Last week, our Spring Break was spent yet again at a family-friendly resort in the Florida Keys. Although the Keys are not noted for a vibrant wine culture, we did manage to sample a few interesting bottles.
2005 Trimbach Pinot Gris Reserve nose: pineapple, spices palate: medium body, crisp acidity, dry
note: Funky label, unlike any other I've seen on a Trimbach wine. This is probably the finest Pinot Gris I've had in a long while.
2007 Martin Codax Albariño nose: perfumed, floral, green apples palate: light, touch of petillance, refreshing acidity
2007 Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages nose: slightly confected bright red fruit, grapefruit palate: grapefruit, highly acidic, modest fruit that faded rapidly, bitter finish
note: A disappointing version of this mass market bottling. After half an hour in the glass, the fruit had all disappeared. Heat damage?
2008 Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc nose: stones, white flowers, grassy, grapefruit palate: crisp, lightly grassy, mineral
note: Another mass market bottling, but this one was a very good example of the genre. More perfumed and grassy than fruity and bone dry. very nice stuff, especially for the price and availability.
NV Duval-Leroy Brut Champagne nose: yeasty, green apples palate: a bit coarse, tart green apples, toasty
note: Not my favorite style of big house Champagne, but a reasonable enough aperitif while dining outside on the beach, watching the sunset over the water.
Mark Lipton