by | December 31, 2012

Old World Charm

Imbued in holiday spirits, our member, JR walked in with a guest in tow and “great bottle” in his mind at 3PM. AJ promptly popped the cork off a bottle of 1999 Hudelot Noellat Romanee-St-Vivant to satiate his cravings. Though this bottle needed some initial swirling and air, it didn’t disappoint. Classically Hudelot-Noellat in its beautiful aromatics marrying mature notes of earth and truffle with fresh dark Pinot fruit profile of plums, black cherries, black raspberries. A touch of coffee and floral components added complexity. Impressive freshness and a finish that won’t quit coming back with plum-floral twist. Rich and full-bodied. Drinking now but clearly has the structure and balance to improve with another decade of cellaring. MF, our newest member, walked in and fished a 2000 La Conseillante from her locker. MF embraced Graileys and all the crazies that go with it with such enthusiasm, it’s invigorating. You gotta love a girl who can throw some awesome jokes and appreciate vino for what it is: something to be enjoyed with others. And boy, did we enjoy that 2000 La Conseillante! It was youthful with barely any rim variation. This was pure seduction from the expressive nose of licorice, cassis, blackcurrant, plums and some damp earth to the lush palate that was velvety textured and opulently structured. This wine is in a sweet drinking spot completely eschewing any trace of astringent tannins; simply harmonious and seamless. Persistent finish coming back with a trace of cassis and licorice. It’s such a pleasure to drink now. If you must, however, this has the balance to improve with another 10-20 years in the cellar.

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by | December 21, 2012

1961 La Chapelle, You have to be kidding!

By: AJ McClellan

Wednesday was truly a wine extravaganza! We tasted some old favorites and introduced a few new bottles into the hall of fame. It was a special night; we had Xavier Campeny in from Barcelona as well as a few other members. Xavier was the highlight of the night with great stories on just about every subject and wonderful insights on the wines we tasted.

All the wines were remarkable Wednesday but one stood out head and shoulders above the others. The 1961 Jaboulet La Chapelle has been described as one of the best wines in the world. The bottles we tried last night surely stood up to the reputation with amazing characteristics and unequaled depth. A big thank you to Courtney for opening the bottle and allow us to try it!

1982 Krug – A marvelous bottle of Champagne! The nose smelt of honeysuckles blooming next to a fresh loaf of bread smothered with almond extract. The palate had a beautiful fruit note of freshly peeled  lemons over crushed limestone.

1995 Lamy Pillot Montrachet – We popped two bottles of this bad boy and the while the first one was excellent the second was even better. A subtle note of honey underlined the fresh apricot fruit with huge minerality and a lovely finish of lilies.

1966 Pichon Lalande – This was the manifestation of mother earth in a glass. Moss and dried herbs with the faint nuance of prunes and raisins. A lovely bottle that was drinking great but was nearing the end of its life.

1989 Haut Brion – It is always a treat to drink this great wine. My first impression on the nose was a kind of campfire scent, like burning firewood. Then the wine exploded; offering massive barnyard with, red roses, clove, cinnamon, haystack, forest floor, crushed rocks, dry tobacco, and black raspberries. It took me a good ten minutes to tear myself away from the nose long enough to take a sip. The palate was as amazing as the nose getting better and better by the minute and after an hour it was astonishing how wonderful this wine had become. Dark chocolate, anises, cassis, and dense smoke evolved in the glass and added to the already overwhelmingly complex wine.

1961 Jaboulet La Chapelle – This is quite possibly the best wine I have had in my life. Even writing this tasting note makes my taste buds tingle with ecstasy as I recall the intricacies of this stunning bottle. The wine started out dubious with a nose full of burnt match stick, smoking tires, and roasted hazelnuts but after a decant and almost two hours the wine flourished turning into a majestic experience that I will never forget. The nose never lost the burnt tire nuance but it evolved to show add character to the expressive nose of budding roses, sundrenched plums, and dried cherries. After diving further into the wine you pull out notes of damp earth and dried herbs followed by crushed dusty granite and burnt hay. This bottle was heavenly on the palate with a soft velvety texture that caresses the taste buds and lingers long after the wine is gone. The notes of hazelnut and almost still linger on my palate today with the memory of freshly turned earth seared on my olfactory senses. This wine was not only a pleasure to drink it was an experience.

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by | December 19, 2012

Old School Graileys

By Simon Roberts

Nice to see old school Graileys members in yesterday, we went a bit crazy going on a Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux binge in a matter of two hours. Doc Scott opened a killer 1989 Cave Privee Rose from Veuve Cliquot which was fresh and light on its feet with nice toasty undertones. The most Texan person I ever did meet in my life, founding member John Wall regaled us with his usual philosophical views on life while drinking a very nice bottle of 2001 Vina Ardanza Rioja which showed dill,  vanillin oak, and soft red fruits which married well with  John’s interesting and complex facial expressions. Ken turned up in his scrubs as usual and popped a NV Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blancs. This bubbly is fast becoming a Graileys table wine; very impressive bottle with its soft, lovely fruit and seamless balance. Matt strolled in next. He sat back, sipped and generously shared an absolutely superb 1988 Jadot Griotte Chambertin that was smoking good… a perfect, aged Burgundy, it went well with Tom Petty’s Free Falling that was playing away in the background. Next up was Bill N who asked me for a good Bordeaux recommendation. I duly offered up a 1986 Gruaud Larose that is drinking at its peak right now. It was showing a classic St-Julien dustiness and greatness for a very fair price. Last but by no means least was Tommy H and Kelly with their 2009 Foley Merlot and 2009 Leeuwin Artist Series Chardonnay. Tom was in typical form, walking around wheeling and dealing on the phone and Ipad… chillax Tom, it’s Graileys! Kelly, on the other hand, got the memo as he dutifully sat back,  relaxed and enjoyed the wines!  It was certainly an old school Graileys evening. Tomorrow’s members’ day should bring some more fun. Watch this space for the annual blind tasting competition for the results Friday. The Judgment of Graileys is on!

 

 

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by | December 13, 2012

Classic Graileys Night.

By: AJ McClellan

Yesterday was a great Graileys day. We had a great group of members in and everyone opened some wonderful bottles of wine.

While there were a plethora of bottles on the table a few stood out…

2006 Dujac Gevrey Chambertin 1er Aux Combottes – I opened this wine and triple decanted it. After giving the wine a good beating it finally started to show signs of life, like a young tortoise peaking his nose our into the world for the first time. The wine improved rapidly over the next two hours until it finally blew up with notes of sour cherry, wet tar, lavender, clove, and sandal wood.

2009 Opus One – This bottle was surprisingly delicious. We decanted the bottle and after just a few minutes the juice was soft and supple on the palate with big plush fruit and excellent balance for a wine so young.

2001 Penfolds Bin 707 – A true Aussie wine with eucalyptus, mint, black berries, briar patch, and a intriguing finish of  pinewood and black currants.

It was hard to pick a wine of the night because everything on the table was showing so well. I fell that I should mention the 1982 Rubicon that was put on the table, a very nice earthy bottle was drank very well for the first hour but fell off after that.

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by | December 12, 2012

1997 Louis Jadot Criots-Batard-Montrachet

This was simply stunning and easily in my list of top two whites tasted this year. Expressive bouquet of toast, buttered popcorn, flinty-smoky minerality and subtle honey along with pear, yellow plums and a touch of mushroom. On the palate this was well-structured, opulent and full-bodied with impressive acidity that kept the wine lively and persistent on the complex finish. And talk about finish… it hang on for a few minutes changing from citrus to yellow plums then minerals. Again, wow!

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by | December 10, 2012

Cabernet Thursday

I had a short day last Thursday as Graileys was invaded by a team of decorators and transformed into the ultimate man cave for a private event. Fortunately, my day wasn’t short on good wines. First on the tasting table was a 2005 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon that impressed with its complexity, depth and balance. Layered aromas and flavors of coffee, graphite, blackcurrants, plums, licorice with big, ripe and firm tannins. This had great focus with an intensity derived from the firm structure and bright acidity. Persistent finish with lingering graphite and coffee notes. This is drinking well now but this has phenomenal balance and the stuffing to improve with at least another 10 years in the cellar. Next tasted was a 2000 Chateau Monbousquet. I have to say, I am becoming a fan of this little chateau from St-Emilion. This last month alone, I’ve had a 1995, 1998 and 2005 of this wine and consistently, this has over-delivered. The quality is impeccable. The 2000 is a poster child for balanced power. Yes, this is bold and massive with tons of vanilla, coffee, black cherry, blackberries, blackcurrants with a hint of menthol and tobacco leaves. There’s definitely tannins giving the wine backbone but they’re resolved giving way into a rich and velvety texture. Such a delight to drink now, but this will age for at least another two decades in the cellar.

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by | December 6, 2012

2000 Leoville-Poyferre

 

Talk about drama in a glass…

This wine was expressive and and youthful on the nose with notes of coffee and vanilla laced with ripe cassis, blackberries, black raspberries and a touch of smoky graphite. This dramatic nose was echoed on the palate with its fleshy and rich structure. Impressive balance between the concentrated fruit and the high levels of velvety, well-integrated tannins. Great acidity and persistent length. This wine’s texture and tremendous fruit makes it hard to resist now. But this definitely has the structural components as well as balance to last another decade or two in the cellar.

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by | December 3, 2012

Good Friday

I walked into a small parcel of wines laid out on our tasting table last Friday. As is customary when we acquire a new cellar, we randomly open bottles from the stash to spot check the condition of the cellar. So, at 2pm on a Friday, we popped the cork on a 1995 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon. This was initially tight with a green, herbaceous note. With some swirling and more air, this blossomed in the glass throwing layered flavors of cassis, plums, dried tobacco, cedar, and loamy soil along with the initial note of savory herbaceousness. The mouth feel became more textured and broader with air. The tannins were resolved, well-integrated and supple. Great freshness. Drinking beautifully right now. That was a good start to my Friday for sure. 6PM rolls around and Louis R walks in for a pre-wine dinner drink. He just picked up a few bottles of Bordeaux from a recent offer and generously opened and shared his bottle of 1998 Chateau Monbousquet. I have become a fan of this little chateau in St-Emilion because of its high quality-to-price ratio. Fresh and ripe with notes of plums, black cherry and blackcurrant. Touch of cedar and coffee. Resolved tannins and supple mouthfeel. Long, ripe-fruited finish. As we were admiring this wine, Andy Erickson walked in, just to say ‘hi’. Andy has become a great friend of Graileys that he makes the time to stop by whenever he’s in town. Simon popped open a 1989 Chateau Montrose to share around the bar. This had a pronounced, funky-earthy nose. This was showing mature notes of tar, leather and humus along with subtle smoke and graphite on the nose.  Full-bodied and concentrated. Still some tannins but great balance. Some more swirling revealed additional notes of blackcurrants, blackberries, tobacco, cigar box and licorice. This was a great bottle that is drinking now but this definitely has the stuffing to last another decade or two.

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by | November 30, 2012

Champagne and Sushi

 

By Simon Roberts

We have had some superb, interesting tastings in our back room at Grailey’s in the past but last night’s Champagne tasting ranks amongst the best. Seth Box, Director of Wine and Spirits education for Moet Hennessy was both fun and informative. He interacted very well with the ballsy group of members who popped for the pricey price tag for this tasting.

From Krug to Dom Perignon and vintage La Grande Dame, we waded through some stunning wines while being entertained and educated at the same time. The wines were paired with a buffet style array of sushi from my favorite  restaurant in Dallas, the best kept secret that is Oiishi. What a great pairing it was, especially the soft shell crab! One thing I did learn also was how hard it is to pronounce Sushi and Champagne in the same sentence after a few glasses of bubbly! Never mind, we all had a very good time and most of all learned a lot while sipping away at these simply exquisite bottles of Champagne.

Here are some tasting notes from our resident Sommelier L.A. , who posed some intriguing questions, as did my man Mike Moore, the sponge for wine knowledge. Matt , John, Lisa, Cynthia, Bill, A.J., Bryan, Jean Ann, Mauricio and Jimmy  all chirped in at different points during the tasting making this a true Graileys experience.

NV Ruinart Blanc de Blancs (From a magnum). What a perfect aperitif to get the party started! Fresh, vibrant and pretty with citrus, pear, floral and baking spices. Elegant palate. Persistent, fine mousse.  I can drink this lovely Champagne all day long.

2002 Dom Ruinart. One word: Finesse! Subtle and vibrant with pronounced minerality, citrus, white peach and roasted nuts. Focused on the palate. Got broader and more textured with time in glass. Impressive length marked by juicy minerality.

1998 Krug. This seemed more evolved than I expected showing bold aromas of biscuit, baked dough and almond paste. Full bodied with mouth-coating richness and very fine bubbles. Ripe, tropical flavors on the palate.

1996 Dom Perignon Oenotheque. Very much a baby showing a firmer structure on the palate. Chalky minerality, stone fruits, key lime pie and baked pastry. Full-bodied with great intensity. Needs some time to broaden the palate and get to that creamy, rich goodness that is DP.

1992 Dom Perignon Oenotheque Rose. This was my WOTN. This was crazy good in its layered complexity. Notes of cotton candy, smoky-flinty minerality, hibiscus, toasty almonds, vanilla… the list goes on. Every swirl and every sip delivered another layer of aromas and flavors. Elegant yet opulent on the palate. Rich and creamy but reined in by a zesty acidity that kept it vibrant in its long finish. Unbelievably good.

1989 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame. This was a nice surprise from Matt J. Flamboyant in its aromas of vanilla, butterscotch, toasty, grilled hazelnuts, almond paste, brioche, crème brulee, and subtle hints of earth. This wasn’t shy at all. Opulent and full bodied, velvety, balanced by a fantastic acidity. Good drinking window right now.

1975 Dom Perignon Oenotheque. Tightly-wound initially with zingy citrus, yellow fruits, yeasty and ginger notes. With some air, the wine opened up to show more roasted pear, nutty, and honeyed aromas and flavors as well as a broader, rounder palate. Complex and long finish marked by minerality. I would love to revisit this wine in another five years.

 

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by | November 29, 2012

Pinot has two faces.

We sat down early yesterday afternoon for a preview of the documentary “A Year in Burgundy”. Sticking true to theme, a bottle of 1994 Meo-Camuzet Clos Vougeot was quickly shared around the table. This had deep meaty, dried sage, earth, spicy, and jammy strawberry notes on the nose. This was a savory style of red Burgundy. The complexity and vibrant aromas set my expectations high…unfortunately, the palate was a different matter altogether. It was disjointed with an off-putting grippy and bitter finish. Lacked the structure and richness I expect from a Meo-Camuzet. I guess there is only so much that a great producer could do given a challenging vintage.  Next to grace the table was a bottle of 2001 Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts. Impressive freshness on the nose; bright candied cherry, mocha, damp earth and coffee. More fruit-driven. Silky tannins but austere with a short finish. Noticeable heat on the finish.  I know, it wasn’t such a good night of red Burgundy. The movie looked good though.

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