Last Friday was one for the books… again. There was a parade of awesome juice opened last Friday that these wines below are just the highlights of that evening.
Simon was in the UK for about a month and I suppose he missed a good ‘ol California Cabernet because as soon as 5pm struck, he was behind the bar popping the cork on a 1994 Colgin Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon. This was a compelling wine demanding your full attention with its bold, boisterous aromas of blueberry/black raspberry jam, blackberry, licorice, mocha intermingling with whiffs of lavender and dill. The palate was equally riveting replicating the same richness and expressive character. Unbelievably seamless and expansive on the palate seemingly gaining in richness and weight as flows from the front to the back. The refined, ripe and sweet tannins make this wine sumptuous to drink now. Ah-mazing! And just for good measure, a second bottle was opened and it was just as impressive.
Matt J walked in and promptly opened a red Burgundy. It was poured blind around the table and we had fun dissecting the wine. Gorgeous perfume emanated from the glass; red cherries, red plums, iron, dried flowers, Asian spice and undergrowth. The palate was structured, meaty and showed a darker fruit profile reminiscent of red cherries and a dusty component. Beautiful freshness and vibrant displaying a long, succulent finish. I thought this was an Hudelot-Noellat Romanee-St-Vivant or Richebourg while MM called this a 1996 red Burgundy. Simon, on the other hand, was going back and forth between Musigny and Richebourg settling on 1987 Drouhin Musigny. This turned out to be a 1996 Anne Gros Richebourg.
As we sipped the last of the gorgeous and vibrant Richebourg, Simon and Greg went to the cellar and fished for the next bottle. Again, this was tasted blind. This next red sported a dark, saturated ruby core and an opulent nose packed with cassis, chocolate, violets, plums and black raspberries. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate with a vibrant floral, red berry nuance that lent this wine a ‘pretty’ dimension. Resolved tannins giving the wine a rounded mouthfeel. Long finish marked by a roasted coffee/dark chocolate note. This displayed a pronounced floral nuance and expressive aromatics that it was easy to call this a Cabernet Franc-dominated right bank Bordeaux. This turned out to be a 2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia Magnum.
As is de rigeur here at Graileys, the situation only gets crazier as the night progresses… so it was no surprise that a magnum of 1989 Latour somehow materialized on the table. Pronounced notes of cedar, incense, floral, leather and cigar box laced with blackberry jam and sweet oak nuance. Full-bodied, smooth textured and unbelievably fresh.