Millesime Bio 2008

For some reason I am speechless, thought-free, about the the MB. It was a trade tasting. There were rows and rows of these poor vignerons and marketers who had to sit in their chairs for three days and smile and pour for the public. There were a few importers from Taiwan, Japan scarfing up bio. It was obvious from the crowd and the number of entrees that organic wines continue to be big and generally I thought the wines were much better than usual trade shows, for example Vin Expo or Italy. There were a higher percentage of wines made naturally and have interest but very few wines that generated goose bump activity or even made me want a full glass. The exceptions? Domaine Deux Anes. Because I drank the wines the first night, I didn't taste at their table but I'm convinced that those two cannot make a bad wine, from their Premier Pas, Fontanilles, Les Clos and Cabriole (which is not available in the US) they just shine. The wines are southern France, Corbieres dirt and earth and sun with that element of richness and interest that made me love the appellation the first time I tasted it. I realize now no one wants to hear me yap on, just get to the damned point, Alice. What did you like? Azienda Agricola Cefalicchio This is a cantina in Puglia and even though it seems huge, by the website 100+ hecatares, the wine was bloody, rustic. sunburnt and bitter and to me that tastes like the heel that I used to love. Azienda Agricola Vignano These guys have the most charming broken English on their website The wine, all Sangiovese tasted like Sangiovese! I was shocked. Rusty, earth, pine and charm. Even their site says the wine has charm! Bagordi Rioja. Hey it had new oak on it it but it had some elegance and just a bit of dill. I could almost tell it was tempranillo and I could drink it. I don't have high standards. This was probably cheap. But the big surprise was this guy Les Deux Moustaches The one on the left is Jo Landron one of my very favorite Muscadet producers, Domaine de la Louvetrie et Château de la Carizière. The one on the right is Philippe Chatillon. M. Chatillon was pouring the wines he makes for Domaine La Pinte in the Jura. M. Chatillon makes swell wines for the domaine and I'd be happy to drink again. I actually found this while tooling through the 'award winners' for the fair. Let me digress. This was the first time I really thought that the 'winners' had some of the best of show. But there were so many winners it was daunting. But a 2003 Trousseau as an award winner? Was it possible? Could this ever happen in the Unites States? Anyway, I'm turning into a Jura slut. The Domaine's Pinot was a gorgeous salty wine with a tannic and long toffee finish. It doesn't sound like pinot but it did have roses in the distance, just to remind me that it indeed was. 2003 Trousseau, proved that the Jura was a place to be in this year. Piercing and expansive. I didn't love the chardonnay because the lees had been stirred into a froth and that was all I could taste was that breathy, cheesy quality. This was also Vin Jaune lite. Which was ok. I don't mind and it was extremely approachable. Next morning I was off to see Jean Marie Rimbert.