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TN: Frei Bro. PN, Garrigue Vacqueyras, and a Sparky Marquis white
amnspam (Dale Williams) wrote in
:
> Invited to our former neighbors for dinner, I carried along a bottle
> that was recently given to me as a gift, the 2001 Frei Brothers Pinot
> Noir Reserve (Russian River Valley). Fairly lush red fruit, a little
> cedar and vanilla. Inoffensive if unexciting, B.
>
> He was serving a beef curry with assorted Indian sides, had asked for
> a suggestion at a local store. He came home with a Hugel Gentil (never
> got opened) and a 2002 Marquis Philips "Holly's Blend" (I have no clue
> what the blend is). I can't say I was real excited over the thought of
> a MP wine, as I thought the reds I tasted were a bit overblown. But
> when he opened my first 2003 wine, I was pleasantly surprised, if not
> overwhelmed. Floral nose, fairly deep flavors of white fruit, good
> acidity, and a nice nutty finish. For a white that I'm pretty sure
> retails for less than $10 not bad at all. B
>
> Last night Betsy made poussins with a calvados sauce. Last time we had
> this recipe (with Rock Cornish Hens, I think), Emery suggested Rhone
> red. So we had the 1999 Domaine de la Garrigue Vacqueyras. This is one
> of those bottles that I don't recall buying, have no idea what I paid
> for it, and have no knowledge of the producer. So again a little
> trepidation on opening. Pleasant surprise- bright spicy red fruit, a
> hint of smoke and herbs, a nice medium to full bodied red that could
> hold its own with most under-$25 Chateauneuf-du-Papes. As I'm guessing
> I paid $10-15 for this (if it was more or less I'd remember) , a very
> good deal. B++
>
Wonderful family, they own a restaurant in Gigondas, Les Florets, that
is worth the stop on its own.
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