By: Simon Roberts
A few good men gathered for the N.B.A. final Thursday evening, The usual suspects huddled around the table with everyone looking forward to the game but me ( an Englishman, football fanatic at that, and I mean real football) I did get sidetracked with the wines tho, it actually took my mind off the game….you score..then I score..never quite worked out this basketball malarky , everything happens in the last two mins.. ahh well… Some fantastic wines have been poured. I have posted some notes from one of our members, but only in America do you get DRC, Burgers and Lala’s..
05 DRC Grands Echezeaux - stunner. Maybe 30 minutes to open up, but this was roses, soy, violets and strawberry – sandalwood, spicebox and bright red fruit. Depth and purity, crafted beautifully and was pleasing from beginning to a very long finish. Heads and shoulders above everything red on the table. Surprised at how accessible this was right now.
89 Hudelot Noellat Les Suchot – Sort of a head to head vs the Meo – funky french nose, with cherries and rasberry – this particular wine was my “aha” burgundy moment several years ago. Just simply outclassed but still very good.
89 Meo Camuzet Aux Brulees – another fantastic wine drinking so well. Deeper and darker, almost brooding with such intensity. Really needed some air time but then kicked it up a notch.
1994 La Turque – did not show well at first but gradually got better. Bacon, meaty smoky garrique. A little iron and bloody note. Still fairly tannic but a nice wine. We went back to this wine the next day and it was singing! Just goes to show what a little time of opening up can do for a wine…
Double D after tasting the Meo.
1988 Leflaive Puligny Montrachet Les Pucelles – omfg. This is what I love about white burgundy with some age. Showing tertiary characteristics. Honeysuckle, flowers and stony, but also gave a caramelization note like a creme brulee without the custard. Fantastic
1996 Denis Mugneret Père et Fils Richebourg - corked
1995 Fontodi Flaccianello – excellent – did not last long, great intensity and acidity
1995 Le Percole Torte - I’ve had the 06 of this and was impressed – the aged version was nice ad would have gone well with some pasta
1994 Seghesio Barolo La Villa – excellent – killer pepper and tar notes with a floral nose
2003 Williams Selyem Westside Road – had a little heat, but very concentrated. 3 people noted some spritziness that did not blow off after it had been opened a while
2000 Arcadian Pisoni – this was just killer – never would have guessed central coast PN – asian spice, beautiful nose with cinnamon and clove with cherries. As good or better than the last several bottles.
Above is P Rob with his DRC to finish off the night
2005 La Nerthe – didnt spend much time with this one but will note it was drinking well
1997 Carre-Courbin Volnay Clos de la Cave des Ducs - bracing acidity, excellent aromatics, fruit starting to fade slightly but a very enjoyable Volnay
2007 Freeman Sonoma Coast PN – hard to even compare since we drank this last as we ra out of wine!. Classic Freeman, nice fruit, clearly well made. I think this was my first 07 from Ed and look forward to drinking them on their own