AJ McClellan
It was a beautiful day outside, the sun was shining, and the last breath of winter had extinguished itself in one last blizzard. We gathered around the table ready to open some great bottles in celebration of the coming spring. Once the first bottle hit the table we knew it was going to be an epic night.
1989 Meo Camuzet Vosne Romanee Aux Brulees – Cooked red raspberries with a slight a slight toast on nose. The palate was very expressive with melted red liquorish, caramel popcorn, tart bing cherry, and dried crumbled tobacco. The wine finished with black berry cobbler and mushrooms. Very complex with a long lasting finish, the perfect way to start an evening.
1970 Latour – One of our good friends, Whiskey Wade, brought this bottle for us to try out of his personal cellar. As I cut away the foil from the bottle I realized with horror that the cork had already fallen through and was bobbing on top of the wine at the top of the bottle. We had no idea how this could have happened but there was only one way to find out if the wine was still good. As I was elected the guinea pig I poured myself a small taste and cautiously nosed the wine. Black olives, peat, dirt, and barnyard exploded out of the glass making me feel like I needed a shower – the wine was perfect. Pure silk on the palate and a absolute delight to drink. I still don’t know how the cork could have fallen through but it had allowed the wine to breath and it was drinking perfectly.
The Horror!
1979 Guigal La Landonne – It has been quoted by several reliable sources that Wade has one of the best palates in town. After opening his 79 La Landonne I asked him what his thoughts were, this is what he had to say – The nose offers pretty, elegant violets with black pepper, complimenting the aromas before it hits the palate. This wine shares such a wonderful style of decadent dried cherries with sweet cassis and black licorice tar. The finish lasts for a long while bringing a smile to your face.
Whiskey Wade
1994 Guigal La Turque – After Wade impressed me with his tasting notes of the La Landonne I asked his opinion of the La Turque, this is what he had to say – While sitting at the table with amazing wines that make your heart skip a beat the 1994 La Turque was poured into my glass. The nose was filled with rich saturated oils and butter peanut fats. The wine hits the palate with great intensity full of coffee grains and rhubarb followed by a deep dark chocolate complimenting the wine and giving it a brilliant finish.
1997 Ornellaia – Reminding me of a great Cajun Gumbo with a thousand different ingredients perfectly blended to make a superb dish. Spicy plum perfectly mixed with soft dusty cherry, black currant, purple flowers, roasted duck, tobacco, tar, and leather. Excellent balance with soft tannins and a slight hint of wood spice on the finish.