By: Ryan Tedder
What a fun day of wine drinking to kick off the weekend! We ran the gambit of flavor choices on another hot day in June. The whites were superb as were the reds. Here were some of my favorites.
The Miraval Rose Cotes de Provence 2012 is Brangelina’s dry rose from their estate in the south of France. I had low expectations thinking the wine would be more hype than substance. I was delightfully surprised! It is really good with lots of complexity and a rich mouthfeel. Wild strawberry, fresh bing cherry, frozen raspberries, tangerine and orange zest lead but there is also loads of floral and stony mineral notes. Great wine. Now if they could just make Mr. and Mrs. Smith 2-that rocked!
Fritz Hirtzberger’s Hochrain Samaragd Riesling 2010 from Wachau in Austria was showing beautifully. The botrytis on this wine was muted as a linear, green apple, lemon/lime laser beam focus carried the wine in a precise manner from attack to long, persistent minerally finish. A very classy wine that had some dried herbal components, honeysuckle, fresh cut green pear and light white pepper. Smaragd is the ripest level of Wachau wines but this was quite balanced and had nerve.
Kesner Alder Springs Chardonnay 2009 was every bit Kesner. The wine was balanced and generous-both aromatically and texturally. Green stone fruits, citrus blossoms, lemongrass and flint show through is this Californian white Burgundy from Mendocino. Jason Kesner is a Chardonnay guru and I could drink his wines every day without getting bored with the nuance and class he graces a sometimes boring varietal with.
A couple of red Burgundies caught my attention: Antonin Rodet Estournelles St. Jacques 1er Cru Gevrey Chambertin 1998 had been a curiosity of mine since I started at Graileys. It was OWC and pristine. Estournelles St. Jacques lies adjacent too the “baby Grand Cru” of Clos St. Jacques and the vintage is drinking great right now. The wine was generously aromatic upon opening with loads of dried roses, tobacco, red current and dark cherry jam. It was a bit tart on the palate but opening up after 20 minutes. The palate had dried strawberry and black cherry, cigar wrapper, roses, a stony minerality, hard spices and dried herbs.
The Hudelot-Noellat Richebourg Grand Cru 1992 was on an entirely different level. The wine was showing great and full of vigor. The tell-tale black cherry preserve, lush granite mineral power, dried roses, and velvety texture were stunning. These are consistently GREAT bottles on every vintage I have been blessed to try. Wow
The Guigal Chateau d’Ampuis Cote Rotie 1996 was my WOTN! This wine just unfolded and unfolded with air. The initali aromatics included dried spices, brambly red and black fruits, violets and some meat components. With air distinct tar, black pepper, anise, dried beef and bacon came across and the wine simply exploded on the palate with each successive sip. One of the best bottlings of this I have ever experienced-any boy what an experience that was!
If you are only going to have 1 Cali Cab in a night it would be hard to beat the majestic Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 2009! The wine was huge and glycerally fat but still balanced and relatively light on its feet. Violets and roses with plump blueberries, blackberry jam, black cherry jam, cassis, wet tobacco, and chocolate covered cherries. Juicy rich and delicious. A Dolly Parton wine that leaves you wanting another.
After 3 hours we were able to enjoy the Michel Rolland Winemaker’s Cuvee No. 1 2005 made from the terroir of Chateau d’Arsac in Haut Medoc. This is the first in this series of great wine makers from the same terroir. 2005 is a great vintage and the wine was loaded with cassis, black currant, blueberries, blackberries, dried fennel, cigar wrapper, dried tobacco, and melted gravel and fudge. Really great Bordeaux especially considering the price. I was impressed!