At home recently (all from Vine Trail) 27/01/2011 (TNB)

• Vin de Savoi, Chignin 2005 (R. Quenard) Very pure, intensely mineral and with an old-vine natural concentration. Really drinkable stuff. Smazing what a tenner will get you from an unfashionable region.
• Morgon 2009 (M. Lapierre) Very silky - Lapierre is (or was - I believe he died recently) a very natural winemaker, and this has the hallmarks of very pure, silky, unforced fruit. Lovely.
• Morgon Corcelette 2009 (D. Bouland) This doesn't have quite the tone and bite, and perhaps even the complexity of this growers Chiroubles, tasted recently. In a similar style though and pretty good. A low
• Moulin a Vent 2009 (Chateau des Jacques) This seemed the least interesting wine of my recent excursion in to Beaujolais. Is there some new oak usage? The total effect is of a decent wine, but one more international in style. Not my sort of thing.
• Fleurie La Madone 2008 (G. Chanudet) This was a bit of a shock after a number of wines from the big, ripe 2009 vintage. This seemed a bit thin at first, partly I expect because was quite cool. A rather delicious fragrance emerged after a while however. Delicate, but rather good. A bare

Recent purchases 18/01/2011 (TNB)

• Charonnay, Cotes du Jura Les Varrons 2007 (J. Labet) Hmmm. Made Jura-style, spending time in large wood casks I think, but topped up so it is not that oxidative. The result is dry, quite old-fashioned - very far from the modern "fruit driven" (shudder) style of much modern wine. It needs a while to open out in the glass. I think I quite like it, but find it hard to make up my mind. Certainly interesting - provisionally.
• Chiroubles 2009 (Daniel Bouland) I can feel an interest in Beaujolais Villages coming on - there seem to be a lot of winemakers there trying really hard while the area remains still pretty unfashionable. This is delicious - great minerality and tone: drinkable but interesting. Needs a year or two. Rising through

Another Sherry 12/01/2011 (TNB)

• Manzanilla I think, Saca du October 2010 En Rama (Equipos Navazos) This has all the salty, dry virtues of Manzanilla, but is notably more vinous - there is fruit one can think about too. Very good. Top

Misc at home 11/01/2011 (TNB)

• Soave Calvarino 2004 (Pieropan) Pieropan's unoaked top cuvee makes an interesting comparison to the oaked and more expensive La Rocca. I much prefer the crystalline purity and minerality of this lovely wine. Showing fantastically well - perhaps even in its way
• Pommard 1er cru Les Grands Epenots 2004 (de Montille) Beautiful, pure, scented fruit with a solidly structured background of succulent tannins. A wine that makes the kinship of Burgundy and Barolo very clear. A half-full bottle accidentally left uncorked overnight was delicious the next day. Lovely - rising to top of that range in time.