The 1996 Montrose was the last bottle opened for the evening and what a showing! Perfumed and rich with upfront nose of blackcurrant and black cherries laced with camphor and cedar. A subtle hint of barbecue smoke added complexity. Supple mouthfeel with very polished texture. With time, the wine showed a nice minerality that became more apparent on the lengthy finish. Lovely drinking window.
We did start the afternoon with the stunningly elegant and aromatically compelling 2002 Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs. Ripe and complex on the nose marrying ripe nectarine, peach and fresh apricot with bright lemon and acacia undertones along with almond cookies. The palate was broad and generous but showed a core of energy from the zippy acid. Impressive length.
This was followed by the 1969 Remoissenet Chambolle-Musigny. Sweet fruit aromas emanated from the glass. Scents of fresh cherry and strawberry on the front with hints of iron, minerality and raw meat. Silky textured with incredible finish.
And just to round out the day, we also tasted the opulent and richly fruited 2009 Checkerboard Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine’s intense nose boasted aromas of crème de cassis, blueberry, plums and sweet toasty oak with just a hint of violets. In the mouth, this was full-bodied and opulent with refined tannins that created a massive wine without any hard edges.