Who thought a dead monk could be so romantic?
The past week was hellishly crazy with a new cellar brought in packed with ‘50s and ‘60s Bordeaux as well as a vertical of Dom Perignon and Cristal. So, yes, romance was just what the doctor ordered.
We first opened a 1982 Dom Perignon on Friday before we brought in the cellar. This bottle’s elegant notes of brioche, marzipan and roasted apples along with a vivid and refined effervescence and a silky texture was an excellent preview of what was to come from this cellar. Complex with impressive length and freshness. A second bottle was opened on Tuesday when member Matt J stopped by to pick up his stash from this recent cellar. His bottle was just as beautiful with an intriguingly more pronounced undertone of yeast and baked bread. The effervescence also seemed more subtle relative to the first bottle. Simon followed with a bottle of 1985 Dom Perignon that showed more structure and power and a mineral backbone. Very high acid. Chalky with a saline component; citrus and unripe peach. To me, this seemed more tightly wound next to the 1982. A third bottle was tasted on Wednesday courtesy of member James R and this was absolutely stunning… buttery with almond paste, ginger, clove, juicy golden delicious apples. Yeasty and biscuity with a nice coffee-like finish. I thought this was the best showing from this parcel.
Although Dom P seemed to be the prevailing theme, some notable guests to this week that brought their A game included a dramatic and opulently structured 1997 D’Auvenay Meursault Les Narvaux. A parade of flavors reminiscent of buttered toast, apple custard, quince and peach were backed by a full body, mouth-coating richness and (thankfully) a vibrant acidity that kept the wine’s richness appropriately in check. This is definitely a flamboyant guest that defines grand entrance.
A fully mature 1989 Clerc Milon also stopped by… mellow and harmonious with eucaplyptus, tobacco, earth, licorice and a touch of plums. Resolved tannins, medium bodied and elegant on the palate. Drink now.
A fresh, elegant and perfumed 2002 Joseph Drouhin Clos Vougeot made a great showing this week as well. Tangy red fruits, spice, wild berries with silky tannins and long, sour cherry-tinged finish. With air, the wine’s fruit got sweeter becoming more generous and succulent on the palate. Thank you, Mary F!
This was followed by a 1979 Markham Cabernet Sauvignon that was interesting in how this was hanging on to life albeit barely. Fully mature notes with dusty black fruits, herbal notes, eucalyptus and damp earth. Drink now, no stuffing left for further aging.
A bottle of 1989 Les Forts de Latour was likewise tasted this week which showed beautiful aromatics: smoky plums, cassis, tobacco, dried herbs, black cherries and sweet spice. Fleshy and structured with the ripe cassis and licorice becoming more pronounced as the wine opened in the glass. Fully mature and in a good drinking spot.