Last Friday signaled that we are officially back after about a couple of weeks of quieter nights as most of our members spent quality time with families over the holidays. And our members who walked in last did not hold back popping corks on some cracking wines. The Bordeaux selection commanded the night with excellent showing throughout. Louis R shared his powerful 1990 Pichon Baron which delivered intense bouquet of blackcurrant, roasted espresso, graphite, and toasty vanilla. The palate was chewy and dense with high levels of ripe and supple tannins. This wine continued to evolve in glass gaining more notes of tobacco, dried herbs, incense and smoky graphite and becoming richer and smoother in mouthfeel. Tremendous length. Next up was a 2000 Chateau Monbousquet opened by our newest member Mike F. I decanted the wine about an hour before he and his wife showed up and the wine was paying back with a harmonious and mellow palate displaying notes of rich cassis, blackberries, spice and plums. Touch of earth and mocha. Vibrant and fleshy. Tasted next to the 90 PB, this seemed more elegant in stature with silkier tannins and great harmony. This is in a great place right now. Cynthia C walked in next and asked what she wanted to drink… “Just surprise me”, she quipped. And Simon dutifully fished a 1990 Angelus from the cellar. Right out of the bottle, there was an explosion of ripe plums, black raspberries, black cherries, licorice, currants, vanilla, dark chocolate and toasted mocha undertones. Opulent and densely structured with super fine tannins and exquisite texture. This continued evolving as it sat in the glass gaining richness and viscosity. Extremely long finish with complex oak nuances – licorice, coffee and mocha. This was my WOTN. My man Mike M generously handed me a glass of something red. I nosed it and the wine’s intense smoky cassis, sweet blackberries and cedar notes took me to Chateau Pavie initially. I tasted it and there was a subtle but distinct pencil shavings/graphite along with the dark berries and oaky undertones. The bold, rich and concentrated palate took me to 2000 Leoville-Poyferre. Time for reveal: a 2000 Pichon Baron. Thanks, Mike!