last weekend ... very little joy

not a particularly successful one. nothing really refreshing ... not enough acid everywhere.

(A)

1)terramater unusual 2003

had coupla of bottles of chilean. carmenere/shiraz blend. dark red; smooth, big and fruity (plums, raspberries) but with lots of wood and vanilla (that means wood); oh, did i mention wood?; chunks of fruit and chunks of wood; unintergrated and unbalanced; not enough acid; longish with little bitterness at the very end. FIZZLE!

2)ceretto monsordo (la bernadina) 2002

then, a neb with some bourdeux bits blended in. easy, smooth and fruity. somehow a bit dull this time round. FIZZLE!

3)drouhin oregon pinot noir 1999

followed by a pinot. dull deep red; strawberry (hint), plum and cinnamon on the nose; palate of rich plummy fruit; tannins and acid (insufficient) intergrated; smooth and rounded; medium bodied; medium length; medium dull; the last bottle had many months ago was livelier. FIZZLE!

(B) slight relief

1)isole and olena chianti classico 2003

the only only thing that i really enjoyed this weekend. with lunch: pork chop. BANG! [only just, restaurant markup]

(C)

1)petaluma piccadilly chardonnay 2004 [adelaide hills]

being a dumbass, picked a stinking hot year. straw; citrus peel, pear, apple, caramel on the nose; lemon,ripe pear, creme brulee, caramel, wood; rich and buttery but where is the acid to balance things out?; not really dry initially; big mouthfeel; longish; 14.5%! FIZZLE!

an unpleasent drop. flabby and dull. the description on the rear label implied sufficient freshness and acid notwithstanding the boiled grapes that year... liars (croser should be ashamed he put his name on it).

messed up an otherwise simple but lovely (and free) meal of risotto with porcini mushrooms and parmagiano reggiano. this is usually such a superior and consistent drink ... really disapointing. heard ws gave it 92 !???

anyway, 2005's got a stelvin on it. hmmm.