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South by Southwest
Wow, what a range of different flavors, was one tasters dead-on reaction. It was definitely not your average collection of wines, which intrigued some tasters and while it put off some others with less adventurous palates. The gustatorily timid need not apply.
February 15, 2012
One they had warmed up a bit nearly everybody liked the creamy-textured, herbal
Irouleguy with the Pyrenees in the background
2010 L'Olivier de la Reze Minervois Blanc (Mi-ner-vwa) Most liked the more elegant and finely textured 2010 Grosbot-Barbara St. Pourcain Vin d'Alon (San Por san). It was leaner and crisper than the Minervois, but its Tressaillier grape gave its chardonnay an elusively haunting note that most found intriguing.
People felt that the reds were definitely not easy sipping wines but need to be part of a meal. All are vigorous and powerful with strong edgy flavors that accent food well. The Domaine Philémon Gaillac Croix dAzal (Guy yac Kraw dazool) showed up as 2010 not the 2009 I was expecting. It showed crisper and flintier than my notes on the 2009 and would benefit with opening in advance, but did have fans for its exotic flavors
The 2010 L'Olivier de la Reze Minervois Rouge delighted some with its intensity, but was too strong for many others On the other hand many liked the 2009 Tessellae Carignan Cotes Catalanes which showed softer but still very nicely spicy.
The favorite of the tasting was the round and plummy 2010 Mas Cristine Cotes de Roussillon (Kotes de Roos ee yon ). Its limestone soil gave its fruit a crisp accent that made it complex well beyond its price. It pleased the crowd,but was sophisticated nonetheless.
Finally, I as surprised at how much people liked the 2009 Domaine Brana Irouleguy Ohitza (Eee rool i gie - your guess is as good as mine as to how to pronounce the Basque Ohitza). It was strong but more nuanced and softer than I had noted below, when I had tasted it too cold. Its Cabernet Franc was evident as an exotic herbal note over its tannat. That is not surprising as i found out afterwards that Jean Claude Berrouet, the ex winemaker at Petrus, is a partner in the winery Several people took it home. I will also, but to put away for a year or 4.