Graileys never fails to impress me. Last week we opened ridiculous aged bottlings of the old world and new. The 1971 Bruno Giacosa Barolo was my surprise wine of the night! Still incredibly fresh, intact and ultra-silky! Tart and juicy wild red fruit, hints of blood orange zest and pith, old leather, dusty spice, dirty mushrooms and herbs with an ethereal finish. The tannins were finally softened after 44 years but created a structure within the wine that blew us away!
I wanted to chew the sludge… don’t judge me…
1986 Pol Roger Cuvee Winston Churchill Brut Champagne- austere and funky at first on the nose, but once it opened up in the glass it was fantastic! Wonderfully toasty, perfectly oxidized and profoundly flavored with layers of preserved lemon and caramelized banana with hints of white mushrooms, old spice and toasted yeast rolls.
The Graileys House Bordeaux was 26 years young and going strong! The 1989 Pichon Lalande was full bodied, rich textured with generous fruit and equally powerful layers of graphite, leather, sweet tobacco, deep herbs and minerals. This bad boy was showing beautifully, but he can go for another 10 years!
Of course the 2012 Futo 5500 Cabernet Sauvignon was a complete knock out and one not to be missed if you can get your hands on it! Concentrated, powerful and in your face with all the right moves, this Cabernet was the diamond on the crown!
The 2003 Blankiet Paradise Hills Vineyard Merlot was a killer wine to finish off the week! It was incredibly concentrated in pure blue and black fruit: juicy plums, rich currants and black cherry liquor. It was ridiculously velvety in texture and loaded with chocolate covered espresso beans, exaggerated notes of violets and smoke. From the vineyards behind Dominus, this Merlot was slutty in the most elegant way: truly a Turley Wine from nose to finish.
Other fantastic bottles…
1979 Pichon Lalande
2003 Shirvington McLarent Vale Shiraz
1995 Pichon Baron
2001 Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace Cabernet Sauvginon
1981 BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvginon
2011 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru
1989 Cheateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Papes
2012 Futo OV SL
2012 Futo 5500
1989 Veuve Clicquot Cave Privee Champagne
2004 Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne
2012 Morlet La Proportion Doree Napa ‘Bordeaux Blanc’