Betsy was working Friday night, I opened the 2003 Lagrange (St Julien)
from 375. My second try of this, and results were slightly better than
first time, but still disappointing. Very ripe red berry fruit,
chocolately oak, very low acidity, slightly spiky tannins. I guess if
this was a $12 Languedoc or Oz Shiraz I would have been ok with it, but
for my tastes the cheaper 2002 Lagrange is heads and shoulders above
this. I revisited this from time to time over the evening, but more
than half went into the vinegar crock. B-
(C for value).

So with my grilled franks, I had the 2005 Yves Martin Chavignol
Sancerre Rosé. I don't usually comment much on color, but this
disappointed me a bit when poured- a rather dull salmon pink. But the
fruit seemed bright enough, with a little herby note. Not profound, but
a pleasant rosé. Still, at $15 there are better QPR rosés out there.
B

Saturday we went to friends for a lobster dinner. They served the 2005
Gumdale Chardonnay (South Australia). Pretty low expectations for an
inexpensive Oz Chardonnay, but this was ok. Lighter body though with a
slightly creamy texture, light vanillin oak. Funny thing to me was a
little grassiness and the tropical fruit, this comes across almost like
a (lightly oaked) SB. A bit lacking in depth. B-

I brought the 2002 Gilbert Picq "Vosgros" Chablis 1er. At first I
actually feared this was corked- some must/mold from top of bottle, but
not from glass. I think a little funk under the capsule, wine showed
fine. Lemon fruit over a bed of flint and chalk, pleasantly acidity,
clean without oaky notes. B+/A-

Sunday I went the the Lincoln Center Festival's dress rehearsal of
"Grendel " (I'd heartily recommend it as spectacle, recommend it as
drama, and recommend it with reservations as opera). On way home we
stopped by a friend's 70th birthday party. A nice spread of food
(especially a curried chicken salad), and I assayed a couple of wines:

2004 Ch. d'Oupia Minervois
I was pleased to see this old friend. A good red to serve slightly
chilled at a summer lawn party (I confess I'd never done so, but it
handled the ice bucket well). Bright fruit, light smooth tannins, clean
finish with a light wisp of herbs laying over it. Serious QPR winner.
B+

2004 Domaine de Sarret Sauvignon Blanc (Vin de Pays de something)
Pleasant if slightly empty Sauvignon Blanc, a nice quaffer for a summer
day but not something to search for, B-

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent
wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't
drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no
promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of
consistency.

Wine and Hot Dogs....I can't do that. Beer only with dogs for me.

So, do you also have wine with the toasted Marshmallows :-)


"DaleW" wrote in message
ups.com...
Betsy was working Friday night, I opened the 2003 Lagrange (St Julien)
from 375. My second try of this, and results were slightly better than
first time, but still disappointing. Very ripe red berry fruit,
chocolately oak, very low acidity, slightly spiky tannins. I guess if
this was a $12 Languedoc or Oz Shiraz I would have been ok with it, but
for my tastes the cheaper 2002 Lagrange is heads and shoulders above
this. I revisited this from time to time over the evening, but more
than half went into the vinegar crock. B-
(C for value).

So with my grilled franks, I had the 2005 Yves Martin Chavignol
Sancerre Rosé. I don't usually comment much on color, but this
disappointed me a bit when poured- a rather dull salmon pink. But the
fruit seemed bright enough, with a little herby note. Not profound, but
a pleasant rosé. Still, at $15 there are better QPR rosés out there.
B

Saturday we went to friends for a lobster dinner. They served the 2005
Gumdale Chardonnay (South Australia). Pretty low expectations for an
inexpensive Oz Chardonnay, but this was ok. Lighter body though with a
slightly creamy texture, light vanillin oak. Funny thing to me was a
little grassiness and the tropical fruit, this comes across almost like
a (lightly oaked) SB. A bit lacking in depth. B-

I brought the 2002 Gilbert Picq "Vosgros" Chablis 1er. At first I
actually feared this was corked- some must/mold from top of bottle, but
not from glass. I think a little funk under the capsule, wine showed
fine. Lemon fruit over a bed of flint and chalk, pleasantly acidity,
clean without oaky notes. B+/A-

Sunday I went the the Lincoln Center Festival's dress rehearsal of
"Grendel " (I'd heartily recommend it as spectacle, recommend it as
drama, and recommend it with reservations as opera). On way home we
stopped by a friend's 70th birthday party. A nice spread of food
(especially a curried chicken salad), and I assayed a couple of wines:

2004 Ch. d'Oupia Minervois
I was pleased to see this old friend. A good red to serve slightly
chilled at a summer lawn party (I confess I'd never done so, but it
handled the ice bucket well). Bright fruit, light smooth tannins, clean
finish with a light wisp of herbs laying over it. Serious QPR winner.
B+

2004 Domaine de Sarret Sauvignon Blanc (Vin de Pays de something)
Pleasant if slightly empty Sauvignon Blanc, a nice quaffer for a summer
day but not something to search for, B-

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent
wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't
drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no
promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of
consistency.

On 10 Jul 2006 10:42:44 -0700, "DaleW" wrote:

Betsy was working Friday night, I opened the 2003 Lagrange (St Julien)
from 375. My second try of this, and results were slightly better than
first time, but still disappointing. Very ripe red berry fruit,
chocolately oak, very low acidity, slightly spiky tannins. I guess if
this was a $12 Languedoc or Oz Shiraz I would have been ok with it, but
for my tastes the cheaper 2002 Lagrange is heads and shoulders above
this. I revisited this from time to time over the evening, but more
than half went into the vinegar crock. B-
(C for value).

How long as the '03 been released? It was late last year when I got my
"futures" delivery from Sam's of the '02.

Tasted the '02 Lagrange a few weeks ago and on the same evening the
'02 Pontet-Canet. Like the latter which had plenty of Bordeaux depth,
showing leather, smoke and dark fruits with a lot of backbone for
future development. Didn't think much of the Lagrange, noting that it
seemed very flaccid compared to the P-C. Unimpressive and certainly
wouldn't consider the '02 anywhere near the fruitiness of an Oz
Shiraz.

On that transitional note, I should mention that I picked up some
d'Arenberg Mclaren Vale "Love Grass" Shiraz '04 as well as an '03
Tintara McLaren Vale Shiraz and a Ross Estate Barossa Valley '02 Old
Vine Grenache. Will be pulling corks on at least one of those this
evening with some friends over an Ancho chile dressed leg-of-lamb on
the BBQ. Corn flan to accompany and soften the chiles a bit.

Reports to follow--gotta post a lot to counter the flood of
cross-posting that's threatening to swamp the AFW boat.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

Ed Rasimus wrote:

How long as the '03 been released? It was late last year when I got my
"futures" delivery from Sam's of the '02.

A while. I know I got my Leoville Barton in January, and first tasted
the '03 Lagrange a couple months later.

Tasted the '02 Lagrange a few weeks ago and on the same evening the
'02 Pontet-Canet. Like the latter which had plenty of Bordeaux depth,
showing leather, smoke and dark fruits with a lot of backbone for
future development. Didn't think much of the Lagrange, noting that it
seemed very flaccid compared to the P-C. Unimpressive and certainly
wouldn't consider the '02 anywhere near the fruitiness of an Oz
Shiraz.

I liked the '02 Pontet Canet at a big horizontal, but haven't had since
.. But I've had the Lagrange several times, though it rather classically
styled St Julien.

Reports to follow--gotta post a lot to counter the flood of
cross-posting that's threatening to swamp the AFW boat.

Look forward to it.