By: AJ McClellan
There is something about the week that Dave comes into town that makes people want to come by and open fantastic bottles of wine. This week was off to a great start with Dave fresh off the plane and a table full of members the corks started to fly and the wine started to flow.
1992 Chehalem Pinot Noir – This was an old Graileys wine that we had stashed away in the cellar. After blowing the dust off the bottle I popped the cork and was surprised to discover a lively wine full of old world must and dusty fruit. The palate had a lively acidity coupled with an earthy backbone and spicy finish.
2000 Leoville Barton – The Leoville Barton was still very young with ripe black fruits and a tight tannic core, but after some time in the decanter the wine started to loosed up and show notes of cedar, vanilla, lavender, and chocolate. This wine has a lot of potential but needs another 5 – 10 years in the bottle.
1977 Latour – This is the fourth time that I have had this bottle and it has gotten better and better every time that I have had it. Coming from an off vintage the expatiations were low for this First Growth but upon opening the wine was showing every bit like the title that it carries. Great earth, forest floor, barnyard, and compost soil on the nose. The palate had a core of dusty red fruits – raspberry, currants, and red cherries. The finish was complete and lengthy with tobacco, earth, tobacco, and clove. The wine was a little light on the palate but all in all it was drinking great right now.
2007 Rivers Marie Cabernet Sauvignon – This wine, by Thomas Rivers Brown, has been making a big splash in the wine community recently. I have been following Thomas Rivers Brown for a while and I enjoy the wine he makes and given the opportunity to try this Cult Cab I jumped at the chance. Big chocolate covered cherries, with loads of spice and a backing of gripping tannins that are well integrated. The wine was a pleasure to drink with classic New World jamminess but not overdone. For the price point this is a great little wine.
1983 Pichon Lalande – Classic Pichon. Tilled earth with sweet tobacco smoke, dried currants, cracked earth, and crushed stone on the nose. The palate was silky with cracked pepper, clove, vanilla bean, cedar, pine nuts, plums, and cobblestone. Long finish and weighty complexity.
1994 Marcassin Upper Barn Gauer Vineyard – Marcassin Chardonnays are quick becoming my favorite New World white wine. Slightly closed upon opening but after half an hour in the glass the wine really started to flourish. White summer flowers with caramel and butterscotch spilling form the nose. The palate was chewy with more honey, grilled peaches topped with vanilla ice cream, caramelized pears, white roses, and a sprinkle of nutmeg. The long lasting finish that I have come to know and love from Marcassin was there and going strong for 45+ seconds.