By 10am last Friday, the front room was already a whirlwind of activity as tables and lounge chairs were moved and stuck in the back to make room for a private party that evening. By 3:00pm, the front room has completely morphed into a performance stage for the Beatles tribute band, A Hard Day’s Night. We thought we knew this was going to be a fun, crazy night. Little did we know….
As de rigeur at Graileys on a Friday, a few members popped in to properly usher in the weekend. By the time the band was set up around 4pm, we’ve already enjoyed a yeasty and baked dough flavored, full-bodied and structured NV Krug Grande Cuvee; a supple, dense and cassis/coffee-tinged 1997 Merryvale ‘Profile’; a toasty, brioche and chalk-driven NV Philliponnat Brut Royal Reserve.
But as the party went into full mode, a few more standout wines that defined decadence were shared around. By the time the band hit Hey Jude, we had already enjoyed a 1982 Chateau Ausone that boasted a rich array of black raspberries, blackberries, earth, floral, tea leaves and spicy cedar undertones. Remarkably concentrated and structured with velvety tannins and a load of lush fruit created this seamless texture that made for a compelling drinking experience. Persistent finish with touches of licorice and blackberries.
I was also handed a glass of a 1994 Colgin Herb Lamb which was, again, pure decadence and seduction. This is the second time I’ve tasted this wine in a span of six weeks and this continues to enthrall with its explosive aromatics of rich blueberry pie, crushed black raspberries, licorice,violets, and mocha. Such sumptuous character was consistent on the palate. There are no harsh edges to this wine; resolved tannins, thread of acidity keeps the wine’s density and richness in check and balanced. This was my WOTN.
A bottle of 2009 DRC Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Cuvee Duvault-Blochet was opened next. This was remarkably complex given its youth showing layered, high toned, and fresh aromas of red cherries, wild berries, plums, baking spices, and mineral undertones. The palate showed the structure of the vintage with some supple tannins and vibrant acidity. The fresh red fruits, underlying minerality and vibrant acidity really defined the wine’s long finish. The wine’s structure and balance suggest great potential for long term cellaring although this was delicious to drink now, too.
So, by the time the band hit the notes on All My Loving, everybody was in a happy place, regally poised to conquer the weekend.
