by | August 16, 2011

3 Liters Are Just More Fun…

By: AJ McClellan

Friday night was a good one around the table at Graileys. We started strong with some great wines out of the gate; then half way through the night one of our members pulled out a 3 liter of Mondavi Cabernet to kick the party into fifth gear. After the big bottle came out, a plethora of other bottles were dropped on the table as to not be out done. All in all it was another successful night with a great lineup.

 

1999 Leoville Las Cases – When first opened the wine was quite tight but after a good three hours the nose opened to show black currants, leather, smoke, and tilled earth. The palate was hard but in balance with a great structure.

1988 Jean Lionnet Cornas Cuvee Rochepertuis – We opened this bottle out of curiosity and it gave us a bit of a roller coaster ride. The wine started with a very woody nose, as to smell corked to one of our members, but with some time it blew off and revealed a smoky earthy wine with a dark fruit backing.

1995 Domaine Jacques Prieur Chambertin – I was very impressed with this bottle of Burgundy. The nose showed dusty red fruits with a hint of blueberry followed by compost soil and a chewy liquorish on the back end. The palate was soft and smooth with delicate tannins and a crisp acidity.

1996 Dominus – The Dominus was drinking well with dark fruits and chocolate on the nose. The palate was still firm with rock solid tannins followed by a hint of cooked jalapeno and tanned leather.

1987 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 3 liter – This bottle was suspect at first but with some time it opened up to show some good dried fruits and a giant backing of saddle leather and sandalwood.

1997 Emmanuel Rouget Echezeaux – A very impressive bottle of Burgundy. It was stellar right out of the gate with a dark cherry and plum nose and a big earth backing. The palate was holding up well with smooth solid tannins and a bright acidity on the back end. After some time in the glass the wine continued to open up showing a rocky minerality and long finish.

1988 La Mission Haut Brion – This bottle is in a great place right now drinking with velvet tannins and an earthy backing that is so prevalent in southern Bordeaux.

2004 Quilceda Creek – Massive is too light of a word for this wine. This 99 point bottle was showing huge black fruits and giant leather notes followed by Asian spices and a slight floral note.

1997 Domaine Leflaive Puligny Montrachet Les Pucelles – 97 is turning out to be a bit of a sleeper vintage for me. I am finding more and more bottles of white and red Burgundy that are in a great drinking window right now. The Leflaive was very nice with hazelnut, vanilla, pear, lemon, and limestone.

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by | August 12, 2011

Pinot Noir From Around The World.

By: AJ McClellan

Yesterday we had a smaller turn out than was expected but what we lacked in quantity we made up for in quality. We started the night strong with a trio of great Burgundies and continued the Pinot Noir theme throughout the night.

 

1969 Remoissenet Gevrey Chambertin 1er Clos st Jacques – This 69 was drinking like a champ. The nose was full of soft violets, red roses, dry currants, and dusty cherry. The palate was like a perfectly made bed complete with satin sheets of tannin and a little chocolaty mint on the finish.

1982 Leroy Beaune Cent Vignes – This bottle was my wine of the night! The nose and palate were very clean with notes of raspberry and light black cherry followed by lovely forest floor and a subtle floral note. The body was very light but with smooth tannins and a long finish.

2000 Groffier Bonnes Mares GC – The exact opposite of the Leroy. Powerful on the nose and palate with dark cherries and a rocky minerality. The plate was very smooth, after a few hours of opening up, and the finish was excellent. I think this bottle will grow up to be excellent.

2005 Beaucastel VV Blanc – This was a very interesting bottle of wine. When we first opened it the texture was very waxy with notes of petrel yellow flowers, honey comb, and white pepper. The palate was a little austere and not fitting together well. After three hours of sitting in the glass the wine finally started to come around. If you own this bottle I would give it at least another decade.

1988 Armond Rousseau Gevrey Chambertin – A good bottle but one that was not meant to have 20+ years on it. The fruit was fading but the tannins were still hanging in there.

NV Gonet Medeville Blanc de Noir – These Gonet wines are wonderful. This bottle showed fresh lemon/lime on the nose with a backing of slate and a wonderful finish.

2007 Soliste Pinot Noir – It has been a year since I have tasted this wine and I must say that it is still packing  punch. The nose is beautiful but I feel that the palate needs another two years or so to finish calming down.

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by | August 9, 2011

A Night for Cali Cabs

By: AJ McClellan

A night for big Cali Cabs, with most of the bottles showing well for their youth. As always, I was very impressed with the 01 Palmaz, but the really interesting wine for me was the 08 Pick Up Sticks as this year’s bottling is drastically different from the 07 and a grave improvement.

 

2006 Robert Foley Claret – This wine has calmed down nicely with some time in the bottle. The fruit is still big and ripe with black currants and soft plum notes. The real change has taken place on the palate with the tannins softening and picking up more weight.

2001 Palmaz – I cannot keep my hand off this bottle. Floral notes on the nose with candied grapes and a slight minerality. The palate shows great depth, character and complexity with a long finish.

2009 Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc – A great pool wine with bright tropical flavors of grapefruit, pineapple, and papaya. The palate is very crisp with a light body and lingering finish.

2008 Conn Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – With 98 points from Robert Parker, you might expect a big bold blockbuster, well you would be right. The tannins were massive and very hard with giant dark fruits and a slight heat on the back end. In time I think this wine might live up to its score but it will need at least 8-10 years in the bottle…

2007 Markus Molitor Kabinett Riesling – Another great pool wine. Searing acidity with a hint of sweetness backed by quince, lemon, and a huge minerality. This is just a fun bottle to drink.

2008 Pick Up Sticks – I was hesitant to try this bottle as I thought the 07 was less than spectacular. The 08 on the other hand was quite nice. The tannins were powerful but in balance with the wine, the fruit was bold but not over whelming, and the alcohol was held in check.

2006 BR Cohn Olive Hill Cabernet Sauvignon – A good bottle, the nose had notes of cedar, leather, black fruits, and nutmeg. The palate was soft and subtle in a great place for drinking right now.

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by | August 4, 2011

Some Great Bottles.

By: AJ McClellan

A great day yesterday! The wines were wonderful and the company was even better. We tasted some great bottles that surprised me in their quality; we also tasted a few old reliable wines that are always a pleasure to pop.

 

2006 Sisters – Not a bad way to start out the night. The ‘06 Sisters has become a great go-to wine for us here at Graileys. The nose is big and ripe, full of red fruits and cooking spice. The palate is in a great drinking window showing soft tannins and a long finish.

1980 Opus One – The second bottling of Opus One, after drinking this wine I can tell why Opus One has such a great following. The nose showed dry tea leaves, cloves, sandalwood, cedar, dried blackberries, and currants. The palate was still full with soft dusty tannins and a velvety texture that made the wine a pleasure to drink.

1985 Cos d’Estournel – This was one of the first great bottles I tried when I started at Graileys and it has been a favorite of mine ever since. The nose is full of earth and spice with hints of tilled soil, raspberries, black cherries, and cinnamon. The palate is silky and classic Bordeaux with a touch of graphite, some old dried fruits and a handful of rocky soil.

1997 Jean Grivot Richebourg – A very tasty bottle of Burgundy showing a bright nose of blueberry, red cherries, toasted vanilla bean, scorched earth, and jasmine. The palate, while being soft and pleasant, was not as good as the nose. I gave the wine about 2 hours to let the palate catch up, but while it put on some weight and filled out some, it never reached the heights that the nose promised.

1982 Branaire Ducru – Very old on the nose, when I smelt the wine I expected to see a pile of dust in the glass instead of wine. Old earth and barnyard on the nose with straw and some old dry fruits. The palate was soft but faded; drinking like it is on the cusp of falling off. A good bottle of wine but one that needs to be drunk sooner rather than later.

1994 Jaboulet Cornas – A surprisingly delicious bottle of wine, although it shouldn’t be a surprise as Jaboulet is a fantastic producer. The Cornas was spicy with black pepper and huge game backed by old leather and big black fruits. The wine was drinking very well for a younger bottle showing silky tannins and superb balance.

1989 Le Gay – I have had this bottle several times in the past and enjoyed it very much. This bottle on the other hand was disconjointed and not showing very well. I do not think that bottle was flawed but rather just going through a dumb phase. If you have this bottle in your cellar, wait for another 6 months before opening it.

2001 Palmaz – I love this wine. We have been drinking it a lot recently and I think it is just a superb bottle for the price. The nose shows dusty cherry, blueberries, currants, tanned leather, apple pie spices, and a note, that for some reason, always reminds me of purple PEZ candy. The palate is another big contributor to why I like this wine so much; it shows an almost grainy texture that is ruff in the mouth. The wine is also very plush and boisterous on the palate, letting you know it’s there. If I didn’t know any better, I would say there is a heavy dose of Cabernet Franc in the wine, but I have been told that it is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon…

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by | July 29, 2011

94 Colgin vs 89 La Conseillante

By: AJ McClellan

Yesterday was a great day around the table at Graileys. We opened some killer bottles, a few I have never had before.   After things got started there was a heated debate as to whether California wines or Bordeaux wines were better. To settle the issue we opened a 94 Colgin and an 89 La Conseillante and put them up against each other head to head. After tasting both bottles it was decided that we love wine and it is best to not quarrel about what wine is better than what… in other words it was a tie…

 NV Bollinger Rose – This rose never fails to impress. Strawberries and cream all day with a subtle minerality that makes this wine a delight to drink, especially after coming inside from a hot summer day.

2001 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon – I have had many mixed experiences with Etude, some good, some bad… Fortunately this bottle was very nice. The nose showed black fruits with a hint of tanned leather and black peppercorns. The palate was soft and silky with a bold finish of dark fruits and lavender.

2000 Dominus – This was a bit of an off year for Dominus, scoring only 87 points from Parker, but the bottle I tried last night was quite nice. Good fruit structure on the nose and palate with well developed tannins and a pleasantly balanced finish…

2008 Jones Family The Sisters Cabernet Sauvignon – The 2006 bottling of The Sisters set a very high bar for the 08 vintage, and Thomas Browne did a great job with his currant release meeting the quality of the 06 vintage. The palate is still a little tight but very approachable for a wine of such youth. In the next couple of years I think the 08 Sisters will be a great bottle of wine.

1994 Colgin – WOW! In case you didn’t get it the first time I’ll say it again, WOW! This bottle gives me hope for Californian wine. The nose was brilliant right out of the gate showing bright red currants, cranberries, and raspberries. After the initial barrage of fruit there was a deep core of warm apple pie spice, cinnamon, sandal wood, and event a little earth. The palate was amazing and continued to get better with time in the glass. After an hour the wine was singing showing an incredible complexity and remarkable balance. Wow…

2001 Convent des Jacobins – One of our members brought this bottle back from St Emilion for us to try. It was quite nice although it was in need of another 5-10 years in the bottle. Good fruit structure with a tight tannic core.

1978 Weingut dr Alex Senfter Nierftein am Rhein und Gabsheim Rheinhessen Beerenausleie – This was another amazing bottle of wine, possibly the best bottle of Riesling I have ever had. The nose was terrifically complex showing quince, Asian pear, Washington apple, white peach, limestone, marl, hints of petrol, and a beautiful bouquet of honeysuckles and lilies.  The palate was just as complex with a medium viscosity

1989 La Conseillante – A great bottle to finish out the night. Classic Bordeaux with a handful of graphite, forest floor, and big barnyard. The palate was very nice with dark fruits and a stony minerality followed by a long finish.

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by | July 27, 2011

Everything From Tiganello to Grange

By: AJ McClellan

Last night was another great night with an eclectic group of members around the table popping some killer bottles of wine, everything from Tignanello to Grange….

 

1995 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon – The Dalla Valle was a great bottle of wine. Dalla Valle is a small vineyard in Oakville 400 feet above the valley floor, and in recent years the wine has caught fire becoming a cult Cabernet that is next to impossible to find. The ‘95 was in the perfect drinking window with soft red and black fruits on the nose followed by a silky palate of well developed tannins. I can see why this wine has such a cult following, it was wonderful.

1996 Grange – For a young Grange this wine was killing it! The tannins were in a good place, a little tight but quite nice considering the age of the wine. The nose showed notes of bramble berry, tobacco, jalapeño, and bell pepper. The palate was classic Grange with big dark chocolate, black fruits, and a hint of greenness.

2007 Jack Quinn – It has been almost half a year since I tasted this wine and it has vastly improved in that time. I liked this bottle before, I love it now. The nose showed plums, cherries, lavender, tobacco, and chocolate. The palate was soft and drinking like velvet with a finish of roses, tobacco, and plush fruit.

2007 Tignanello – Drinking surprisingly soft with a big dusty cherry and raspberry note on the nose. The palate showed dusty barnyard with dried leaves and old tobacco with a pleasant red cherry finish. A very nice bottle of wine that, with time, will become stunning.

2005 SQN Over and Out Pinot Noir – A massive bottle of Pinot that I would blind as a powerful CDP or syrah based wine. The nose forced itself on you with muscular black fruit and a bag full of barnyard. The palate was huge filling your mouth with earth, black fruits, and tobacco.

2006 Pape Clement – I have raved about this wine time and time again but I feel that it is going through a bit of a dumb faze right now. It is still showing considerable fruit with a nice backing of earth but the wine does not come into harmony like it was a few months ago. I think that putting this wine on the shelf for 6 months or so would be a good move until it can sort itself out.

1996 Pichon Lalande – Always a great bottle. The ‘96 was showing bramble, blueberries, and cherries on the nose followed by leather, smoke, and forest floor. The palate was still a little tight needing a few more years in the bottle to loosen up but it shows great potential.

1969 Remoissenet Gevrey Chambertin 1er Les Combottes – We have had this bottle several times but this one was one of the better examples of the wine. Drinking in true Burgundy style with black raspberries, cranberries, and currants followed by dry leaves, cloves, and brush. The palate was as relaxed as a day in the lazy river showing dried earth, tobacco leaves, and some dry red fruits.

1970 d’Yquem – A great wine to finish the night out on. Quince, peach, and honey on the nose. The wine was very heavy on the palate with a honey like viscosity and a long finish of caramel and toffee.

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by | July 22, 2011

3 Course Dinner With Wine Pairings

By: AJ McClellan

We had a great tasting yesterday catered by our very own Chef Derrick Paez. The food and wine was wonderful, outdone only by the company. After the dinner we went back out to the main room and finished up the night with some great wines from the members’ cellars.

 

2008 Dog Point Chardonnay – Brilliantly paired with the crab stuffed squash blossoms; if I may pat my own back for a moment. The nose was clean with a hint of toast and big tropical notes. The palate was crisp, showing pineapple and limestone on the finish.

2000 Remoissenet Le Montrachet – Another great pairing, this time with a salmon that was cooked to perfection, poached in tomato water, and served over a homemade polenta that was delicious. The Remoissenet was a wonderful pairing showing honeysuckle and banana on the nose. The palate was round and thick with a heavy minerality and long finish.

1985 Margaux – Maderized…

1985 Las Cases – A great bottle of Bordeaux! We served this and the Guigal with a grilled lamb chop and while the Las Cases was a great bottle of wine the true pairing was with the La Turque.  On the nose the Las Cases was classic Bordeaux showing earth, leather, forest floor, and dried red fruits. The palate was complex showing dried red cherries and currants with a hint of lavender and a big note of cedar.

1996 Guigal La Turque – Always a stunning wine, this was a terrific pairing with the grilled lamb. The nose showed pepper, smoke, leather, and cooking spices with a hint of plum and black cherry. The palate was rich and creamy with a big dark fruit component and a long smoky finish.

1977 Croft – As dessert, one of our members pulled the ‘77 Croft for the table to share. A great bottle of Port showing sweet currants, spice, and lavender on the nose. The palate was terrific with cinnamon and spice all over the place.

 

After dinner we moved out to the comfy chairs and popped a few bottles around the table.

1981 Gaja Sori Tildin – I have put Gaja on a pedestal and that may contribute to my continual disappointment in his wines, but for the money, I was very disappointed with this wine. The nose was as funky as a ten day old gym sock wrapped around some fruits and smashed between a moldy tree and a giant boulder. The palate was actually quite nice with bright dusty fruit and a solid backbone of minerality. The wine was palatable, but for the price I was disappointed.

2005 Kosta Browne Kanzler Vineyard Pinot Noir – Another big name wine that under delivered. The nose was pleasant with bright red fruits and hints of vanilla and cedar. The palate was heavy but one dimensional with big fruit and huge wood spice.

1990 Hudelot Noellat Clos de Vougeot GC – I was very impressed with this wine. The nose showed classic black currant, forest floor, dusty cherry and black coffee of a Clos Vougeot. The palate took almost 2 hours to come around but it was wonderful once it got there with a brilliant balance and long finish.

1997 Parusso Bussia Vigna Rocche Barolo – A nice bottle that took a long while to come around but once it got there it was quite nice. Very Italian on the nose with forest floor and almond extract. The palate was soft and easy drinking with a pleasant fruit note and finish of cooking spice.

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by | July 20, 2011

Tasting Ramey Wines

By: AJ McClellan

We had the opportunity to taste through the Ramey lineup yesterday. The wines are very impressive for their price point. David Ramey has spent his life creating great wines at wineries such as Matanzas Creek, Chalk Hill, Dominus, and Rudd. David first went to UC Davis but after graduating he went to work for the Moueix Family at Chateau Petrus for a time. He took the winemaking style and knowledge gained from his stint in Pomerol to start creating a new wave of wines in California, with a more terroir expressive style.

2008 Ramey Sonoma Coast Chardonnay – A great example of Sonoma Coast Chardonnay with a creamy note from the malolactic fermentation and a slight hint of toast from the barrel aging. The palate shows peach and pear with a finish of white pepper.

2008 Ramey Russian River Chardonnay – Very similar to the Sonoma Chardonnay but with a little extra complexity. There is also a note of green apple on the palate with a finish of lemon/lime.

2007 Ramey Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay – This was more American in style showing a rich creamy palate with a giant dollop of butter on the finish.

2008 Ramey Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay – My favorite Chardonnay of the bunch. In general I really enjoy Hudson Vineyard fruit because of the great mineral notes that it displays there is also a hint of tropical fruit such as pineapple and mango.

2007 Ramey Claret – A great bottle of red for everyday drinking. Red cherry, raspberries, and currants on the nose. The palate is light and easy to drink with fresh fruit notes and a pleasant finish of smoke and spice.

2006 Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon – Heavier than the Claret with more wood spice and pepper on the nose. The palate was still tight with hard tannins and a finish of cedar and nutmeg.

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by | July 16, 2011

Dinner with the Ticket

By AJ McClellan

We had the Museres from the Ticket, George Dunham, Craig Miller, and Gordon Keith, in on Friday night along with member Don Winspear for a charity dinner that was purchased to support the Dallas Zoo. The event went great with some fantastic food and wine parings for dinner and afterwards the group regaled us with some funny stories from behind the scenes of the Ticket. After dinner was over we moved out to the comfy chairs and were serenaded by Gordon and George on an acoustic guitar. All in all it was a great night with a great group of friends.

 

2009 Nickel & Nickel Medina Ranch Chardonnay – This Chardonnay was served with the appetizer, a arugula salad with pine nuts and a vinaigrette dressing. The Chardonnay was slightly creamy showing a hint of malolactic fermentation and a great nose of lemon rind, white peach and fresh lilies.

2006 Alexana Revana Vineyard Pinot Noir – This was served with the entrée, a mixture of tilapia and filet. The Pinot was in a great place for drinking with soft red and blue fruits and a hint of earth and spice on the finish.

2008 Robert Foley Merlot – The Foley was a perfect pairing for the filet that was served with dinner but it was also quite nice with the chocolate lava cake that was served for desert. Typical Foley wine with impeccable balance and a beautiful fruit forward nose of black cherry, currants, and lavender. The plate showed dark chocolate, mocha, and tobacco.

2000 Quinta de Roriz Port – We opened this Port to accompany the Desert and it knocked it out of the ballpark. Dried black fruit with tons of spice and a light note of star anise and tobacco.

1989 Remoissenet Gevrey Chambertin Les Cazetieres Magnum – This bottle was wonderful! When we opened it up the wine showed notes of forest floor, violet, tilled earth, and roses. After some time in the glass the wine really blew up with a wonderful complexity and long lasting finish. This wine was the star of the night hands down.

1996 Guigal La Turque – After the tasting we moved from the back to the main room so that Gordon and George could play for us on the acoustic guitar. The Guigal was wonderful showing black tar, leather, plum, and red roses.

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by | July 13, 2011

An interesting mix of reds.

By: AJ McClellan

Yesterday we had a few members drop in and we ended up with an interesting mix of reds on the table. The two Australian wines shared the same grape and same region but were about as different from each other as water and ice. The star for me though was the Vega Sicilia with impressive exuberance on the palate and a complexity that I think will lend to a long shelf life.

 

2009 Morgan Double L Vineyard Pinot Noir – A bigger style of Pinot Noir with notes of black cherry and raspberry on the nose. The palate was bold but after some time in the glass it softened up to show light cassis, some cedar, and a hint of vanilla.

2004 Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 – I was very impressed with the 2003 vintage of this wine which is drinking superbly right now. I approached the 04 with an optimism that turned out to be well warranted. With 94 points from parker this wine showed a brilliant nose of old leather and dried currants. There was also a distinct Spanish funk and a hint of sulfur that quickly blew off. After the wine had a good 4 hours to breath the palate was drinking very nicely with big liquorish and star anise out the wazoo.

This bottle has such a cool label. I wish the juice would live up to the packaging… 

2006 Standish Wine Company The Relic Shiraz – This was an interesting wine. 93 points Parker and I can tell why, for an Australian Shiraz it was rather light with 4% Viognier to add a slight floral note of violet and lavender. The nose was bold with plums and black cherries and a handful of spice but the palate was rather mild, like they were trying to make a Cote Rotie but they couldn’t quite get there and in the process they lost their Australian terroir…

2009 Amon Ra – I am a big fan of this wine. It is distinctly Australian, big and bold from start to finish. The nose shows a powerful black fruit component with tobacco and black pepper. The palate always surprises me, as long as the wine is given adequate time to breathe. For a big wine it is rather light on its feet with pleasant silky tannins and a surprisingly crisp acidity.

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