By: AJ McClellan
It was Dave’s last night in town yesterday and in true Graileys fashion we had a blowout party to celebrate his leaving. The best part of the night was when Dave decided to pop the 90 Rousseau and after we were half way through the bottle Phil checked the price and announced that we were drinking a $3600 dollar bottle. Simon flashed red for a split second till he realized we were drinking the Charmes Chambertin instead of the Chambertin. We decide the price to be a misprint and went on drinking the wine.
1990 Armand Rousseau Charmes Chambertin GC – Pale amber in color. The nose was floral with rich earthy aromas and opulent fruit notes of cherry and raspberry. The palate was soft and tender with silky tannins that melted in your mouth and a complexity that would make a rubik’s cube blush.
2007 Deforville Barbaresco – A classic Barbaresco, the wine was gripping with a mountain of tannins backed by crisp fruit and a ultra dry finish of slate and crushed gravel.
1982 Beychevelle – The Beychevelle was drinking like a champ. The wine was showing dark fruits, graphite, roses, and forest floor on the nose. The palate was smooth and well developed with elegant tannins and a long complex finish.
1983 Haut Brion – There was a little doubt as to whether the bottle was corked or not but after some time in the glass any flaws blew off and the gravely minerality that is so identifiable in Haut Brion started to flourish. Dark plums, cassis, and black cherries danced on the palate over a a bed of rose pedals strewn across a rocky soil.
1999 Groffier Chambolle Musigny 1er Les Amoureuses – Groffier is fast becoming one of my favorite producers of Burgundy. Last night’s bottle of Les Amoureuses was brilliant showing bright red cherries, red currants, limestone, bramble, and dark earth.
1999 Domaine Pierre Amiot Clos de la Roche GC – Relatively simple for Grand Cru wine but still very nice. Easy going fruit with a mellow mineral note. The finish was light and forward.
1975 Pichon Lalande – This was possibly the wine of the night. We blind tasted it around the table and while most people called Bordeaux and a few even nailed it as Pichon, everyone agreed that it could not be more than 15 years old. Fresh and vibrant on the nose the wine showed notes of currant, plum, cassis, lavender, forest floor, and tilled earth.
1997 Delas Freres Cote Rotie La Landonne – Bacon, bacon, bacon, and more bacon! Yummy… A great bottle of wine, opened at the beginning of the night it continued to get better and better the longer it was open. Smoked quail, black pepper, leather, and spice.
1997 Mt. Eden Estate Chardonnay – We opened this up early in the day and it was served blind pop and pour. This was nailed as a mid 90’s Mt. Eden by AJ and Simon. This had everything that I love about old school California Chardonnay. The fruit was still vibrant and carried notes of pineapple, stone fruit, white peaches, a touch of honey with crisp minerality. It gained weight and more complexity in the glass over several hours and was a fantastic treat.
2008 Kistler Noisetiers Chardonnay – I really enjoyed this wine. Bright fruit, lemon zest and a well-balanced integration of oak and fruit. I can see this going many years but was very enjoyable at such a young age.
2001 Georges Mugneret Chambolle Musigny Feusselottes – I was really impressed by this wine. Such a silky texture, classic Chambolle, with lovely red fruit, currant and spice. Gorgeous nose of Asian five spice, a hint of black tea and mushrooms. Laser focus with a strong backbone of acidity.
1998 Jadot Clos de Beze – This wine was much more masculine when compared to the rest of the burgundy bretheren last night. It had broader shoulders and a dark brooding fruit profile of blackberries and rasberries. Muscular without weight.
