Bitouzet-Prieur Volnay Les Aussy 1er Cru 2005

The boys at Woodland Hills Wine Company recommended the wines from this relatively unknown tiny producer from Volnay from the fab 2005 vintage. Picked up an assortment of their wines some 2 years ago, but have only recently come round to opening a bottle. Was pleasantly surpised by the quality, so I thought i'd share some tasting notes.

T-notes > Ruby red in color with wonderful aromas of pure red pinot fruit. In the mouth, elegant melange of sweet intense fruit flavors framed by lovely soft tannins. Mid-palate is chock a block full, with nice persistance on the finish. Really liked this quite a bit. Can't wait to get round to opening the Volnay Taillepieds and Volnay Caillerets! :-D

Sea Smoke "Southing" Pinot Noir 2004

T-notes > My first taste of the Pinot Noirs from one of the bright shining stars of the Central Coast - Sea Smoke Cellars. Deep ruby red. Red fruits and violets on the nose. Lovely bing cherry and Pepsi on the palate, with a very rounded mouth feel. Overall impression was that of very cool pinot fruit, which i like. Can't wait to get around to tasting my bottles of Botella and Ten!

Weingut Nigl Veltliner PRIVAT 2001

More Gruner Veltliner on tap this past week. Martin Nigl has become one of the top growers of white wine from his vineyards situated at the northern tip of the Kremstal. His PRIVAT label Gruner Veltliner is of Auslese quality, and I was fortunate enough to pick up a couple of bottles recently. When asked why his labels have dropped the word Gruner (meaning green in German) from his Gru-vey whites, his reply has been that there is nothing green about his wines.

Tasting notes > Golden yellow in color, almost Orangina. All red roses aromatically that preface palate coating flavors of nectarines, persimmons, honey, pepper and asian spices. Maple syrupy in texture but off dry. Distinctive.

Hiedler Gruner Veltliner 2004

I've been in a Gru-vey kind of mood lately, and my most recent Gruner experience was from the house of Wiengut Hiedler.

Tasting notes > Color - a pale green yellow. Beautiful nose of white flowers segues into mouthfilling flavors of limestone, minerals, white pepper and apples. Great clarity and precision here. Liked that it had weight, yet drank like it was incredibly light on its feet. Persistent on the finish.

Available @ MOJO Wines t 6565 6328

Faiveley Bourgogne Passetoutgrains 2004

Tasting notes > Youthful looking ruby red. Aromatics incorporate grilled sweet meats and violets. Once in the mouth, all sweet plums with grippy tannins which are still a little coarse. Liked the sappiness inherent in the juice. The backend was a little short, but for a bourgogne rouge, this offers great value. A very accessible young Faiveley.

If you're local, Faiveley wines are available from Culina @ Culina Parkhouse t 6737-6227 and Culina Bukit Timah t 6468-5255.

Labradoodle Likes His Vino Tinto

Sorry Angel, no more Richebourg for you!