Graileys Fine Wines Blog

Opus One sure knows how to throw a great party! We were all thrilled and completely honored to host Opus One for their 2012 release party last Saturday and what a great night it turned out to be. We showcased a fantastic lineup of Opus One, highlighting vintages 1997, 2005, 2009, 2011 and of course 2012, finishing up the Opus line with their NV Overture Proprietary blend. The talented and nationally esteemed chef Sharon Hage prepared delicious hors d’oeurves followed by an exceptional dinner as members sipped on 2006 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne before sitting down at our grand table that shot down the length of our front room. The ’06 Cristal was gorgeous! Bright and generous layers of ripe strawberry, raspberry and black cherry with ultra fine bubbles. It hit all the perfect notes I love about fine Champagne: vibrant fruit, hints of toasted biscuit and spurts of fresh lemon zest elegantly composed in a creamy-mouth coating structure with a long casted shadow.

1997 Opus One- was the first and the star of the night! Elegant, seamless, profound and powerful- this vintage was just absolutely spellbinding!

2005 Opus One- showed deeper tones of densely integrated dark wild fruit and turned soil. The tannins were ripe, sweet and a little fleshy while the palate was densely composed with concentrated black fruit, charcoal, matured leather, sweet cigar and rounded vanilla bean spice while chocolate covered licorice, tobacco and dried violets wove in and out.

2009 Opus One- Was also highly regarded in the lineup. Taking out the 1997, the ‘09 was a strong contender for being the star competing with the 2012. Open, juicy and lusciously smooth; every element was lively and showing at a really great spot right now. I’m always intrigued to revisit wines at a more evolved state, but man this ’09 was smoking!

2011 Opus One- a great bottle of wine that unfortunately got sandwiched between famously stellar vintages. Give the ’11 a fair try… better yet, have someone blind you on it and it will receive the proper appreciation it truly deserves.

2012 Opus One- If the ’97 didn’t steal the lime-light; the 2012 was the winning bottle by two extra votes. (…there could have been a some one or two who voted with both their hands on this one…) The 2012 was the whole package and more: powerful, seductive, elegant and polished.

Opus One Overture- was near brooding but had just enough structure for it not to be. Overture is a blend of vintages from the best of Opus One and you could tell by the muscular structure that this was coming from Opus One. Dark plum and juicy mulberry, deep earth, smoke, leather and rich herbs were competing amongst each other to be top dog in the palate.

As if the night was not grand enough, we would not have honored old Lee Grailey if we did not cap the night with a finale bottle. 1940 Chateau Sisqueille Rivesaltes was opened and shared as we raised glasses in thanks to Opus One for being such an incredible host and to wish a fellow member and dear friend ‘Happy Birthday’. This 75 year old wine was incredible! What a very rare treat to try a 75 year old wine that lived a perfect life in the estate and then came to us. Reminiscent of a polished vintage tawny port, with a deep sleep in the cellar for 75 years, everything was seamless: honey, toasted maple, and figs while preserved lemon and spiced kumquat jam gave just enough acid to cut through the sweetness.

The 2012’s (far right) are not even labeled yet!! They will arrive early October, make sure to order yours today!

…What a great night…

Graileys never fails to impress me. Last week we opened ridiculous aged bottlings of the old world and new. The 1971 Bruno Giacosa Barolo was my surprise wine of the night! Still incredibly fresh, intact and ultra-silky! Tart and juicy wild red fruit, hints of blood orange zest and pith, old leather, dusty spice, dirty mushrooms and herbs with an ethereal finish. The tannins were finally softened after 44 years but created a structure within the wine that blew us away!

I wanted to chew the sludge… don’t judge me…

1986 Pol Roger Cuvee Winston Churchill  Brut Champagne- austere and funky at first on the nose, but once it opened up in the glass it was fantastic! Wonderfully toasty, perfectly oxidized and profoundly flavored with layers of preserved lemon and caramelized banana with hints of white mushrooms, old spice and toasted yeast rolls.

The Graileys House Bordeaux was 26 years young and going strong! The 1989 Pichon Lalande was full bodied, rich textured with generous fruit and equally powerful layers of graphite, leather, sweet tobacco, deep herbs and minerals. This bad boy was showing beautifully, but he can go for another 10 years!

Of course the 2012 Futo 5500 Cabernet Sauvignon was a complete knock out and one not to be missed if you can get your hands on it! Concentrated, powerful and in your face with all the right moves, this Cabernet was the diamond on the crown!

The 2003 Blankiet Paradise Hills Vineyard Merlot was a killer wine to finish off the week! It was incredibly concentrated in pure blue and black fruit: juicy plums, rich currants and black cherry liquor. It was ridiculously velvety in texture and loaded with chocolate covered espresso beans, exaggerated notes of violets and smoke. From the vineyards behind Dominus, this Merlot was slutty in the most elegant way: truly a Turley Wine from nose to finish.

Other fantastic bottles…

1979 Pichon Lalande

2003 Shirvington McLarent Vale Shiraz

1995 Pichon Baron

2001 Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace Cabernet Sauvginon

1981 BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvginon

2011 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru

1989 Cheateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Papes

2012 Futo OV SL

2012 Futo 5500

1989 Veuve Clicquot Cave Privee Champagne

2004 Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne

2012 Morlet La Proportion Doree Napa ‘Bordeaux Blanc’