Five Bottles Under $25, 28 December 2007
2004 Bertrand-Berge, Cuvee Megalithes, Fitou
I have been interested in trying the Megalithes for a while now. Earlier in the year I purchased a case of the 2001 Cuvee Ancestrale (50% Carignan, 30% Grenache, and 20% Syrah) which I have been slowly enjoying. It is an affordable, medium-sized wine that offers a complete package of bottle-aged nose, flavors, and finish. The Cuvee Megalithes is a majority old-vine Carignan (95% ?) wine that received three stars in the 2007 Hachette. The nose was resolutely clamped down, only offering light aromas of black fruit and alcohol.
2001 Domaine la Soumade, Gigondas
I did not like this. Not much of a nose, one-dimensional berry flavors overshadowed by tannins. Maybe an underperforming bottle? I have enjoyed other Soumade wines.
2004 Domaine la Bouissiere, Gigondas
This is 62% Grenache/38% Syrah according to North Berkley Imports and 70% Grenache/30% Syrah according to Michael Skurnik Wines. My bottle, imported by Dionysos Imports just states Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre. Tanzer’s note states 16% alcohol, the Bouissiere label states 14.5%, and the Dionysos Imports label states 13%. In any event, take your pick. I enjoyed this wine and did not find it hot. Red and black berries, around a savory core, with fine tannins. This needs more age than the Bel Air.
2005 Domaine la Bouissiere, Bel Air, Vacqueyras
This is 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah aged 80% in barrique and 20% in tank. This young wine is tasty and captivating from the start. The Bel Air is a tad more purple in color than the La Ponche. Red berries and spice are carried by obvious tannins. Tastes almost the same on the second night, I would definitely cellar this for several years. I liked it.
2004 Domaine la Bouissiere, La Ponche, Vacqueyras
This is 76% Grenache and 24% Mourvedre aged 100% in barrique. This is tighter all around compared to the Bel Air. Darker berries, stronger tannins; I found that the flavors drop off leaving a persistant tannic finish. I thought there was less going on than the Bel Air.
1994 Clarendon Hills, Merlot
My wife and I first had this several years ago. I didn’t take notes but it had a memorable profile. Right out of the bottle an assertive nose of salty olives and flavors of salty olives, both of which grew in strength with air. A hard wine to drink, it brought back memories of the previous bottle. I never would have guessed this as merlot. So I opened the 1998 Andrew Will, Ciel du Cheval, Merlot to drink