J-M Gerin Syrah La Champine, 2013

This Northern Rhone Syrah is just reaching the stage where the fruity flavors are beginning to evolve into savory ones. J-M Gerin is located in Cote Rotie, producing some very expensive wines that take those savory tones to their limit. This Syrah la Champine, though, is made with only a small quantity of estate fruit (from young vines) combined with grapes from IGP Collines Rhodaniennes. It's Gerin winemaking but not Gerin fruit and, as a result, is a relative bargain.

Still deep and dark with some bricking at the rim. Very expressive aromas--flowers, ripe black raspberries, anise. Savory notes of black olives with a hint of cured meats,  on the palate, qualities I love most about Northern Rhone Syrah and something rarely found in Syrah wines from the Southern Rhone or Australia. Acidity keeps it lively. Good wine.
  

Saumur Blanc Les Pouches, 2024

 Saumur is a good source for Loire Valley Chenin Blancc--generally drier than Vouvray and less expensive than Savennieres.  This Saumur Blanc is made by a cooperative, Cave des Vignerons de Saumur and sells for about $14 a bottle.

Light yellow, bright and clear. Beautiful aromas of white flowers, green apples and minerals. Straight out of the refrigerator, it's a bit tart. Let it warm for 20 minutes and you will be rewarded with rich flavors of lemon custard, melon and chalk. Pleasantly tangy, savory, salty. There is a lot to enjoy here.

 

Reserve Mont-Redon Cotes du Rhone Rouge, 2022

Chateau Mont-Redon is one of the top estates in Chateauneuf du Pape, making very long lasting red wines. The Reserve Mont-Redon label is for wines made from premium grapes purchased from nearby appellations of the Southern Rhone. This one is made primarily from Lirac produce, about 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah.

Deep and bright color. Enticing aromas, bright, fresh and already complex. Black as well as red fruits--raspberries, cherries. Medium bodied. Ripe fruit flavors, delicious right now but probably will gain depth and complexity over the next 5 yeaars or more. A very good Cotes du Rhone at a reasonable price. I paid $13.39 two years ago  at Saratoga Wine Exchange.
 

Domaine du Font-Sane Vieilles Vignes Ventoux, 2023

Font-Sane is one of my favorite producers of Gigondas, and for many years the estate's inexpensive Ventoux was one of my favorite every day wines. I bought it regularly in case quantities through the 1990s but I haven't been able to locate in my marketing area since the very good 2006. Dick Scheer managed to snag a few bottles of this 2023 for me, and I am grateful.

It is 7i0% Grenache, 30% Syrah from 50 to 60 year old vines. Winemaking is traditional with punching of the cap and 15 days fermentation in concrete vats.

Beautiful purple color. Many years ago, I remember drinking this wine in the backyard and having to fend off the dives of our local hummingbird, who apparently loved the color as much as we did. Flowers, raspberries, strawberries--oh, the hummingbird would love a taste. Medium body with Ventoux acidity and focus. Light peppercorn on the finish.
 

Ridge Califronia Geyserville, 1991

Since 1966, Ridge has been crafting excellent wines from 100 year old vines in Alexander Valley., its Geyserville estate. A field blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Carignan, it is one of the most ageworty wines produced in California, and this 1991 is an excellent example.

Still a good deep, dark color. Vibrant bouquet of blueberries, grilled strawberries and fresh herbs. Very powerful. Has that essential sweetness that characterizes fine wines at full maturity. Warm and inviting. Combines the robust body of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah with the delicate texture of a Pinot Noir. Delicious plus.

 

Luigi Ferrando Carema Etichetta Bianca (White Label), 2006

Compared to the Covalli Barolo beside it at the table, this wine from Carema offers a different  face of Piedmont Nebbiolo. It is from the mountainous cliffs north of Barolo where the weather is cooler, the soil is different and the tannins are friendly at an earlier age. It is also 20 years old compared to 12 for the Barolo.

Lighter color, also with orangeish tones. Sips within the first two hours after opening showed peppery tannins. By mealtime, though, the wine was displaying all of the glories of an upper Piedmont Nebbiolo. Wild cherries, bright and fresh. Also some cranberries, sweet and savory herbs and minerals galore. Flavors that dart in and out, on and off the tongue. Incredible wine!

I paid $40.25 for this wine at auction 20 years ago, and I was well rewarded not only for paying the price but also for exercising due patience. 

Donna and I spent several days in Carema in October, 2019. It is a small village facing a huge rock face of mountain. Vines grow directly out of the rock  nearly everywhere you look and are harvested, by hand of course, on tiny rock terraces. At the time. Ferrando was the sole producer aside from the local coop known as Produttori di Carema. I spent several hours at Produttori, tasting many excellent, but less expensive, barrel samples of Nebbiolo. They are lying in wait in the cellar.

Covalli Barolo, 2014

When this wine was released, it got good reviews for its bright cherry and floral smells and flavors as well as its unbelievably low price of $15 at Costco and Garagiste. Tonight, it lacks all of those good qualities except the price tag. It is not over the hill, as many would believe, but is closed down for awhile until the iron-clad tannins typical for Barolo lose their grip.

Medium light with some characteristic orange tones. Pretty ordinary on the nose. Not much to like on the palate, either. Lots of acid, lots of tannin. I feel confident it will eventually come around, but I am not opening another bottle for awhile, maybe two or three years.