This week at Graileys, we have opened and tasted too many good bottles to not give them solid recognition. Each day had its own star so this blog is going to be a little different…
Monday: 2000 Billecart Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois Billecart Brut Champagne
A riveting Champagne! Flavors were insanely defined with bright orchard fruit and a touch of preserved sweet lemon skin along with a hint of white cherry pith, toasted hazelnut and soft brioche. The minerality is beautifully clean and pure.
Tuesday: 2012 E16 ‘Bowland Ranch’ Bennett Valley Pinot Noir
This is a compelling cool-climate Pinot Noir from Bennett Valley. Brilliant red and black cherry within this killer smokey layer with exotic spice, great minerality, beautifully balanced acidity and a lengthy smokey finish- this is the perfect bottle of Pinot Noir that will go great with just about any meal.
Wednesday: 1986 Chateau Haut Brion
No vintage can stop the great and mighty Haut Brion! This beauty was absolutely breathtaking! The fruit was so alive with dark, dried berries that were very seductive in the glass. Ripples of dried herbs, deep forest floor and old leather seamlessly weave in and out of the palate with waves of tobacco, spice box and crushed granite. The finish just goes on and on and on. This was my final sip of the night, before we turned out the lights.
Thursday: 2012 Vine Hill Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
I think I just found my new Napa jam! Don’t get me wrong, I’m still in love with Tusk, Futo and Entre Nous, but Vine Hill Ranch is my new Cabernet crush that I can’t stop thinking about! We tried this bottle last night next to some of my other favorites from California and Bordeaux and VHR was the bottle we all kept going back to! Masculine in structure, this Cabernet is commanding in the glass with near-brooding black fruit, smoke, crushed slate and wild spice. Layers of star anise, blackberry liquor and fresh vanilla beans are abundant in this deliciously dense Cab. The texture was also impressive as every part of the mouth is coated with bold flavors and sweet tannins that lead to a long finish that will have you reminiscing about your first glass.
Next up for tonight: Tom Futo of Futo Wines…. I’ve been looking forward to this all month!