A couple of recent TNs.

Last night - at a very pleasant pleasure-with-a-touch-of-business dinner,
Union League in New Haven - I went for the 2002 Beaune Les Toussaints from
Albert Morot. We were with a couplee of wine-interested but not
-knowledgeable friends who mostly drnink lower end stuff, and this duly
provided a demonstration of changes in the glass: immediately on opening
it was very New World - huge intense fruit, high impact then rapid fade -
but after only maybe two minutes had shifted to being sharp, much thinner,
almost bitter; and then after maybe twenty minutes settled down to a
decent (but not spectacular) and as-expected well-balanced drink (which
worked very well with mesclun/prosciutto figs, not so well with pheasant
and sausage, too light for the latter). I think $75 restaurant price.
B/B+, only average QPR at best probably.

Over the past couple of weeks as we've been moving into the new house and
painting etc., a bunch of mid-low end wines, the best of which by quite a
distance is the 2003 Bogle Old Vine Zin. This is honestly really good,
and at ~$13 tremendous value: lots of fruit but not too jammy, and a good
long follow-through with *very* smooth finish throughout despite
reasonable tannin. I went out and bought out two stores . A-, and a
clear A for value.

Thanks Ewan, I'll put the Bogle on my shopping list.

Ewan McNay wrote:

> a bunch of mid-low end wines, the best of which by quite a
> distance is the 2003 Bogle Old Vine Zin. This is honestly really good,
> and at ~$13 tremendous value: lots of fruit but not too jammy, and a good
> long follow-through with *very* smooth finish throughout despite
> reasonable tannin. I went out and bought out two stores . A-, and a
> clear A for value.

Yes, someone was asking about Bogle Merlot a few months ago and I
mentioned they make a great Zinfandel. Here in Nevada I can buy it at
supermarkets on sale sometimes for $8 or $9. We're usually screwed on
our wine selections because of restrictions that all wines have to go
through wholesalers (wine stores can't buy direct) but I guess there
can be benefits sometimes being so close to California.
Not quite a fruit bomb, but some good flavors.