Vibrant ruby red. Lush aromas of cherries, plums, almonds and vanilla. Elegant, medium bodied presence on the palate. Dried cherries, anise and almonds are prominent in the flavors. A pleasing austerity with flavors that open slowly and subtly through the meal. This is a good wine to order in its youth with a restaurant meal, but it also ages nicely over 8 to 10 years.
Medium light ruby. Looks like a Pinot Noir. Tempting smells of cranberries, red raspberries and flowers. Smells like a Pinot Noir. Medium light body and silky texture. Pepper, lemon zest and spice. Tastes like a Pinot. Raspberry sweetness against a tart cranberry background. Acid and tannin dance on the tongue. This is the Chateau Grand Traverse Gamay Noir Limited rather than the Reserve, but it is still a special wine, my second favorite Michigan red (after the Gamay Noir Reserve).
Dark color and bold fruit smells and flavors are reminiscent of a Zinfandel. There is a peppery, spicey, earthy flavor, though, that I associate with a good Cotes du Rhone. Offers up a lot of pleasure for a $10 wine.
Deep ruby in center, amber creeping out from edges. Beautiful Pinot scents: cherries,blueberries, rose petals and cinnamon. Deep, concentrated fruit flavors carry over to the palate. Pleasing warmth. Alcohol (14.1%) now seems to dominate the balance and mouthfeel of this wine, but the flavors are beautiful and persistent.
This wine has aged well over 23 years, as is common with the CDR Villages wines produced by Domaine Sainte Anne.
Deep ruby color. Entrancing scents of strawberries, black raspberries, flowers and a hint of rosemary. Mellow on the palate. Good tannin/acid balance. Rich fruit flavors on mid-palate and finish. More like a Pinot Noir than a Cotes du Rhone. Still giving lots of pleasure.
Medium dark ruby. Raspberry, cranberry, cinnamon. Purity of fruit flavors that are common with more expensive Pinots from Anderson Valley. Intense flavors with a citric edge that I like. Improves over the course of the meal and is by no means overwhelmed by the bold flavors of a hamburger. Worth a rry if you like Anderson Valley Pinot.
La Vieille Ferme is the archetypal Ventoux even though the Perrin family now has to scour the countryside for similar, though less expensive grapes. Tasting it alongside Olivier B's Les Amidyves Ventoux was an illuminating experience.
Although Olivier B projects a rustic image, his wine is sophisticated, polished and still going strong at age 11. It has depth and concentration, though not a lot of the traditional elements of 'Ventoux. On the third night, it was showing a bit of fatigue and lacked the freshness and acidity of the younger La Vieille Ferme. And the Perrin family's knock off Ventoux clearly had more of the rustic, peppery spice that I love in Ventoux wines. In a box for $5 a bottle equivalent, you cannot go wrong with this wine.
The color is light and rusty; that's typical of traditionally made Nebbiolo and not a sign of advancedd age, as it might be with a New World Cabernet or Zinfandel. Oh so beautiful scents of the Nebbiolo trinity: roses, cherries and black licorice. Has the elegance and texture of a fine Pinot Noir. Flavors that tickle the taste buds and cling. Very dry; tells me that the wine has ample tannin to carry it along to even greater glory. But it is so enjoyable right now that it will be hard for me to wait on the remaining bottles in the cellar. Wish I had bought more.
Deep crimson. Red berries, violets but also some black fruit scents and flavors. Very smooth on the palate. Sophisticated face of Ventoux. Lush berries with freshness and polish. When Ventoux wines were some of the least expensive on the market, I usually bought them young and drank them within the first year. This wine proves that good Ventous is also capable of mid-term aging.
Mature brick red color. Powerful scents, very Chateauneuf. Red berries, fresh and dried, leather and garrigue. Savory flavors of sea salt and red berries.
Long, powerful finish.
Deep ruby/purple. That's probably because this wine has a higher proportion of Syrah (as opposed to Grenache) in the blend. Much fruitier than the Ventoux. Blackberries and cassis with a full bodied plummy texture. Carignan and
Cinsault spice. Grenache black pepper emerges with aeration but it's not as prominent as it is in the Perrin Ventoux. Full bodied and ripe but enough acid to keep it lively. At $5 a bottle equivalent, this has to be the best wine bargain on the planet.
Medium deep ruby, sediment forming already. Beautiful scents of red cherries, roses and licorice. Piedmont spices and minerals. Could be mistaken for a Barolo. Good red cherry flavors with Barbera acidity plus palate-coating tannins. Long finish. Drinking beautifully now but still has room to grow.
Inky black magic color. And alluring scents of coffee, chocolate, black currants and vanilla. I also find some chalky Petite Sirah notes. Velvety texture and tannins that are accessible enough to carry on the Black Magic image. Very popular with two young guests who are not regular wine drinkers. I can see what they like, but I prefer the Perrin Ventoux.
Deep crimson, bright and lively. Seems a bit shy when the cork is first popped but it fills out nicely as the meal progresses. Grenache red berry along with spicy notes from Carignan and Cinsault. Bright, lively fruit but with depth of flavor that is not expected from a wine at this price point. Has the peppery structure that I love in traditional Southern Rhone wines. Long finish. I bought half a case, wish I had bought more.
Medium light yellow. Powerful scents of flowers and ripe Red Delicious apples or apple sauce. A decidedly dry streak running right down the middle of the palate. A lively delicious wine for drinking right now. And I believe it will keep and improve for several years, although I doubt that it will have the staying power of Savennieres.
Deep lemon yellow. Intense aromas and flavors of lemon cream and stone fruit. Has all the traits of Oregon grown Dijon clone Chardonnay that I love. Sleek acidity that paints an imprint on the tongue. Laser focus of mineral and fruit flavors on the finish. This is Chardonnay, and I love it.
2011 was a super warm growing season in the Willamette Valley, too warm perhaps for good Pinot Noir but good for this Chardonnay. I like this 2011 better than the 2010 I had a few months ago. But at 10 and 11 years of age, both are drinking beautifully, with superb balance that shows no sign of breaking up.
