By: AJ McClellan
We had David Patrick Launay come into Graileys yesterday to taste us on his 2006 release of Gruaud Larose, 2007 release of Larose de Gruaud, and 2006 release Larose de Gruaud. The wines were drinking great, as one of my favorite 2nd growths of Saint Julien I was very happy to see the continued quality of the wine.
2006 Gruaud Larose – Big and bold but with a silkyness to the tannins that tells me this wine will age very well. The fruit was dark and ripe balanced very well with smoke and leather and a great mineral note.
2007 Larose de Gruaud – While it is a little lighter in style it is much more approachable while young. Great fruit with excellent structure and elegance.
2006 Larose de Gruaud – Bolder in style with darker fruits. The tannins are a little rougher but that will smooth out with time.
1990 Gruaud Larose – I was very impressed with this wine. The nose was plush with great dark fruits and freshly tilled earth. The palate showed great spice with subtle leather and the great Bordeaux funk.
2006 Rivers Marie – Classic Thomas Rivers Brown wine. Great balance with huge fruit and rich concentrated flavors.
2007 Colome Reserva – This was a very good little Malbec. Excellent balance with jammy black and blue fruits followed by fresh flowers and cooking spices.
1993 Giacosa Garanitta – For a bottom of the line Giacosa this wine drinks like a wine twice its price. Classic hard tannins with sour cherry and cigar butt. The fruit was light and elegant with a mountain of tannins backing it up.
2006 Cheval de Andes – We blinded Simon on this wine and he called is Corra (one of my favorite Cali Cabs) considering that this wine is half the price of Corra I will take that as a compliment. Great extracted fruits with structured tannins and great balance.
1997 Jarvis Merlot Magnum – Unfortunately this wine showed alot of asphalt road and burnt rubber tires.
2006 Bodega Chacra Treinta y Dos – A great bottle of wine showing bright red fruits and huge spice. There was enough earth to make me think of a a great Burgundian wine but the ripe fruit and huge spice makes you think twice as to the origin of this wine.
2007 Copain Tous Ensemble Pinot Noir – Bright red fruits with a backing of smoke. A bigger style of wine for a Pinot but still retaining a great balance and excellent complexity
1975 Silver Oak Alexander Valley – This Silver Oak was drinking surprisingly well. Still plenty of fruit with a subtle backing of tannins and a long finish of tobacco and spice.
1999 Hudelot Noellat Romanee st Vivant – Classic Noellat, great earthy minerality, well structured fruit, laser like acidity, and excellent balance.
1992 Dominus – This was my wine of the night. When I was blinding this wine I first called it a great left bank Bordeaux but upon deeper inspection the tell tale jalapeño that I always get from Dominus came out and keyed me off. I called the wine 94 Dominus.