We finished last week with a bang! And when I say bang, I mean 1995 Latour and ’95 Ducru Beaucaillou. The 95 Latour showed more profound restraint than the Ducru Beaucaillou with red and black currant showing dominance over the leather, black pepper and tobacco. This Latour should evolve even more so with another 10 years in the cellar! The ’95 Ducru showed in a more hedonistic fashion with multifaceted layers of blueberry, black currant, rich violet and bitter dark chocolate within the crushed granite, turned soil and old leather.
We also opened a 1999 Alsace Rotenberg VV Pinot Gris by Zind Humbrecht and it was awesome! Off-dry in style with flashes of honey, sweet lemons and lime candy, tangerine zest and ripe melon. The sweetness was cut by its sharp minerality and slightly rerouted by its acidity, while the finish was just as riveting as the flavors found in the mid-palate. A great wine find for wine geeks and a stellar wine to pair with a plethora of cuisines.
On the juicier side, the 2012 El Nido El Nido was the big boy of the night. For those who seek the fruit, you will want to get in on this Monastrell/Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Jumilla in Spain. It was monstrous, chewy, and in your face with fruit just as black as it was opaque with over-ripe black currant, black liquor, and rounded spice. We also opened a 2007 Rasa Vineyards Q.E.D. Quod Erat Demonstrandum, a Walla Walla Syrah dominant blend. It was really complex with big bright fruit, but loaded with kirsch, black truffles, deep earth and roasted spice. There were hints of lavender and meat with each sip, but for the most part, the smoke, black pepper and deep graphite was what blew me away.
Other Fantastic Bottles…
2009 Guigal Condrieu
2006 La Peira Terrasses du Larzac
2006 Quill Howell
98 Dom Perignon
2012 Ghost Block Estate Cabernet
2009 Renato Rate Marcenasco Barolo
2008 Dom. De la Janasse CDP
2012 Juan Gill 18 Meses Jumilla
Krug Rose brut
1976 Serge Mathieu Avirey Lingey (Les Riceys) Brut Prestige
2008 Kosta Brown RRV Pinot Noir
2011 Leroy Puligny Montrachet Sous le Puits
2010 Switchback Ridge 100 YR Anniv. Cabernet Sauvignon
2002 Kistler Dutton Ranch RRV Chard
1993 Opus One
2007 Beringer Private Reserve
1999 Billecart Salmon Nicolas Francois
2012 Lillian Syrah
1989 Parusso Barolo Bussia