By: AJ McClellan
I tasted a great handful of wines last night. The highlight for me was the 2008 Camille Saves Champagne that was simply smoking! This small production bottle of bubbles was full of apricot and green apple skins. I was very pleased with the soft effervescence of the wine and the complex long finish.
I also had a soft spot in my heart for the 2004 Poetry Cabernet which was one of my favorite bottles to sell back at Graileys old location. The fruit was soft and supple with nice black and blue notes. The Poetry compared nicely with the 2011 Favia Cabernet Sauvignon that we opened with it. The Favia was darker on the nose and palate and full of rich tannins. While young, I was very impressed with the Favia especially with the 2011 bottling.
One other bottle that I feel is worth mentioning is the 1999 Groffier Chambolle Musigny Les Sentiers. This wine was singing! Bright Bing cherry and loads of minerality were the hallmarks of this gorgeous wine.
Other great wines that we tasted on the night were…
2003 Bouchard Chevalier Montrachet, 2006 Vina Ardanza Vina Real Gran Reserva, 2010 Penfolds Cab/Shiraz, NV Krug 375ml, 1996 Jadot Chevalier Montrachet, 1995 Camille Giroud NSG Les Cailles, 2011 Gargiulo Vineyards Money Road Ranch Cabernet, 2011 Dancing Hares, 1998 Quilceda Creek Cabernet, 2007 Vina Ardanza Imperial Gran Reserva, 2008 Gargiulo Vineyards OVX