By: AJ McClellan
Yesterday was almost too much fun at Graileys. We had a few members in and a private party in the back room. While the back room was conducting business we popped a few epic bottles up front.
The star of the show was hands down the 1999 Bond Melbury, the wine was stunning with a soft plush mouth feel and harmonious balance.
2000 Bouchard Montrachet – This was a bit confusing when we first opened it up. The nose gave notes that would suggest a great Montrachet – Flint, limestone, lime zest, and white flowers. But once you got the wine on your palate it changed completely to be rounder and with notes of melon and honey leading you to the belief that you are drinking a Charlemagne… After some time in the glass the wine sorted itself out and the palate followed suit with the nose but it was a very interesting journey.
1996 La Jota Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon – This bottle was showing very well. The tannins were perfect for drinking and while they could of stood for a few more years I feel like we hit the sweet spot with this wine. Soft red fruits with clove and cedar undercurrents.
2004 Godolphin Shiraz – We popped this bottle and decanted it. After we poured the first glass we were ready to send it down the drain. No fruit, no earth, no anything… The wine was completely muted with no expression at all. We went back and revisited the wine about 90 minutes later and the bottle had exploded in the decanter! Full of brutish black fruits and dynamite cooking spice notes this wine was spectacular once it opened up.
1999 Bond Melbury – I have been on the fence with Bond wines as of late. Some have been good, some have been lacking, but none have had the “wow” factory that their pedigree would suggest. This bottle blew me away! The fruit was still young after 14 years in the bottle but exceedingly vibrant. The acidity balanced out the tannins perfectly and animated the wine on the palate.