TN: '98 Belle 'Les Pierrelles' Crozes

What I mean by that term is that the tannins that I encountered two years ago, giving the wine a rough mouthfeel with noticeable astringency, had now softened such that I got no roughness and no astringency. Instead, there was a certain velvety feel to the wine that I associate with older tannins.

HTH Mark Lipton

OK, Belle and ..........Graillot?

Yup, those are the two Crozes that find their way to my cellar. Thalabert has its fans, but I've never found it worth the price. Claude Kolm recently opined that there were many interesting producers in Crozes, so I might have to prod him a bit for names...

Mark Lipton

Mark Lipton wrote in news:dmhpu0$6h7$1 @mailhub227.itcs.purdue.edu:

I have had the Graillot and agree on the choice. I am also quite fond of the Tain coop Crozes for everyday type wines at around $10.00 a bottle.

The Remezieres wines I've had have been far too modern for my tastes, but I haven't found any Gilles-Robin yet to try. I've placed a query with Claude in WT: we'll see if he bites.

Mark Lipton

Mark Lipton wrote in news:dmhsir$83l$ snipped-for-privacy@mailhub227.itcs.purdue.edu:

Is one of these the one with a butterfly on the label? There is a Crozes available locally for me that has a light blue label with a butterfly andthe usual warning over animals on labels applies.

Joseph, I think Gilles Robin's entry level Crozes is called Papillon, if it's that one I'd certainly try if it was in my market.