The last two days have set new standards here at Graileys. I mean, who else drinks 1989 Mouton two days in a row? And since today is Friday, who’s to say there will not be another 1989 Mouton waiting to be popped open? To borrow a client’s comment, “we’re consuming these wines like they’re jelly beans.” And who doesn’t like jelly beans, right? Plus, we met the coolest NASA rocket scientist who brought us our very own moondust.
We did have an early and good start yesterday with the 2006 Chandon de Briailles Corton Les Bressandes I brought in for a client. This was open for business; stunning nose of wild strawberries, cherries, and cinnamon spice. The palate had a density and concentration that never felt heavy; rather, it was just sumptuous. Vibrant acidity. Persistent finish. Very primary right now with all that pure fruit making it attractive to drink now. The balance, acidity, and fruit warrant further development in the cellar. Up next was a 1989 Lynch Bages courtesy of John W. This was very expressive straight out of the bottle. Smoky and loaded with black fruits along with licorice, dried tobacco, and espresso beans. Opulent, dense and full-bodied with very well-integrated tannins. This still tasted youthful but I wasn’t giving up my glass. The wine’s supple texture and generous fruit make it a pleasure to drink now yet Lynch Bages is likewise known for its ageability. Next to walk in the door did Bill N who was hosting a group of investors for a pitch meeting/wine- tasting event in our back room. After a short blurb on the trio of fantastic wines they were tasting the group went about their business. In the meantime, we opened a 1995 Faiveley Clos Vougeot in the front room. Personally, this was a disappointing bottle. Cherry and a hint of vegetal note. Austere palate with a short finish. I let my glass sit for a few hours hoping the wine just needed some air. Sadly, it got worse. After the business meeting, we were all gathered in the front bar over a bottle of 1992 Abreu Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon which was beautiful. This wine showed mature notes of leather, earth, and spice with a core of black fruit and still vibrant acidity. Very fine tannins. Randomly, Simon asks one of the guys around the bar what he did for a living. His answer? “Oh, I just do rockets. I am a rocket scientist for NASA.” And, oh, by the way, would you like to touch the coolest thing ever? He pulls out this vial of something that was soft as snow but granular, like the finest salt on earth. We all instinctively tried to sniff it until our rocket scientist warned us not to smell it because apparently we were dealing with very clingy particles. AJ comments that he needed to wash his hands until he was matter-of-factly advised it can’t be washed off either. Great, we just got moon-dusted! Oh, well, if this blog suddenly goes black, you all know who the culprit is. In celebration of our momentary lives, we next tasted a 1989 Mouton-Rothschild and a 1990 Pichon Baron next to each other. The 1990 Pichon Baron came out swinging impressing everyone with its flavor intensity, richness, and a gorgeous rich texture. There’s tons of cassis, blackberry, black cherry, along with licorice and roasted herbs. Next to the 1990 Baron, the 1989 Mouton seemed even more elegant than I remember from the night before. It had a slow start but with air, this wine blossomed in the glass with exquisite notes of blackcurrant, plums, spice, and gravel notes. It was seamless and so even across the palate yet remaining elegant and never heavy. What a fantastic experience tasting these two side-by-side and treat to drink two stellar bottles of 1989 Mouton two nights in a row! To cap the night off, we revisited an opened bottle of 2009 Morey-Coffinet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles left over from the pitch meeting in the back. This wine was markedly better than when we first opened it. It showed white peach notes, citrus, and a floral undertone on the nose leading to a rich, creamy palate that was beautifully balanced by a vibrant acidity. Great, persistent length with a touch of butterscotch on the finish.