Couple of oldies Burg and Luna

In keeping with my goal to drink up everything old in my cellar I opened a couple of bottles yesterday with a lightly smoked slow cooked brisket.

1990 Chateau de Pommard. I bought this bottle at the Chateau on a trip we made back in 1992. We dropped in at the Chateau and while the wines were n ot very good, the winemaker was happy to see us and we tasted through a num ber of wines. I bought the bottle to make him happy. The wine was brick i n color with the aroma of old wine. Oxidized cherries and apples with an u nderlying black dirt and mushroom note. SOmewhat thick and candied on the palate with the initial impression of sweet cherries followed quickly by ra zor sharp acidity and fierce tannins. Still drinkable and the brisket took the edge off but not worth dwelling on. "C-"

1999 Luna Canto Napa Blend. I had met John Kongsgaard many years ago and t his was one of his projects and he urded me to try the wine. I liked it an d bought a couple bottles on release. Canto was a Sangiovese/Cab (60/40) b lend and at the time was Luna's top wine. The wine was still dark purple i n the glass. Lots of black cherry and blackberry notes on the nose. Mediu m weight, soft and smooth on the palate almost juicy. A fair amount of smok ey notes and vanilla on the finish. Great with the BBQ. "B"

Reply to
Bi!!
Loading thread data ...

a couple of bottles yesterday with a lightly smoked slow cooked brisket.

e made back in 1992. We dropped in at the Chateau and while the wines were not very good, the winemaker was happy to see us and we tasted through a n umber of wines. I bought the bottle to make him happy. The wine was brick in color with the aroma of old wine. Oxidized cherries and apples with an underlying black dirt and mushroom note. SOmewhat thick and candied on th e palate with the initial impression of sweet cherries followed quickly by razor sharp acidity and fierce tannins. Still drinkable and the brisket to ok the edge off but not worth dwelling on. "C-"

this was one of his projects and he urded me to try the wine. I liked it and bought a couple bottles on release. Canto was a Sangiovese/Cab (60/40) blend and at the time was Luna's top wine. The wine was still dark purple in the glass. Lots of black cherry and blackberry notes on the nose. Med ium weight, soft and smooth on the palate almost juicy. A fair amount of sm okey notes and vanilla on the finish. Great with the BBQ. "B"

Thanks for notesd. Too bad about the Pommard - surprised by acids, not by t annins. Never heard of Luna Canto before.

Reply to
DaleW

d a couple of bottles yesterday with a lightly smoked slow cooked brisket.

we made back in 1992. We dropped in at the Chateau and while the wines we re not very good, the winemaker was happy to see us and we tasted through a number of wines. I bought the bottle to make him happy. The wine was bri ck in color with the aroma of old wine. Oxidized cherries and apples with an underlying black dirt and mushroom note. SOmewhat thick and candied on the palate with the initial impression of sweet cherries followed quickly b y razor sharp acidity and fierce tannins. Still drinkable and the brisket took the edge off but not worth dwelling on. "C-"

nd this was one of his projects and he urded me to try the wine. I liked i t and bought a couple bottles on release. Canto was a Sangiovese/Cab (60/4

0) blend and at the time was Luna's top wine. The wine was still dark purp le in the glass. Lots of black cherry and blackberry notes on the nose. M edium weight, soft and smooth on the palate almost juicy. A fair amount of smokey notes and vanilla on the finish. Great with the BBQ. "B"

tannins. Never heard of Luna Canto before.

Luna is a Napa producer founded in 1995. Originally planted to Pinot Grigi o and Sangiovese with a smattering of Cab. John Kongsgaard was the first w inemaker there. Canto was their "top cuvee" of Sangiovese and Cab. They c hanged course in 2000 and aimed more towards the supermarket wine exchangin g quality for quantity.

Reply to
Bi!!

Sorry to hear it didn't hold up.

You clearly know this but I'll mention it for those who might not: since wine tasting is almost always free in France it's considered polite to leave with a bottle (at least). Even if you're getting on a plane later, you can always use it for a picnic, stew, or give it away.

Some Americans don't follow this formula, which can in part explain the lukewarm reception given them in certain circles.

-E

Reply to
Emery Davis

And this explains why we only schedule (yes, schedule!) visits with winemakers whose wines we know we like (or, on occasion, new ones who come highly recommended from a reputable source).

Mark Lipton

Reply to
Mark Lipton

Good tip Emery. I did know this and have always made it a practice. I did buy a couple bottles which we consumed on the trip. We were visiting a fr iend and had a little time to kill. Chateau de Pommard is/was a fairly com mercial sort of winery with no appointments necessary. There were no other visitors there that day and the winemaker took us to the cellar and was qu ite generous with what he opened although as I recall, nothing was incredib ly special. What I do remember was that we ordered and paid for the wine a t the Chateau and the wine was waiting for us at the guardshack as we depar ted.

Reply to
Bi!!

Two weeks ago I was on a cycling holiday with my b-i-l in the Medoc and the St. Emilion region. Despite being tempted by the numerous "dégustation" signs, the thought of having to buy a bottle stopped us, despite having some wine shipping bags in our luggage. In fact, we have always followed this rule during previous cycling holidays in Burgundy and Provence. We wanted to visit one or two of the better chateaux, where one usually pays €8-10 for the privilege, but one had to book at least 4 months in advance. Graham

Reply to
graham

Hi Mark,

Calling first is always a good idea, but I confess we enjoy cruising around occasionally without rdv, just stopping here or there as the mood takes us, or asking a local who's making good wine Most people are happy enough with "Hi, was passing by and thought it would be a good opportunity to discover your wines." And in France of course it is frequently the winemaker or their family (sometimes even young kids) who receive you, which for us adds to the pleasure of the encounter.

Although in fairness sometimes things can be a bit hit or miss this way! ;)

Reply to
Emery Davis

DrinksForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.