By: AJ McClellan
You know it is a big deal when Dave flies into town especially for an event… We got the party started in true Graileys style with some great bottles plenty of good laughs. While we were waiting for the tasting to start our members could not help themselves and we had quite the lineup before we got to the main event…
2006 Pavie – The 06 Pavie was drinking like a champ right out the gate. Thick black fruit with plums, boysenberries, and blackberry jam on the nose. The palate was beautiful with silky tannins that were surprisingly supple for the youth of the wine. This bottle was drinking more like a great bottle of Harlan than a prince of the Right Bank. Interesting…
2007 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon – Great bottle of wine with soft wild blueberries mixing with spice and lavender. The tannins were like melted chocolate clinging to the palate with a lingering finish.
2007 Caymus Special Select Cabernet Sauvignon – This is one standards of Napa Valley. Dark cassis with currants and nutmeg backed by cedar and pine needles on the nose. The palate was dark and brooding with soft tannins and a finish of cigar box and vanilla.
2005 Nicolas Rossignol Pommard – Matt had the best descriptor for this wine – Ground corn nuts over a cherry starburst sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg… Can I add any more? I think not…
1997 Ornellaia – Ornellaia is always one of my favorite wines reminding me of fall with dried leaves and freshly broken twigs. There is a light breeze of sharp acidity in the air carrying the scent of dried currants, fresh forest, and baked plum pie sprinkled with cinnamon to the nose. The palate is a piece of artwork with splashes of dried rose petals interwoven with mocha that has been finished off with a touch of warm vanilla. The finish was extraordinary with allspice and cinnamon lingering for a long 45 seconds.
2007 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay – This is a great everyday drinker with toasty oak rolling into a dollop of butter mixed in with peaches and pears. A great acidity helps the wine to retain balance and a spicy finish puts the finishing touches on this beauty.