Last week, we opened up some bottles of wine that were a little out of our norm; but what really is the norm at Graileys when it comes to fine wines?
NV Andre Clouet Champagne Brut Rose Block 3- From the Grand Cru Village of Bouzy that is famous for powerful Pinot Noir, this 100% Pinot Noir Rose Champagne is F-ing awesome. Don’t worry; professional wine-terminology is up ahead. A small percentage of still red wine is also blended in this Champagne as one can tell before taking a sip in its deeply extracted color. But once the Champagne hits the palate the structure is broad and the red fruit is loud. The bubbles are richly creamy as it coats the entire mouth with candied strawberries and cream, juicy raspberry, toasted almond skin and rounded spice. This Champagne tastes as sexy as the label looks: generous yet exquisitely balanced, Andre Clouet is a great Champagne find.
1990 Druid Wines Meursault Le Limozin- Second time trying this fantastic Meursault in a week! And both times it showed beautifully with intense structure and powerful, complex flavors of preserved orange and lemon peel, baked golden apples, toasted ginger, caramelized pears and layers of rich spice. There was a dense note of forest floor, rich cream, wild mushrooms and roasted nuts that made a striking impression in the mid-palate that I think I can still taste today.
2007 Hirsch Gaisberg Riesling- Under-ripe apricots and persimmons jumped out of this glass with salty and flinty notes that had me going back for more. Loads of juicy white peach, fresh ginger, wet stones and hints of honey were just a few of the plethora of flavors in this vortex glass of amazing Austrian Riesling.
2007 Santo Tomas ‘Unico’ Cabernet-Merlot, Baja California, Mexico- This wine was a delicious surprise. Not to be confused with Vega Sicilia’s ‘Unico’, and definitely not from our typical wine region that is opened at Graileys; but from one of Mexico’s finest and oldest wine estates, Santo Tomas. Perfectly harmonious layers of dark chocolate, black raspberry liquor, charcoal, fresh vanilla bean and espresso grinds were all densely packed in this chewy, full bodied wine that any California and Bordeaux fanatic would appreciate. If you want to try a premier wine from Mexico, Mexico’s ‘Unico’ is the way to go.
1990 Chateau Figeac St. Emilion- Mind blown! Wild herbs, toasted cedar, a fully loaded spice box of red curry, clove, nutmeg, black tea, red licorice, red cherry, dehydrated black berry, preserved plums, dried rose petals, rusty iron, dried blood orange rind, old leather, soft tobacco, dried forest floor… I can go on and on… the ’90 Figeac was absolutely stunning.