2014 ESJ, Syrah, Barsotti Ranch - in the style of Beaujolais, very low alcohol, fresh, lively.
2014 Cruse Wine, St. Laurent - even lower alcohol, sous bois, bright fruit, charming
2014 Cruse Wine, Valdiguie Pet. Nat. - playful and happy, also low alc., quite good
1999 Lafarge, Volnay 1er - serious, layered, grippy and not yet ready
2012 Sella and Mosca, Torbato, Alghero - with dinner at La Ciccia and excellent with the cuisine
2014 Terrane, Carignane (sans soufre) - fruit filled, fresh, medium textured, quite long
2014 Dirty and Rowdy, Mourvèdre Especial - f*cking great, desert island wine
2006 Overnoy, Arbois-Pupillan rouge - in a good place, peaceful, charming, elegant, layered.
Best, Jim
Not quite your usual eloquence Jim, but spot on nevertheless.
what does low alcohol mean exactly?
Ah, you’ve tracked down The Unicorn!
Miss your notes. Been too busy lately to post, or the California climate making you lazy?
Somehow I think that ESJ will put on some palate weight with time. Many of Steve’s recent wines have struck me as Beaujolais-esque on release, but they settle in to a more expected range with a few years in bottle. The recent Rocks & Gravel releases have all done that, as have some of the recent Syrahs (though there has not been a Barsotti in a long time).
Is that Terrane wine from Harrington? Do you know the vineyard source?
Terrane is Harrington; source unknown.
Low alcohol is 12’s and under.
The ESJ doesn’t need to gain weight for me but you’re probably right.
Sorta busy.
Best, Jim
Drew, this is the vineyard - Lover’s Lane just north of Ukiah: Lover’s Lane – Harrington Wines
Organically-farmed head-trained Carignane vines planted in the 1930s.