Domaine du Colombier, Crozes-Hermitage, Cuvee Gaby Blanc

Lovely - no formal note but in a great place. Acidity is sufficient - not screaming but firm. With a few hours of air it opens up to a beautiful nose - exotic flowers, hints of thyme - a bit of richness - what’s not to like? Some fat but a crisp finish - perfect with a grilled salmon steak..

French and Italian Comparative Tasting Dinner (Middletown Township, NJ, USA) : Another lovely bottle of this wine… wonderful texture, an almost tannic like a red wine yet moderately bright and full of stone fruit, hints of tropical fruit and and a bit of a saline finish. Excellent with a pear vinaigrette dressed salad.

Finished a bottle that had previously been Coravined with a friend. Seemed even better than last week. Same nice density and "almost oily" texture with wonderful depth. Mostly orchard and tropical fruited. More pear in the forefront than I recall (even before having the salad). No real citrus. Great with an Endive, Arugula, Radicchio salad with shaved almonds, crispy prosciutto and a pear dressing. Nice length on the finish.

Coravin pours tasted over 2 hours. Nice bright, light lemon yellow color. Nose is lightly floral (jasmine?) with tropical fruit and light citrus notes. Palate has good acidity but probably just medium. There is a nicely unctuous, rounded nature to the mouthfeel but it comes just shy of what I would call “oily”. Palate has banana, guava, white peach, vanilla and mineral notes. Lots of gravelly, wet stone sensations on the finish which is quite long. Very nice with a …

Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône; 4/15/2019-4/16/2019 (Ampuis, Mauves and Tain-l'Hermitage) : Walk around tasting talking with the producers, brief note. Tropical fruit aromas, then similar flavors just slightly less ripe. Good weight, good overall.