David E was first in the door with bottles to restock his on-premise locker. One of the bottles was a 1986 Chateau L’Arrosee, a solitary bottle leftover from his old collection. The nose was lovely but the palate was a totally different story. It was thin with a caramelized note and very little fruit. Short, bitter finish. Hollow mid-palate. I think we missed this wine’s drinking window. Next, we had a welcome visit from DD, who predictably, brought his A game and promptly popped a 1982 Pichon Lalande. This was right on! This was seductive from start to finish exhibiting an exotic nose loaded with blackcurrants, cedar, and spice and an opulent, sumptuous, exuberant palate. There was a mouthfilling quality to this wine that just caressed every inch of my taste buds. Very fine length. Drinking now but still relatively youthful with tremendous aging potential. Simon next poured a 2001 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon around the table. I’ve always been a fan of Togni wines and this bottle was showing well with minty and cedar notes. Well structured with discreet tannins and fresh acidity. This wine is aging gracefully and has a long, happy life ahead. Tom D stopped by next with Grange in mind so Simon fished out a 2004 Penfolds Grange from Tom’s cage. As I poured, this wine’s intense aromatics filled the air. Black cherry, dark chocolate, licorice, blackberry, spicy and floral on the nose and palate. Opulent and velvety in structure. Very youthful. Although delicious to drink now for its tremendous fruit and attractive texture, this will age very well. Tom D generously popped a bottle of 1993 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon next. A fully mature wine with cedar, tobacco, and spice. Medium body. It seemed austere and the finish was short. I liked the nose on this wine better than I did the palate. Maybe it was unfair to taste this more elegant wine right next to the voluptuous Grange. A bottle of 1988 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco hit the table next. This was one of the more attractive Giacosas I’ve had the pleasure of tasting. It was lacking this nail polish funk that I typically get with Giacosa which takes an hour to blow off. This showed savoury aromas of mushroom, truffle, earth, fig, forest floor, and dusty black cherry. Stunning mouthfeel – rich and dense with exuberant acidity and a persistent length. As the wine sat in the glass, it just kept changing. Unbelievable complexity.