late June 2011
Prior to a visit of Northern and Southern domaines, including J-L Chave, Delas, Chapoutier, Gangloff and a big 2009 Gigondas tasting sur place there, several solid domaines have been added. Under the Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, the Domaine Saladin run by two enterprising sisters in the southern Ardèche has been put up, and under Côtes-du-Rhône, the latest on their neighbour the Mas de Libian, always a true quality destination. Other Côtes-du-Rhône domaines added - Fond Croze, the latest on Domaine de la Rouette (son has returned, promising therefore) and the interesting vin de pays domaine in the Gard, Domaine La Gramière. See also: the latest at Signargues at Domaine de la Valériane, a good, steady name in female hands. On the Plan de Dieu the Ferme Saint Antonin is up now, and at Ventoux the British-owned Château Unang - above average, good reds and whites in an authentic manner.
mid June 2011
From the Maldives to Mere, Witshire, England, in one nearly fell swoop. A visit to Yapp Brothers, which is explained in the Yapp website http://www.yapp.co.uk/blog/index.php/2011/06/j-l-l-drops-in-to-mere/link. I fully recommend the 2010 Maby Tavel rosé La Forcadière, by the way.
Added recently has been a range of domaines from the Southern Rhône, with an emphasis on Gigondas 2009s: so Domaine Burle, des Florets, Gour de Chaulé (a w.o.w. rosé, rare), Moulin de la Gardette (2008 is w.o.w. and STGT, also rare), Paillère et Pied Gu, Santa Duc, St Francois Xavier, Domaine du Terme.
From the Plan de Dieu Villages, look up the good, hearty Bastide Saint Vincent and Domaine de l`Espigouette. Rasteau domaines now posted range from old to recent - La Soumade of the charismatic André Romero, and La Collière from André`s protegé Georges Perrot. Another pillar of the community at Cairanne, the Domaine Rabasse Charavin of the tenacious, very public-spirited Corinne Couturier, has been posted as well. I also recommend looking up the regular high quality of Domaine Cros de la Mure at Massif d`Uchaux - w.o.w. wines. I would also highly recommend a tiny, 2+ hectare organic-biodynamic domaine, Le Mas de Casalas, listed under Côtes-du-Rhône, also STGT style wines. Lastly, from the Gard, Château Boucarut, one of the better Liracs.
early June 2011
following the dinners in the Hilton Iru Fushi in the Maldives with Pierre Perrin of Château de Beaucastel at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the following wines tasted (drunk) have been noted under this estate, along with full report under Recent Tastings: Roussanne VV 2009, 2008, Hommage Jacques Perrin 2007, 2001, 2000, Cru de Coudoulet 2003 red, and Beaucastel red 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 1998, 1990. Full report to follow. The now-bottled 2008, as well as the 2009 and 2010 Hermitage red and the now bottled 2008 Hermitage white from Domaine Jean-Louis Chave have also been entered. At Tavel, the Domaine Maby red Lirac and their w.o.w. Tavel 2010 rosé have also been put up.