said...

2007 Grezeaux is brilliant. Will use that to keep my hands off earlier vintages.

Jim and Sharon-

Had 1995 and 1998 Vieux-Telegraph lately that were both very good. Also had a decent Janasse VV which was good for a glass, but a little much after that.

I get what I need out of Cairanne and Gramenon Cepo Centennaire and Pascal.

Sharon said...

Gramenon's great.

the vlm said...

Ain't it though?

Maybe the best grenache I've ever had was a bottle of Pascal at my favorite (used to be under the radar) spot in the 11th. Forgetting the name at the moment...