AJ McClellan
One of the great benefits of being a member at Graileys is having the opportunity to taste a slew of great wines when the Reps come into town. Today was one such day, a tasting of their newest and greatest wines.
The members had gotten a head start with two great bottles already popped and poured around the table.
2004 Floridene – Great little white Bordeaux with a nose of tropical fruits and gravely soil. The palate had hints of pineapple and Washington red apple, with crumbled white rock and a finish of peach pith.
2006 Favia Cerro Sur – Always a favorite with the majority of this wine being Cabernet Franc, it is unique and a delight to drink. Big plum and black currant up front with a lavender and clove backing. Tobacco and milk chocolate on the palate with purple flowers and wet soil minerality. Very soft, like melted chocolate coating the mouth.
Then our reps came in and laid out a feast of fun wines for us to try.
2007 Betts & Scholl The O.G. – This is a terrific Grenache from Australia with a bright fruit forward nose of red cherries and red currant with a light tint of red roses. The palate was a little hot but this is to be expected from Australia, and after some time in the glass the heat gradually dissipated. On the other hand there was a unusually exciting acidity that evened out the wine nicely and brought it back into balance. This wine reminds me of the song “Strawberry Fields” from the Beatles.
NV Gloria Ferrer Va de Vi Sparkling Wine – Creamy pear with white flowers and a little yeast. Slightly one dimensional but good for what it is. Finish of a nice stony minerality.
2005 Chateau Preuillac – Dried red fruit and overripe plum with a slight minerality of dried dirt and crumbled boulder.
2007 Finca N Malbec – Big tannic monster with blueberries, black cherries, and ripe plums. Despite the heavy tannins the finish was soft and pleasant, working out to have a nice balance.
2005 Chateau Taillefer – Classic Bordeaux with dirt and graphite and a dusty plum. The wine had great balance and finished with a long and smooth cherry mocha.
2005 Rayas Pignan CDP – Sour cherry and tart blueberries with a light rocky minerality and a back of tobacco, tar, and leather. A light smoke on the palate with cedar and pine needles finishing with a gamey quail and black peppercorn.