Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre, Generation Xix Rouge

On the downhill side of the plateau when compared to the last excellent example drunk two or three years ago

this puts on weight with aeration. Pure red fruit with herbs and good minerality. Just wonderful. I havr cellared this since purchase and has years to go in a cold cellar. Yummy

Belle tension et minéralité. Ce vin semble beaucoup plus jeune qu'il n'est. On pourrais attendre plus de complexité et de longueur, ce que l'age pourra peut être apporter.

An Afternoon with Alphonse Mellot (Sancerre) : Not nearly up to the level of the '09 or '08, but still admirably pretty, elegant, and Burgundian wine.

Thanks to Jeremy Quinn for carrying this from the winery. Kind of lush for the style, and drinking alongside a tight(er) '07 Vacheron makes that contrast all the more evident. Straightforward and pleasant at first, it develops a lot of complexity with extended aeration. And by complexity, we're talking anchovy, herbs, and the kind of stinky fruit you might marvel over at a Chinatown market. I liked it, it still carried that racy edge, but I still am scratching my …

Cranberry on the rim turning to a brick at the very edge. A core of maroon. Nose of cranberry - what could be more perfect today - and violets, rose dust and cinnamon. A lovely, expressive nose. Focused and intense flavors of cranberry, violets, black cherry, rose dust, mushrooms, and a bit of earth. Then ever so slightly, like a lingering high note is the finish of cinnamon. An elegant wine with developed bottle sweetness. A round mouthfeel of richness …

Tasted side by side with te 2004 "En Grands Champ" and "Generation XIX" from Mellot (see TNs). 24 hl / ha. 100% new oak. Brief note: pure red cherry fruit. More feminine and possessing more obvious acidity than the En Grands Champs, though well-balanced overall. Impressive. About $80 retail, before discount.

I believe this retails for over $100. Tasted side by side with te 2004 "En Grands Champ" and "La Demoiselle" from Mellot (see TNs). Brief note: this was the most concentrated of the three reds. Impressive purity of fruit and balance. I'll be interested to see how Mellot's reds age...

Saturday, April 13, 2002 Young juice with bright burgundy color. The bouquet filled the area. Nose of black cherry, violets, mineral and smoke. Much the same on the palate. Velvety texture. (Deneen says some plum) Just so much going on it is difficult to describe. Medium to full body with excellent balance. Graceful and elegant. 13%. This has to be one of the best French Pinot Noir’s I have had and certainly the best for the money. With wild rice …