13
May
2024
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(December 2023) … Martin’s Lane is celebrating their 10th vintage – this is a producer in British Columbia that focuses on Pinot Noir and Riesling. Today, the focus was on their 2020 Pinot Noirs; so much diversity from different parts of the vineyard, and all with their own characteristics ... in a good way.
The wines see similar treatment, so that the diversity they display is vineyard and terroir derived: 25-30% new oak for the most part - Austrian cooperage – and it’s all about the subtlety of oak.
Martin's Lane Winery 2020 Fritzi's Vineyard Pinot Noir
Highest yielding vineyard / clay soil in this hilly vineyard which gets plenty of morning sun ... A silky, luxurious Pinot with pleasant fruit notes (plum and strawberry), spice sits under the fruit and there's an herbal sensation - delicate and delicious - the tannins are seamlessly integrated. (**** ½+)
Martin's Lane Winery 2020 Simes Vineyard Pinot Noir
This is the last vineyard to be picked completely, it north facing, is slower to ripen allowing the fruit to mature at at even pace. Then it is 70% whole bunch pressed and fermented in concrete ... Kicks at the nose like a sniff of Chanel no. 5 ... This is a pretty Pinot, with lots of floral notes with a nice cherry strawberry spiced-rhubarb. Tannins are silky by comparison to the other Pinots in this line-up. (**** ½)
Martin's Lane Winery 2020 Naramata Ranch - Zenith Pinot Noir
Very last parcel picked at Martin's, and their first single block release. It is the coolest and warmest block based on the diurnal shifts. It sits 100m from the lake and 100m higher ... Dark fruit along with anise / sage / herbal with a nice bit of smoke in the mid-palate, tannins are not in the way but they play in there. (**** ½)
Martin's Lane Winery 2020 Dehart Vineyard Pinot Noir
Furtherest vineyard from the lake / multi-clones = different harvest dates / 60-65% whole cluster. There’s a floral and earthy note that retains a pretty palate and plenty of acidity - tannins a little grippy - good texture, needs a few years - but there is a lovely elegance here. (****+)
Martin's Lane Winery 2020 Naramata Ranch Pinot Noir
Spectacular looking vineyard, diverse vineyard that will be broken up into blocks going forward / Much dark fruit - licorice and subtle smoke - palate is approachable, but lackluster and lacking cohesion to the point of being boring as compared to the first. (*** ½)
01
Apr
2024
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
These are my honest, no-nonsense thoughts about the wines I tasted from the Languedoc’s various sub-regions presented on that day.
First, I provide my take on the region, based on all the wines I tried ... then I score the wines I liked on a scale of Good, Better, Best (then I list them alphabetically).
BOUTENAC - Red
Soft, relatively friendly wines that show dark fruit flavours and nice tannins/acid mix. Boutenac is not ready to take on the world, but it has potential to be an exciting second wine you pour at a dinner party.
Chateau De Caraguilhes 2021 Trou De L'Ermite ... Good
Château Grand Moulin 2018 Grès De Boutenac ... Good
Château Maylandie 2020 Villa Ferrae ... Good
Château Ollieux Romanis 2021 Atal Sia ... Good
Chateau Sainte Lucie D'aussou 2017 Canta Per Ieu ... Good
Chateau Sainte Lucie D'aussou 2019 Bella Dama ... Good
Domaine De Fontsainte 2020 Clos Du Centurion ... Better
Scav Terre D'expression 2019 L'improbable ... Better
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CABARDES - Red
A hard tasting and a hard region to taste, as lots of wines from here are very high in the acidity department (and I like acidity in my wines) - but acidity seems to be a hallmark (both in the rose and red); and tannins get in the way and hurt the tongue (red). The better wines tame the acidity and find a way to integrate, and/or tame, both the tannins and the acidity, allowing the wines to be more approachable.
Chateau Auzias 2018 Gloria Mundi ... Good
Château De Pennautier 2020 Château De Pennautier Terroirs D'altitude ... Better
Château Deumié 2020 Chateau Deumié ... Better
Chateau Du Donjon 2020 L'autre Château Du Donjon ... Good
Château Parazols-Bertrou 2020 Ni Ange Ni Démon ... Good
Château Parazols-Bertrou 2021 Tentation ... Good
Chateau Tour De Rissac 2021 Chateau Tour De Rissac ... Good
Domaine De Brau 2020 Château ... Better
Domaine De Brau 2020 Etymologie ... Good
Domaine De Cabrol 2018 La Dérive ... Better
Domaine Galy 2021 Pech Saint Jean ... Good
Le Clos Des Natices 2021 Le Clos Des Natices ... Better
Maison Lorgeril 2019 Le Montpeyre ... Better
Maison Ventenac 2019 Jules ... Good
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FAUGERES - White
Chateau De La Liquiere 2021 Cistus Blanc ... Good
Château Estanilles 2022 Sous Les Rocs ... Good
Les Crus Faugeres 2022 Le Parfum Du Mas Olivier ... Better
FAUGERES - Red
There is a lot of generic-sameness to these wines - but in these terms it is not a bad thing. Juicy on the palate wih a blend of red and black fruit; nice drinkability and easy going. These are wines to sit and enjoy on their own. In truth, there were very few wines I violently disliked - they were all good, drinkable and relatively enjoyable - Faugeres will make a lot of friends once the cork is pulled.
Abbaye Sylva Plana 2020 Le Songe De L'abbe ... Good
Abbaye Sylva Plana 2021 La Closeraie ... Good
Château Chênaie 2021 Conviction ... Good
Château Estanilles 2019 Clos Du Fou ... Better
Chateau Grezan 2021 Les Schistes Dorés ... Good
Domaine Benezech-Boudal / Peyregrandes 2021 Peyregrandes Prestige ... Good
Domaine Cottebrune 2019 Transhumance ... Good
Domaine Cottebrune 2020 Paroles De Berger ... Good
Domaine De Cébène 2021 Les Bancèls ... Good
Domaine De L'arbussele 2019 Révélation ... Good
Domaine Prés Lasses 2017 Castel Viel ... Better
Domaine Saint Antonin 2021 Cazalet ... Good
Domaine Saint Antonin 2021 Magnoux ... Good
Hecht & Bannier 2017 Faugères ... Better
Mas Des Capitelles 2019 Crescendo ... Good
Mas Lou 2019 Tio ... Good
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FITOU - Red
Fitou hits on some soft fruit notes and balances it with acidity and tannins - all at a very gentle level.
Champ Des Soeurs 2019 Bel Amant ... Good
Château De Montmal 2021 Château De Montmal ... Good
Chateau De Nouvelles 2019 Gabrielle ... Better
Chateau De Nouvelles 2019 Vieilles Vignes ... Better
Domaine Bertrand-Berge 2020 La Bouliere ... Better
Domaine Du Vent 2021 Autan En Emporte ... Better
Domaine Jones 2021 Fitou Vieilles Vignes ... Better
Domaine Lérys 2021 Respélida ... Good
Domaine Sarrat D'en Sol 2018 Arménie ... Good
Les Grands Chais De France 2020 Vignes Centenaires ... Good
Mas Des Caprices 2021 Ze Fitou ... Good
Sarrat D'en Sol 2020 Sarrat D'en Sol ... Good
Sas Jeff Carrel 2021 La Tire ... Good
Sca Mont Tauch 2020 Chateau De Montmal ... Good
Sca Mont Tauch 2020 Hommage ... Better
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TERRASSES DU LARZAC - Red
Quite possibly one of the most palate friendly region tasted. Lovely fruit, tannins at a minimum, flavourful wines that do not tax the palate. This was a good flight full of easy to recommend wines.
Castelbarry 2020 Seul L'avenir M'interesse ... Good
Chateau De Jonquieres 2021 La Baronnie ... Good
Domaine De L'argenteille 2019 Les Secrets Du Rocher ... Better
Domaine De L'argenteille 2020 Tramontane ... Good
Domaine Du Pas De L'escalette 2021 Les Clapas ... Good
Domaine Mas Conscience 2020 La Conscience ... Good
Domaine Mas Conscience 2020 L'eveil ... Good
Domaine Mas Laval 2020 La Grande Cuvee ... Good
Domaine Nova Solis 2020 Zenith ... Good
Gerard Bertrand 2020 Château La Sauvageonne Grand Vin Rouge ... Better
Joseph Castan 2020 Alchimy ... Good
La Jasse Castel 2021 Bleu Velours ... Good
La Jasse Castel 2021 La Jasse ... Good
La Reserve D'o 2019 La Côte D'arboras ... Good
La Reserve D'o 2020 Hissez O ... Good
La Reserve D'o 2020 La Réserve D'o ... Good
Le Clos Rouge 2019 Maro ... Good
Le Clos Rouge 2020 Babel ... Good
Le Clos Rouge 2021 Alerte Rouge ... Better
Les Vignes Oubliees 2021 Terrasses Du Larzac ... Better
Mas De L'erme 2019 L'evidence ... Good
Mas De L'erme 2020 Les Petits Princes ... Better
Mas Des Chimères 2020 Nuit Grave ... Good
Mas Haut Buis 2021 Costa Caoude ... Good
Mas Lasta 2019 Terrasses Du Larzac ... Good
Scea Clos Aguilem 2021 Kiara ... Good
Terre Des 2 Sources 2020 Accords ... Good
