By: AJ McClellan
We had a smaller group around the table last night, but that is how I like it. Everyone popped a bottle and shared around the table. It is hard to pick a wine of the night out of this group, they were all great and a very diverse selection…
1996 Domaine Leflaive Puligny Montrachet Les Combettes – We have been going Leflaive crazy around here recently. This bottle was no disappointment with a honeyed nose complimented by a palate of almond extract, succulent peaches, and fresh apricots. I was very impressed with the soft minerality of the wine, showing fractured limestone and blue marl. The finish was full of floral delights, honeysuckle, lilies, and white tulips.
2006 Dujac Gevrey Chambertin Aux Combottes – A young bottle of Burgundy but that only added to its vibrancy in the glass. An electrifying acidity with spicy red and black fruits paired with a subtle dusty, chalky minerality. Lovely finish of dried earth and spice.
1989 Leoville Barton – Typical Bordeaux showing funky earth notes of forest floor and barnyard. I was impressed with the subtle notes of black cherry and plum filled with tobacco smoke and surrounded by dried red roses.
2002 Favia Cerro Sur – This was a real treat. We only received 10 bottles of this wines and drank two of them at the Favia tasting a few months back. This wine is one of the closest expressions to St Emilion that I have found in the New World. Rustic black fruits ground into pulp over a course granite boulder and finished with mommas spice cabinet dropping in to clean up the mess…
1996 Pichon Lalande – I am starting to think that the 96 Bordeaux’s are entering a great state for drinkability. This bottle was rocking. Hitting the perfect unison of earth and fruit, right when the fruit is moving from ripe to dry and the earth is starting to come out of its shell. This wine is just a delight to taste.