TN: strange Nepenthe chard, tasty Fronsac

With Betsy gone for a week, I tired of eating leftovers alone. So I invited a couple of friends for dinner Sat (roasted chicken). For an apertif, we tried the 2001 Nepenthe Zoe's Chardonnay (Adelaide Hills). Funny wine- very tropical fruit (mango especially), with a definite musky (not musty!) aroma. I also got some canned peach flavors. Despite the ripe (almost overripe) tropical fruit, there's decent acidity. I confess to not being sure WHAT I thought about this- I liked one sip, then decided I didn't the next, then liked the next. My guests unequivocally liked it, but I don't think I'd buy again (though this was very cheap -$6 in a closeout bin). Over the next 2 days it got even less Chardonnayish, tasting like a fatter NZ SB by day 3. B-????

After reading a good note recently re the progress of the 1996 Potensac (Médoc), I popped one with the chicken. Now this one had some must, and after some air the TCA was clear. Too bad, one could see the underlying structure. But leftover Bachelet Bourgogne got us through dinner.

Last Friday I was in city, and had stopped by Garnet to pick up a couple more bottles of 1998 Fontenil (Fronsac) to add to my stash. I had opened one Friday night, and it had buttailed me with wet cardboard. By sheer happenstance it turned out I had to be on the Upper East Side on Monday. With Garnet's "returns only within 7 days policy", I lucked out. Returned the Fontenil for another. So next bottle of 1998 Fontenil was NOT contaminated. Beautiful internationally styled Merlot, rich blackberry fruit, some integrating cedary oak, but with a distinct graphite-mineral note that sang Bordeaux. Long finish. Not a wine for the long haul (though the '90 was beautiful recently, I think that was before Rolland owned it) but I think this will hold for another 5 or 6 years, with maybe a little improvement- this was better than last non-corked bottle. I'll revisit again in couple years. A--B+ (excellent QPR- I paid $14 originally, $20 for most recent bottles).

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency Dale

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