By AJ McClellan
After the tasting, as usual, we opened a few bottles…
2000 Guigal La Turque – Infanticide… Stinky forest floor with barnyard and chewy red liquorish on the nose. Blue and red fruits on the palate with a touch of plum extract and some spice on the end… Needs 20 more years in the bottle…
1996 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourd - Pine and wood floors with dusty cherry, clove, cinnamon, and Asian spices. A little tight when we first opened the bottle but after some time it opened up showing lovely fruit and a brilliant elegance. The wine was Powerful but with no hard edges. Long finish with brilliant acidity. Great wine but will need 5 more years to unwind and 10 years before it starts to reach its prime.
1981 Pichon Lalande - Slight spearmint with big tobacco on the nose followed by earthy aromas. The palate is well balanced with great earth and mint chocolate. Drinking great right now, soft on the palate and with a long finish.
1999 Tertre Roteboeuf - Dried plums with big wet tobacco, milk chocolate, and chewy fruit. Great smokiness and a nice finish of barnyard and exotic spices. Chewy tannins but very elegant in the glass.
1990 Palmer – Big graphite with a great minerality of limestone and crushed rock. The palate has dried tobacco wrappings stored in a well seasoned cedar box – classic Bordeaux. Dusty blueberries and rustic fading plums. Lingering apple pie spices and a great rustic finish.