By: AJ McClellan
Saturday night we had a private party with Sharon Hage catering a seven course dinner in the back room. The event was wonderful, the wines were perfect and the food was superb. I think Saturday was one of the best events we have had at Graileys, and just to see what wines were served…
2000 Vega Sicillia Unico – The Unico was big on the nose with sawdust, cedar, dill, tobacco, and dark fruits. The palate was huge with powerful dark fruits and overwhelming wood. Needs another 5 or 10 years in the bottle to calm down.
1989 Krug – I love old Krug, the 89 was just starting to get there showing golden apple, honeysuckle, sourdough, and a great minerality. The palate had the perfect amount of effervescence with beautiful balance and a complex finish.
1998 Jean Grivot Richebourg – I was slightly disappointed with this bottle. I am a big fan of Jean Grivot but this Richebourg never came around for me, I gave the wine almost 6 hours in the glass and it just never opened up. Muted Black and red cherries with subtle earth and forest floor. There was a touch of minerality on the finish but the wine was not giving off much at all…
1995 Remoissenet Montrachet – Beautiful nose of asian pear, quince, lemon zest and white flowers. The palate was full of limestone and schist with floral notes and a finish of ripe tropical fruit.
1989 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano di Neive Riserva – This was my wine of the night. The nose was Lady Gaia reincarnate with Autumn leaves, tilled soil, forest floor, and dry crushed flowers. The palate was a wonderful montage of dry blue and black berries covered in moss and served over a bed of tobacco leaves covered in dark chocolate curls.
1986 La Mission Haut Brion – Classic Bordeaux with earthy tones matched perfectly with saddle leather, plums, anise, and pipe tobacco. The palate was soft and in a perfect drinking window with a long balanced finish.
1994 Peter Michael Les Pavots – While the La Mission was a great example of Bordeaux the Peter Michael was a wonderful expression of what California can do when done right. The nose was ripe and sweet showing black cherry cola, sweet milk chocolate, coco bean, and vanilla. The palate was silky with ripe tannins and a smooth finish.
2001 d’Yquem – This was my second time to try this wine and I must say that it is absolutely heavenly! Quince, apricot, and kiwi on the nose with honeysuckles, lilies, limestone, and white peaches. The palate was sweet and syrupy with a finish that lasted for at least two minutes.