433672 GAMAY NOIR 1999 $ 11.95 Niagara Peninsula Lakeview Cellars: Nice vibrant color and lots of earthy mineral and pepper on the nose. Flavors are ripe and mostly echo rich juicy cherries and plum. It’s chewy, almost prune like in character. Peppers hang around in the finish

945659 CHARDONNAY RESERVE 1999 $ 24.95 VQA - Niagara Peninsula, Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery: The oak is solid in the nose from the start to the finish hurling globs of butterscotch, cappuccino and malt shake. It carries on in to the palate but there are lovely examples of classic Chardonnay pear and apple flavors. Nice fix of acid renders a citrus tone right into the finish.

321596 GEWURZTRAMINER RESERVE 1998 $ 13.95 Gray Monk Cellars, Okanagan Valley:  The anticipated aromas of litchi and rose petals are strong but do not carry completely through to the finish. Other than that, this medium bodied wine has nice acidity, decent fruit flavors and is well balanced. Certainly a crisp and clean West Coast wine for some Pacific Rim cuisines

The Rhone Release

971523 CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC 1998 $ 26.40 Domaine Montpertuis: I usually look forward to tasting a white wine from this appellation, as so often it can be a pleasant change from the bombardment of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc one often encounters at tastings. However, this wine, composed of five different Rhone varieties, just did not seem to come together for me. And I did make a point of tasting it twice. Maybe time will change things but I felt it lacked acidity and personality and although full of interesting flavors it is simply too fat for me.

736876 CHÂTEAU DE NAGES 1998 $ 16.90 R. Gassier, ‘Cuvée Joseph Torrès’, Costières de Nîmes A.C.: This is a dense full-bodied wine at a most reasonable price. It is attractive from start to finish. Lovely and luscious just packed with black fruit, licorice and Asian spice. The ultra ripens leaves a long finish.

959833 CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 1998 $ 24.95 Domaine des Chanssaud: The color of this wine is surprisingly light given the overall strength of the vintage. It is soft and quite light bodied but nonetheless quite delicious. Refreshing kiss of red fruit combined with a touch of smoked meat and a long blast of white pepper on the finish

708131 CORNAS 1998 $ 36.85 M. Chapoutier: The initial mint and medicinal aromas exhibited in the nose might lead one to think this is a classic Ozzie Shiraz. No way, as the welcoming cocoa, game, blackberry and leather scents that stun the nostrils tell you this wine has the great depth and complexity often associated with great wines from this region. I really enjoyed this wine in its current state.  Lock this monster away for a few years and you will own a classic.

959825 CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE 1998 $ 12.95 Domaîne du Pesquier: This wine demonstrates the quality of the vintage. In a nutshell, good juice at a low price. Plenty of blueberry and cherry on the nose. A touch of mint and white pepper on the palate with a cleansing finish.

736371 CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE RÉSERVE 1998 $ 12.55 (Françoise Granier, Domaine de la Croze: Another good QPR wine, although a trifle more tannin than the latter suggests it might benefit from a year or so of cellaring. Its medium body offers solid red fruit and raspberry flavors and good balance.

701359 CROZES-HERMITAGE 1998 $ 19.95 Delas Freres, Les Launes: This wine needs some time to settle to allow the rich oak and rasping acidity to harmonize with the fruit and other interesting components. It is rich with blackberry, black raspberry, bacon, olives, spice and a strong gamy essence. Could be a winner in a year or two.

960039 CROZES-HERMITAGE 1998 $15.70 Louis Bernard: No doubt, this was the funkiest of the entire release. My first glass released an odd saltwater/seaweed aroma along with tobacco leaf, coffee, plum berry and pepper. There was almost a “fecal” aroma lurking in the background. Oddly enough this is a desirable element often evident in some of the regions finer wines. Second glass a while later showed the vibrant fruit more pronounced but this wine is certainly not for the faint of heart. Nonetheless a sure hit for those that look for some diversity in their wine.

981787 GIGONDAS 1998 $ 21.90 Domaine du Grapillon d’Or: I just loved this stuff. It displays everything I want in a wine. The nose is massive. A blend of coffee, anise, herbs, white pepper and an array of rich ripe fruit just leap out from the glass. It fills the mouth tantalizing every single taste bud it encounters. It should hold well but it is just too tempting to open and enjoy right now.

960104 GIGONDAS 1998 $ 23.60 Domaine Brusset, Le Grand Montmirail: Another fine Gigondas that will pay dividends in the long term. More evident tannin than the Grapillon d’Or but beneath there sits lots of rich chewy candy fruit and raspberry.

973743 VACQUEYRAS 1998 $ 15.90 Château des Roques: There is hint of the Rhone Terrior in this wine along with coffee and plum aromas. Balanced and dense, thick with fruit and lots of white pepper. Another wine that will benefit from aging

BACK TO THE TOP

Alan Kerr's Home Page and Main Index