by | February 2, 2012

Battle of the Shiraz and Syrah…

By: AJ McClellan

Last night was a doozy at Graileys. We had some killer wines out on the table, I was very interested in comparing the Grange and the Guigal that we had opened. The Grange opened up right out of the bottle and was putting forth an impressive display of fruit and earth notes. I was somewhat disappointed with the Guigal thinking that the Grange was going to outshine it. Only after a few hours the Grange plateaued and the Guigal was still continuing to climb, getting better with every sip…  I was also very surprised and impressed with the 96 Lynch Bages. Sometimes you just get a bottle that shows very well. I have had the 96 Lynch Bages several times in the recent past and this one was by far the best that I have had. Remarkable!

1996 Lynch Bages – This Lynch Bages was rocking. The nose showed notes of foliage with big black fruit and a subtle hint of tobacco and smoke. I was very impressed with the body and structure of the wine. The palate was smooth with great tannic structure and a long finish of black fruits and chocolate.

1998 Grange – Upon opening the Grange was killing it! Big blueberries with smoky herbaceous notes followed by massive chocolaty tannins and dried anise.

1995 Pichon Lalande – The Pichon was drinking well but surprisingly not quite up to the Lynch Bages. Classic earthy tones on the nose and palate with a slight thinness on the back end. The wine was very good but compared to the other wines on the table it faded to the wayside.

1996 Guigal La Mouline – The Guigal started off slow with a slight game note and smoke giving off signals of what was to come. After a good two hours in the glass the Guigal exploded to show a forest of tobacco seeded with roses and violets. There was also a very pleasant fruit note of black cherries and ripe black plums.

2000 Ponsot Clos de la Roche – I am sad to report that this bottle was inflicted with TCA… We kept going back to the wine through the night in hopes that the wine was not corked and at one point a hopeful member gave me the glass declaring that the wine may be drinking. After tasting the wine I still believe that while it was not overtly corked the wine was dead on the palate and showing slight signs of the dreaded trichloroanisole…

1997 Domaine Leflaive Puligny Montrachet 1er Les Folatieres – Oh how I love Leflaive. This wine was beautiful showing quince, pear, honeysuckle, limestone, and lilies. Impeccable balance with wonderful acidity and a great mineral finish. Yumm…

1998 Pichon Lalande – The 98 Pichon was showing very well. Still not quite competing with the 96 Lynch Bages, which was singing. The 98 Pichon was drinking very well with earthy undertones and a great fruit forward nature of a younger Bordeaux.

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by | January 31, 2012

By: AJ McClellan

2000 Domaine de Marcoux CDP – A great CDP with subtle smoke followed by big meaty notes and a long lasting finish of black cherries and lether.

2009 Pride Cabernet Sauvignon – I was very impressed with this wine. Plush on the palate with huge fruit and velvety tannins. The finish was long and balanced, along with spicy notes of vanilla and clove.

1991 Gaja Sperss Barolo – This was my wine of the night. Earthy tones of dry leaves followed by dusty cherries and a complex note of blueberry with raspberries and toast. A long elegant finish polished off this wine brilliantly.

2008 Terre Rouge Tete a Tete – A great wine that was incredibly complex for its price range. The GSM blend was soft and approachable with elegant tannins and a moderate body that blew up in the mouth. Great ripe fruit notes with a substantial tar and smoke note finished off this wine nicely.

NV Krug Half Bottle – Krug is always delicious. Quince, pear, and soft sourdough.

2007 Jones Family Cabernet – This bottle was showing great as it always does. The tannins are still powerful but are balanced perfectly with the giant plum and black cherry notes on the wine. The wine finished with a pleasant note of cedar and dill.

2000 Poderi Aldo Conterno Gran Bussia Barolo Riserva – This wine was almost the equal of the Gaja, showing great earthy notes that warmed as the wine opened. A fun bottle to sit with as it changed almost every time I put it to my lips. This wine has a lot of potential and I would love to see it in another 10 years!

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by | January 25, 2012

Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon!

By: AJ McClellan

A great night at Graileys last night. We have a good group of members come by to open some wonderful wines. We started with a round of killer Burgundies and then moved on to a second round of wonderful Cabernet based wines that knocked it out of the ballpark!

1988 Jadot Ruchottes Chambertin – This bottle started out a little muted but quickly opened up to show some great earthy notes as well as a stunning floral component. The wine continued to open up magnificently until the bottle was drained. Great red fruits on the back end with a long finish.

1994 Louis Latour Corton Charlemagne – Banana foster pie straight out of the shoot. After the big banana and brown sugar notes faded a little it opened up to show some great toasty notes as well as a long mineral finish.

1978 Remoissenet Chambertin – This Chambertin was showing very well. The nose was full of life showing notes of forest floor, black pepper, and black cherries. The palate was soft and silky with a long complex finish.

2008 Bond Quella Vineyard Cabernet – A monster wine with huge tannins and massive black fruit. The wine opened nicely over five hours but is still showing very young. Big wood notes of cedar and pine with huge black fruit and mouth drying tannins.

1979 Las Cases – Great earthy notes on the nose that lead into a ripe palate of dark fruit and red currants. There was a slight note  of anise and leather on the finish with big earth.

1997 Beringer Private Reserve – I love this wine. It took a little while to get going but delivered great notes of plum, lavender, coco, and smoke on the nose and palate. The wine ended with a seamless finish and great balance.

 

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by | January 16, 2012

Bob Foley Tasting

By: AJ McClellan

Bob Foley came into Graileys on Friday to taste us on his 2009 releases. Bob is always a treat when we get him into the shop. I accidentally asked Bob about Cabernet Franc which lead into a 10 minute story about how Bob met Andre Tchelistcheff and the antics that ensued after they met…

2009 Robert Foley Pinot Blanc – The Pinot Blanc was drinking very well on Friday. The nose showed white flowers with abundant lemon and peach notes up front. The palate was fresh and lively with great acidity and a long finish.

2009 Robert Foley Charbono – An incredibly easy drinking bottle of wine. The nose showed big black fruits with a hint of cooking spice and a pleasant note of milk chocolate. The palate was silky soft and a little too easy to drink. Notes of plum, black cherry, cedar, anise, and lavender makes this wine a great value for the price.

2009 Robert Foley Merlot – Another wonderful bottle that provides excellent value for the price. The nose showed dark fruit with dark chocolate and big cigar smoke. The palate is very well balanced with baker’s chocolate and a basket full of dark ripe fruits.

2006 Robert Foley Claret – The 06 Claret was in a great drinking window. The tannins have calmed down and are very well integrated into the wine. The palate was showing dark fruits with a great spice backing and a floral finish.

2008 Robert Foley Claret – I thought that 08 was drinking the best of the tasting with a great nose of fresh plum and red roses backed by tobacco leaf, cedar, and milk chocolate. The thing that really impressed me about this wine is the remarkable balance that Bob is able to achieve. There is no sign of the 15% alcohol and the fruit is in perfect harmony with the silky tannins. A great wine with the potential to age for another 10 years.

2009 Robert Foley Claret – There has been a lot of talk about the 09 vintage in California but Bob’s 09 Claret is drinking like a champ. The wine has a strong tannic core with the plush black fruits that we have come to expect from this bottling. Say what you like about the vintage but the 09 Foley wines have all been spectacular.

After the tasting, in true Graileys style we adjourned to the comfy seats and popped some great bottles for the table….

 2007 Duckhorn Discussion – This bottle was drinking very nicely. The tannins are in a great place right now and the fruit was perfectly ripe and rich. This is a fun bottle to drink with a roast or strip steak.

1982 Pichon Lalande – One of my favorite all time bottles. The 82 was drinking great, as usual, with dry red and black fruits, smoked currants, leather, and big forest floor. There was a slight green note on the end of this wine that I just love, it adds complexity and helps integrate the earthy tones in the wine. The finish was amazing, lasting for a good 75+ seconds.

1989 Cheval Blanc – Parker gave this wine a lousy 89 points. I can say I disagree with Parker, but I can see why it was not a 98 point wine. The nose was brilliant with earthy aromas of dry leaves and forest floor. The palate was a little lean but still drinking well. Unfortunately the only place this wine is going is downhill… Drink now or forever hold your piece….

2009 Domaine Blain Gagnard Le Montrachet – I was very impressed with this bottle, for a wine so young it was drinking very well. The nose showed quince, pear, and apricot with notes of limestone and a bright floral note. The palate had a sharp acidity that melted the fresh fruit and brilliant mineral notes leading into a strong finish.

1978 Las Cases – This bottle has shown up every time we open it. Strong earthy aromas with dried figs, red cherries, and potpourri on the nose. The palate showed wonderful forest floor with a strong spicy finish. Great wine.

1964 Remoissenet Grand Echezeaux – I love these old Remoissenet wines. The 64 Grand Echez was drinking like a wine half its age. The nose was vibrant with bright red fruits and a deep earthy note. The palate was fresh with old dusty leather and bright raspberries on the finish.

 

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by | January 4, 2012

Pigs in Graileys

By: AJ McClellan

Today was quite the day at Graileys! Not only did we have a great lineup of world class wines but we also got a surprise visit from Willie Nelson and Pig Floyd… Yes, they are miniature pot belly pigs. It was interesting to watch everyone in the place automatically gravitate to the little pigs as soon as they walked in the door. We might have to get one to live in Graileys and represent us as a mascot…

1994 Dominus – This bottle has always been one of my favorites out of Napa. The nose is almost a perfect replica for Bordeaux with soft earthy notes of moist moss and dried leaves. The only thing that gives the wine away is the plush ripe black fruit that hovers in the forefront of the palate. There is also a slight green note to this wine that I find very attractive, like someone dusted the glass with powdered bell peppers….

1998 Lalou Bize Leroy d’Auvenay Meursault Les Narvaux – This is another bottle of wine that I absolutely love – honeysuckle, quince, limestone, slate, pear, and a brilliantly intergraded note of toast. If Madam Leroy can do this with a 1er from Meursault, I would love to see what she can do with some le Montrachet….  yummm…..

1989 Troplong Mondot – Corked.

NV Perrier Jouet NV – For the price point I think there are much better wines. The nose was very forward and lacking in finesse, the palate was abrasive, and the finish was weak….

2004 Perrier Jouet Fleur de Champagne Brut – Of the three Perrier Jouet we tasted, the Brut was showing the best. Green pear on the nose with a substantial backing of sourdough bread and a pleasant touch of minerality on the back end.

2004 Pierrer Jouet Fleur de Champagne Rose – After tasting the outstanding 02 Rose last year the 04 was a bit of a letdown. The wine was still delicious but the standard set by the 02 is a high bar to compete with… The nose showed pretty floral notes of rose petals and lilies. There was a subtle hint of strawberries on the palate with a pleasant minerality on the finish.

2007 Numanthia Termes – A powerful bottle of wine with black fruits on the nose and a palate of cedar, tar, and leather.

2009 Pickup Sticks – Another blockbuster but while the tannins were very powerful they were also well developed for such a youthful wine. Plum, black cherries, and liquorish on the palate with a finish of tobacco smoke.

2008 Larcis Ducasse – With the company of so many big and bold wines, the Ducasse was showing rather elegantly. I decanted the wine for three hours before service and it significantly helped the wine to open up. The nose showed forest floor and fresh earth with big black fruit and a gravely minerality. The palate was seamless; with great fruit notes and complex layers of minerality and spice finishing with big puckering tannins (although next to the Babylon the tannins were rather tame).

2008 Scholium Project Gardens of Babylon – Now this is a massive wine… Big black fruits with notes of cedar, pine, anise, clove, dill, and big lavender on the nose. The palate was enormous to say the least; big sweet fruits keep the wine from sucking your face off but it was still a challenge for me to drink the whole glass. This wine shows a lot of potential but it needs either 24 hours in a decanter or a good decade in the bottle.

2008 Robert Foley Merlot – As always, I was very impressed with this bottle. The nose showed deep black cherries notes accented with liquorish and cigar smoke. There was a very nice complexity on the palate mixing dark berries with dark chocolate and infusing it with a hint of smoke and dark red rose petals.

2007 Bruno Clavelier La Combe Burlee – It is refreshing to taste a wine that is so elegant after the big beasty wines that we had been drinking all day. Although after that Babylon, this wine was almost like taking a sip of water…. A soft floral nose showing freshly picked raspberries and a subtle hint of milk chocolate and whole vanilla beans. This is the kind of wine I could drink all day and never get tired of. The palate was very light and soft showing a wonderful array of light red fruits and limestone minerality with the ever so light hint of toast and vanilla from its limited time in the barrel.

2007 Vicarious – Back to the “Big Boy Reds”…. The Vicarious is a very well put together wine with notes of lavender, plum, red cherry, and tobacco. I am especially impressed with the light handed oak and excellent balance of the wine, not to mention a very nice finish…

2008 Barbour Cabernet – This was my second time to try this wine, and it was just as good as I remember it being. Soft red and black fruits with a substantial dose of milk chocolate and a pleasant tannic structure that was well intergraded into the wine.

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by | December 28, 2011

Members Appreciation Day!

By: AJ McClellan

Thursday we had our Member’s Appreciation Party. The party was a great success as we managed to polish off around forty bottles as well as four Jeroboams…. As far as parties go, this was one was one of the best for Graileys…

 

1970 Pichon Lalande – This was a wonderful bottle of wine. I am a big fan of Pichon Lalande and the 1970 vintage is showing very well right now. The wine has a soft earthy foundation on which there are layers of dried red and black fruits, tobacco leaf, dried red flowers, and a distinct minerality of crushed granite. This wine is in an excellent drinking window right now with velvety tannins and a supreme balance that leads to a lengthy finish. 

1978 Robert Mondavi Jeroboam – When I opened this bottle I was afraid that because of the age of the wine it would fall off before we could drink through the Jeroboam, but the wine stuck in there until the end showing great fruit notes of dried cranberries and blackberries followed by soft leather notes and a waft of cigar smoke. The palate was delicate for a Cabernet but I attribute that to the bottle age… all in all, a great bottle of wine.

1998 Guigal La Mouline – A classic Guigal with big bacon, smoke, tar, pepper, and tobacco. A great bottle of wine but I would love to see it with another two decades of age on it…

1999 Remoissenet Richebourg – The Richebourg was drinking great right out of the bottle. Soft red cherries with an accent of boysenberry and black currant followed by a soft mineral note of limestone. The palate was very nice but after a few hours in the glass the wine developed a metallic tinge that faded in and out of the wine for the rest of the night.

1985 Bollinger RD – Yummm… Quince, honeyed pear, toffee, sourdough, and caramel. This wine was drinking very well but I think that it is in need of consumption.

1996 Krug Magnum – This was my wine of the night. A delectable bottle that changed every time I stuck my nose in the glass…. The wine started with notes of white peach and quince backed by a huge limestone minerality and a touch of lilies. With more time the bottle started to add roasted almonds, fresh pear, yeast, and a hint of caramel. The wine was perfectly balanced and lovely to taste. If I could drink this wine for the rest of my life I would die a happy man…

1990 Louis Latour Corton Charlemagne – We have tasted this wine on several occasions but this particular bottle went far above the expectations set from its predecessors. Every once in a while when dealing with Burgundy you get a bottle that really shines, and this is that bottle. Caramel, white flowers, honeydew, sliced white peaches, crushed limestone, and a good dose of toast. A brilliant bottle that makes me want to buy several more cases in hopes that I will find one more like it…

2008 Amuse Bouche – Heidi really outdid herself on this wine. The nose was black as midnight with plums, black cherries, chocolate, clove, and vanilla. The palate was like taking of sip of melted dark chocolate. I thought this bottle was delicious and I think it will age very well for the next 5-10 years.

2000 Beaucastel Hommage a Jacques Perrin – Classic CDP. Barnyard funk on the nose with bright red cherries and a touch of nutmeg and vanilla. The palate was firm with heavy tannins and slightly closed notes of fresh red fruit. However, the gym sock funk was in full force and made me check my armpit to make sure that it wasn’t just me.

1982 Ducru Beaucaillou – This bottle was scrumptious… Classic Bordeaux. The nose showed forest floor and fresh foliage with a subtle hint of black liquorish and pepper backed by black fruits and spice box. The palate is in a good place right now with soft tannins and superb balance. 

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by | December 22, 2011

A Great Night

By: AJ McClellan

We had a giant group in yesterday with more wines opened than would fit on the bar. Below are some of my highlights from the night.

 

1979 Haut Brion – The Haut Brion was killing it with tilled earth, prunes, raisins, black tea, and cloves all bundled together and served over a bed of gravel and dried rose petals.

1999 Colgin – This Colgin was not drinking as well as the 99 Colgins I have had in the past but still a very nice bottle of wine. Fresh ripe fruit with an undercurrent of chocolate and cooking spice.

1982 Prunotto Barolo – This bottle was essence of earth – dried leaves, compost, forest floor, violets, and barnyard with a subtle hint of dusty cherry on the very back end. I loved this wine but unless you like licking dirt this may not be the bottle for you…

1998 Armand Rousseau Gevrey Chambertin Clos st Jacques GC – This wine was wonderful! One of my top 10 Burgs of the year. The nose was very complex and exploded out of the glass right when we opened the bottle. The wine only got better over the five hours that I kept it in my glass. By the end of the night it was showing superb floral notes with fresh vibrant red fruits and a plethora of spices followed by marl and limestone. A brilliant bottle!

1997 Guigal La Mouline – This Guigal was very interesting. When I blinded it I called it Cote Rotie but I specified that I did not think it was Guigal… The wine has a slight green note and lacked the giant smoke and pepper notes of most Guigals I have had. There was still a huge game not and plenty of ripe black fruit. All in all it was a very nice wine but very atypical.

1997 Cordero di Montezemolo Monfalletto Barolo – A very nice example of Barolo. Not quite as earthy as the Prunotto and with more fruit.

1995 Rayas – I thought this bottle was showing sighnes of heat damage but the member that brought it in assured me that it was bought on release and stored perfectly for the past sixteen years. The fruit was stewed but the earthy tones and mineral notes were very nice…. Maybe this bottle is just near the end of its life?

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by | December 21, 2011

A Great Selection

By: AJ McClellan

Yesterday we had a great showing of members with some very interesting bottles plunked down on the table for everyone to enjoy.

 

2004 Sasso di Sole Brunello di Montalcino Riserva – One of our members brought this bottle back from his adventures in Italy. The wine is wonderful, although a few more years on its side would help soften the tannins even more. The nose was full of almond extract with dusty cherry and cooking spice. The palate had a distinct earthy note with firm tannins and a long finish.

2000 Bella Big River Ranch Zinfandel – This is one of the few original Grialeys bottles that we had left. The wine was freshly picked black berries with big black pepper and a hint of anise on the back end.

1996 Nyetimber – This is becoming a classic wine of Graileys. The nose offers up a slight yeasty note with stone fruit and tropical floral notes. The palate is plush and complex with a mild effervescence and beautiful mineral aromas on the back end.

2008 Foley Merlot – A great bottle for the money. This wine is easy drinking with big juicy fruit and a solid backbone of tannin.

2009 Hensteeth Pinot Noir – This was a real treat. This new winery belongs to one of our members and this was his first bottling. The Pinot was firm and bigger boned with ripe cherries and a soft liquorish note. The palate was medium in body with big fruit and a slight minerality adding complexity.

2008 Favia Cerro Sur – A great bottle to have near the end of the night. Big ripe black fruit with great concentration and an elaborate display of floral notes and dark chocolate. A beautiful blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

1995 Elderton Barossa Command Shiraz – This was a real treat as well. The Shiraz was very Australian in style with big eucalyptus, plum, mint, and cigar smoke. The palate was ever changing moving from chocolate covered rose petals to tobacco wrapped cherries.

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by | December 15, 2011

Two Burgs, Two Italians, and a Cali Cab…

By: AJ McClellan

Last night was pretty hectic in the shop. A multitude of bottles were opened and shared around the table as members trickled in through the day after Christmas shopping. Below are a few highlights of the night….

 

1989 Remoissenet Mazis Chambertin GC – The 89 was drinking as we have come to expect from these excellent Remoissenet wines. The fruit was forward and ripe showing black and red cherries as well as a note of dried prunes. There was also a touch of cedar and clove followed by a subtle rocky minerality.

1991 Gaja Sperss – I was very impressed with the Sperss. The nose showed classic dusty cherry with forest floor overgrown with mushrooms after a summer rain. The palate was soft as a babies kiss with just the right amount of acidity and tannin. This bottle was my wine of the night…

1949 Remoissenet Vosne Romanee 1er Clos de Reas – These old Remoissenet wines are just a delight to drink. There was a slight touch of oxidized metal on the nose but it blew off after a few minutes in the glass. Strawberry, cherry, raspberry, clove, tar, liquorish, and leather were all predominate on this wine. A very complex bottle.

2005 Realm Beckstoffer Dr Crane – Big Cali Cab.

1998 Solaia – Great bottle of wine with ripe black and blue fruits followed by earthy undertones and a finish of saddle leather and vanilla.

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by | December 14, 2011

Some Cracking Wines…

By: Simon Roberts

In true Graileys fashion we tasted a few cracking wines last night.

 

2007 Shafer Hillside Select is a monster of a wine, this one needs to sleep for a few more years but has all the stuffing to be a legend. It had a smoky nose, with deep red and black fruits and massive concentration. The tannins covered up the flavors until we tried it again this morning, it had softened considerably  showing  blackberry and cedar nuances with a super long  finish..decant this one if you are drinking it over the next few years..it made all the difference.

1992 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill  drank exceptionally well. Out of all the great Napa cabernets I think Diamond Creek is more reminiscent of a Bordeaux than any   other. This wine showed  really well integrated oak with very soft and plush black fruits and some truffle notes. These Diamond creeks have great longevity, it is the second Diamond creek opened in a week, the other being the glorious 1994 Lake Vineyard.

 1989 Chateau Leoville Barton , a nice find in the cellar! The 89 vintage is just about hitting it’s stride for me, this wine has lost its heavy tannic overcoat and is now drinking with finesse and precision. It has that text book St Julien dusty character backed up by a subtle nose of forest floor. This wine did not last long on the table, it was wine of the night for me.

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