It is always a great time when our dear friend Mark McWilliams of Arista stops in for a glass of wine, but we sure weren’t expecting the night to become one grand blind tasting. Last night, Mark stopped in to share a few of his favorite wines from Arista’s latest release, but even before he arrived, we had a few bottles that told the greatness to come…
The evening started with a bottle of 1990 Krug. This specific bottle had been opened, corked for 2 days and kept in perfect temperature. For being opened for 2 days, this 1990 Krug exemplifies the power and longevity of Krug. There wasn’t a single bubble in my glass and the wine was alive and smoking!! There was nothing short of awesomeness in this glass: Deep citrus, baked apples, toasted almond, warm brioche and deep spice. I don’t need a reminder that Krug is King, but WOW! For being opened for 2 days, this bottle of Krug was rocking!
The Holy Grail of Meursault (as pictured on the label)
The next bottle could be predestined as Wine of the Month- 1999 Coche Dury Meursault- MIND BLOWN!! If I could have one word to describe this Meursault, it would be ‘GOLDEN’. The glass was filled with the color of a beautiful sunrise with energetic aromas of candied pineapple fruit and dried white blossoms and a noticeable note of flinty minerals. This wine was a perfect bottle. Creamy mid-weight filled with poached pear, sweet cream, candied ginger, brown butter, preserved Meyer lemons, sweet fatty nut and deep spice with softer notes of savory sweet herbs. The finish was lengthy, tying in the gorgeous minerals, ripe fruit and brown butter in a beautiful close. Coche Dury Meursault has a breath that takes Meursault into a godly level. Our minds are still boggling…
We then went into a flight of Mark’s favorite Pinot Noirs from Arista. In 2012, Matt Courtney left the famous Pinot cult Marcassin to work with Mark McWilliams of Arista, launching Arista into a whole new level of amazing wines. As noted by Wine Spectator “Arista achieved what many wineries only hope for.” -after tasting through the 2014 Pinot Noirs, we unanimously agree.
2014 Arista Russian River Valley Pinot Noir- Vibrant raspberries and juicy cherries dominate the palate by an uber supple texture with hints of cocoa and cola nut.
2014 Arista Toboni Vineyard Pinot Noir- Seductive single vineyard Pinot Noir from the heart of Russian River Valley. The richness of this wine has hedonistic powers while minerals and ripe earth balances the wine and enchants the palate. The Toboni has the most savory herbs and baking spices but still delivers that signature kirsch and sweet RRV fruit that we all know and love.
2014 Arista Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir- A head turning Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley! Wild mixberry drives the wine with layers of dense forest floor, black cherry and cedar. The Ferrington offers beautiful complexity, silky smooth richness and incredible length.
The next flight was a grand blind tasting with some of Graileys’ best blind tasters!
1991 Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet- Deep golden hue. Rich, mouthcoating texture that delivers candied citrus, overripe orchard fruit, dense baking spice, ripe honey and wild field of yellow flowers, pollen, honey bees, herbs, dirt and all!
1997 Thomas Moillard Romanee St. Vivant- A captivating Grand Cru with rustic brambly dark fruit and dried herbs, sanguine, peppercorn medley and hints of sweet olives. Blood orange zest, iron and dry clay in the finish.
1982 Ducru Beaucaillou- This started as a solid Bordeaux with power, concentrated black fruit and edgy herbs but as it opened in the glass, solid turned into handsome and by the end it was night, the wine fully awoke and became just flat out sexy! Every element melded together into one beautiful, seamless glass.
2000 Clos l’Eglise- Wow! Dark, juicy black and blue fruit dominated the palate with dense layers of liquid granite, rich violets, cocoa, mocha, espresso beans, vanilla and cream.
1986 Lafite- I don’t think my glass had quite woken up. Everything was dark, deep and condensed. The pedigree was transparent in its structure. AJ noted blackpepper and plum with spectacular notes of sandalwood and pine. This was the most powerful bottle on the table.
2004 Paul Jaboulet Crozes Hermitage- The surprise of the night. This Crozes Hermitage has the power that mimics a great Gevrey Chambertin, the rusticity of a smoking Morey St. Denis; overall, showing an elegance that mirrored a good bottle of somewhat youthful red Burgundy. The vintage was called by our members practically right to the month and day of release! Signature notes of black olives, bramble and garrigue were overlooked as softer red cherry, iron and rose had us captivated.
1996 Dom Perignon Oenotheque- This was a stunner as always, yet this bottle showed more advanced flavors than the ’96 Oenotheque I have experienced before. Rich in style with ripe fruit in the core and bracing minerals that gives this Champagne it’s power.
Mark closed the fantastic night with a stunning bottle of 2013 Arista Banfield Vineyard Chardonnay. A mere baby compared to the wines we had all night, but a gorgeous one at that! Vibrant overall with bright lemons, apple blossoms, rich spice and somewhat nervy minerality. This would be a great bottle to revisit with at least another 5 years time in the cellar.
What a great night!
Other Good bottles that were opened…
2012 Chase Hayne Vineyard Zinfandel Reserve
2014 Jean Foillard Morgon Corcelette
2012 Quintus de Dragon
2009 CVNE Imperial Rioja Reserva