by | June 9, 2011

Bruins Demolish Canucks

By: Philip Robert

Opened a couple bottles while watching the Bruins game.


99 Nicolas Potel Echezeaux - I dont have a lot of experience with Potel wines with the exception of some Criots Batards that I have absolutely loved. Popped and poured this was very very tight and needed a decant. This really came open after a little air and had a lovely nose of dried rose petals and almost a tarry component. Nicely tart on the attack showing bright red cherry and raspberry fruits with enough structure to make it really enjoyable. Just got better with air and was an exceptional bottle of wine.

98 Jadot Clos de Beze - this didnt show as well as the bottle I opened up a couple weeks ago – probably also had something to do with the fact that it was next to a more elegant Ech. Bigger and burlier than the Potel, this was all about dark raspberry and blackberry. A little soy and black tea on the nose but not giving up as much as I recall it did recently.

83 Zind Humbrecht Gewurtzminer Gueberschihr - ok, just where the heck did this come from? Simon said he wanted to drink something off the wall, so out this came from the cellar. It had a ton of funkiness that blew off after a few minutes, to reveal a waxy oily petrol bomb that was just so different than everything that we usually drink around here. Just all kinds of orange peel, white peach, complex florals and a tad bit o honey. This was just asking all kinds of questions and making you scratch your head. A really fun and different bottle of wine, just so complex!

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by | June 7, 2011

Fighting off the Heat.

By: AJ McClellan

A mellow Monday with the heat of an African sun beating down outside. The few members that we had come in were happy to be greeted with a crisp cool glass of Brocard Chablis. The zingy acidity and cold minerality of the white lifted our spirits and banished the oppressive heat of the day. In celebration we opened a great bottle of Bordeaux to bring the day to a close.

 

2008 Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis 1er Montee Tonnerre – This wine is a treat to drink, especially on a hot day. Crisp and clean with lemon meringue pie topped with lemon zest and a decorative floral arrangement of small white summer flowers. The palate was driven by a refreshing minerality sprayed with sea salt like treading through knee high schist next to the ocean.

1986 La Dominque – I was incredibly impressed with this bottle. Out of the gate it was classic Bordeaux with big forest floor, graphite, purple flowers, dry blue and black fruit, and a rocky minerality of crushed boulders and marl.  The palate was surprisingly soft for a wine from the notoriously big year of 86. Mellow tannins with soft boysenberries and blueberries backed by a thin stream of smoke and supple moist earth.

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by | June 4, 2011

Pre-weekend Festivities

By: AJ McClellan

Friday night was absolutely crazy. We had around 20 members drop in to partake in the pre-weekend festivities. The 2008 Dominus was the star of the night with a new 99 point rating everyone wanted to open a bottle to see what all the who-ha was about. I thought the wine was stunning and judging from the 5 bottles that got opened throughout the night everyone else appreciated it too.

 

2006 Cabot Homboldt County Syrah – A great bottle of Syrah that often is confused for a Cote Rotie. Meaty with great notes of game and spice.

2008 Dominus – This bottle was just released with a 99 point rating from Robert Parker. I must say that the bottle deserves every bit of the praise that has been bestowed upon it. Dark currants on the palate with juicy tannins that were surprisingly approachable for the youth of the wine.

1994 Guigal La Mouline – Guigal, as always, over delivers. Bacon fat and tar with plump cherries and black fruits.

1996 Guigal La Turque – This bottle was amazing with a rich nose of mocha and plums. The palate was like chocolate butter rich and thick with a finish of nutella melted over roasted coffee beans.

1978 Remoissnet Mazis Chambertin GC – This is what old Burgundy should taste like. Old earth and dry red fruits with a subtle spiciness. This is the kind of wine that makes you squint when you are trying to pick up the nuances.

2003 Spottswoode Cabernet – Classic Cali Cab with big ripe fruits and nice backing of vanilla, dill and cigar smoke.

2003 Dancing Hares – This was an interesting comparison to the 03 Spottswoode with more elegance and softer tannins the Dancing Hares was a very impressive bottle. The Spottswoode was bigger while the Dancing Hares was more elegant.

1993 Colgin Harb Lamb – This bottle has been drinking like a champ for the past week so why wouldn’t we open another bottle of it? Soft approachable tannins with dark fruits and subtle tobacco.

1999 Colgin Harb Lamb – The 99 was still a little tight compared to the 93 but still a stellar bottle with big rich fruits and a complex palate of cooking spice, tobacco, and rocky minerality.

2000 Dominus – Notes of cedar and leather on the nose with fresh cherries and currants on the palate. This was a fun bottle of wine but I think in time the 08 will far surpass it.

1990 Penfolds Bin 707 – Classic Australian with big spearmint and eucalyptus on the nose and a juicy palate of dark jammy fruits.

1998 Meo Camuzet Vosne Romanee 1er Les Chaumes – I was very impressed with this bottle right out of the gate. Smooth red fruits with a stunning mineral background and great complexity on the finish.

2001 Anne Gros Chambolle Musigny la combe d’Oveau – This wine came out of the gate with a very hot palate but after some time in the glass it mellowed out to a very nice drinker with simple red fruits and a limestone background that made this wine perfect for summer.

1982 Branaire Ducru – A great way to finish the night, classic Bordeaux with gravel, graphite, dusty black fruits, and a ton of earth. After some time in the glass the wine blew up to show mushrooms and sweet leaf tobacco.

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by | June 2, 2011

By: Philip Robert

Tonight we enjoyed a very informative and challenging blind tasting featuring wines from the Left bank versus Right bank.  For the most part, we were able to dissect the telltale characteristics of each of the wines and place them in their appropriate geography.  Here at Graileys we love tasting blind, it forces us to use our sensory receptors even more and it becomes more of an intellectual exercise than just drinking a glass of wine.  Alongside the wines we enjoyed a variety of dishes, from duck sausage to 21 day dry aged sirloin with mashed potatoes topped with duck confit.

Flight 1:

89 Pichon Lalande:  Tobacco, plum, peat moss and a little stinky on the nose.  A touch of cassis and dark berry fruit with a nicely rounded palate.  This was a little polarizing for some – they loved it or didn’t. It got so much better after having been opened for several hours.

90 Ch La Fleur de Gay:  Beautiful perfume of flowers, clearly an older wine.  Definitely silky on the palate, very seamless.  Bit of  plums, black cherry fruit and a touch of smokiness to it. I wouldn’t hesitate to pull these and be drinking them.  I preferred this out of the two.

Flight 2:

01 Cos d’Estournel:  I know I have had this wine before.  A bigger wine flight, clearly younger. Smoky cassis and licorice with a bit of mocha coffee, tobacco and minerality with lush blackberries.  Very sweet fruit and quite a bit tannic.  A very nice wine.

01 Bellevue Mondotte:  Incredible dense, almost impenetrable in the glass.  Blueberry pie filling, smoky spicy fruit with a bit of licorice.  Gorgeous floral nose that makes you want to stick your nose in the glass time and time again.  I really enjoyed this wine and would love to come back to it in 10 years.

Flight 3:

83 L’Evangile: A giant in the glass even with almost 30 years of age in the bottle. The nose had a distinct mint note followed by the more classic red and blue fruits and a floral arrangement of violets and daffodils. The palate was boisterous with huge earthy notes of tilled earth and barnyard funk ending in crushed dried fruits and a hint of leather and cedar.

86 Gruaud Larose:  Black fruit and a subtle earthiness to it.  I kept looking for the trace of brett here that I sometimes get from GL but there was none, a very clean wine.  Lots of tobacco, black cherry, strawberry and chalkiness at the finish.  Dark fruit and tobacco notes on the nose.  More cedar and leather notes on the palate it seems this really is a much younger wine.

 

Once we were finished with the formal tasting, Simon suggested we drink a 94 Petrus out of mag and how often do we get to do that?  This had a lovely floral nose, think crushed and dried potpourri.  More blue and black fruits attack the palate and was still dark and brooding.  It really needed some time in the glass to really strut but once it found its stride it just exuded elegance.  Silky and smooth really just a pretty bottle of wine.

00 Lynch Bages: Another hugely dense wine but very balanced.  Crushed flowers and brambles on the nose, it just blew up in the glass after an hour.  Blackberry jam and plums with loads of leather and cedar.  Hedonism.

93 Colgin Herb Lamb: The third bottle of this I have had in the last week and this was much better than the last bottle.  Massive blueberry and cherry, still in its prime with gorgeous silky tannins and an extremely long and dense finish.

98 Guigal La Mouline:  After all of the Bordeaux and Cabs that we drank tonight it was time to go to the Rhone.  This was the star of the night for me. Popped and poured this just absolutely exploded in the glass with violets and crazy bacon and meaty notes.  Purple sweet fruit and so incredibly balanced, while it is dense it is so open for business I’m hardly believing it.  You can’t end the evening much better than this.  I don’t know what kind of magic spell is being used in the winery but LaLa’s for me deliver the best bang for the buck around.  An absolutely stellar bottle of wine.  WOTN for me by far.

1994 Petrus Magnum – After the tasting we all threw in for this stunning bottle. It was young for sure but after a few decants and several hours in the glass this behemoth opened up to show a luscious barnyard nose with ripe black and red fruits and fantastic earthy minerality. The palate was full and think with earth and forest floor.

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by | May 31, 2011

Seriously, Chips are my life…

By: AJ McClellan

When Dave is in town you never know what craziness will ensue, the only thing that you can be sure of is that at some point in time a Champagne cork will be popped and the fryer will be fired up to make Graileys legendary “Chips n Krug”. When Dave got in he immediately asked for the trademark dish, after a round of laughter Dave replied “Seriously, chips are my life…”

 

NV Krug – always a classy way to start the night. Lemon zest with limestone and a slight yeast note. A mellow effervescence with pleasant fruit and great minerality.

1997 Domaine Leflaive Puligny Montrachet 1er Les Folatieres – I blinded this wine as a hot vintage Cali Chard. I should have known better as the alcohol was not prevalent but I could not get my head around how fat the wine was. Also the fruit was very tropical and more prevalent that I thought a Burgundian Chard would have…

1993 Colgin Herb Lamb – Why wouldn’t we drink this two days in a row? This bottle was not showing as well as last nights but it was still one tasty beverage. Dark ripe fruits followed by tobacco and cooking spice.

1999 Hudelot Noellat Richebourg – This is one of my favorite wines in the cellar right now. A brilliant nose of sweet earth, dry leaves, and forest floor followed by dry red currants and boysenberries. The palate was silky smooth with a depth and complexity that makes you sit with the glass for hours just to cherish the finish for as long as possible.

1994 Guigal Lalandonne – This Guigal was singing with earth, tar, leather, tobacco, and smoked wild ginny hen. The palate was well balanced with subtle black fruits and cigar box.

1995 Vine Cliff Oakville Cabernet – Classics Cali Cab with big fruit and a backing of wood spice.

1996 Chapoutier Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac – This wine was as good if not better than the Guigal with a huge forest floor and giant spice box that made me want to go get a steak. Classic sandalwood and leather on the palate.

1969 Remoissenet Nuits St Georges 1er Les Cailles - I am a big fan of this wine. I have had it on several occasions and for a wine with 40 years on it the wine is still spry with zingy acidity and lively fruit. The palate was superb with plenty of earth to go around and a finish as smooth as a slip n slide coated with Vaseline.

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by | May 30, 2011

A Good Day For Blind Tasting

By: AJ McClellan

With a great day behind us we decided to pop a few excellent bottles around the table. As more members rolled through the door the evening turned into a game of guess that wine. Bottle after bottle poured from the lockers each in a brown paper sack held by members with wolfish grins hoping to stump everyone around the table with their selection.

1994 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon – Easily blinded as Cali Cab by the sweet fruit and hot finish. I had high hopes for this bottle as it was my first time drinking it but I was disappointed. While it was not a bad bottle it failed to reach the level of excellence that the bottles reputation had lead me to expect. Slightly disconjointed and with the alcohol obtrusively apparent this wine was disappointing.

1993 Colgin Herb Lamb – One of the greats of Napa this bottle was drinking like a champ. Fresh plums and black cherries with cooking spice and hints of cedar on the nose. The palate was full and rich with big fruit and smooth tannins.

2001 Bacio de Vino – We had opened this bottle the previous day but failed to finish off the wine. Soft and smooth with ripe fruit and heavy spice it was interesting to see how the 18 percent of Sangiovese affected the wine.

2005 Domaine Dujac Morey Saint Denis – Phil blinded us on this one and while I hedged with a newer Burgundy I ended up calling it a 05 Grenache based wine out of CDP. Big spice with a heavier body than one would expect from Burgundy. After the wine opened up it showed more characteristics true to its regions with black and red currants and a healthy dose of earth and minerality.

2002 Pierre Peters Les Chetillons – a great bottle of bubbles showing a hint of yeast with a light effervescence. White rock minerality on the palate with classic lemon and lime zest.

2000 d’Aremberg Coppermine Road Cabernet  – This was an interesting bottle of wine… I blinded it as old Cali Cab as it was showing a lot of oak and big ripe fruits. I did not expect to see the vintage 2000 on the bottle. For a wine with only 10 years of age on it the juice was a old rusty color and the wine had almost faded to nothingness.

1996 Guigal La Turque – Easily blinded as Guigal with giant black pepper and huge smoked game. After a few hours the leather and tar started coming out and the wine softened to show an excellent balance and finesse.

1970 BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet – I was torn between old Pauillac and old Cali Cab. In the end there was something that hinted at California so I went with my gut calling it late seventies Cab. Excelletn fruit for a wine with 40 years of age on it. There was a heavy dose of wood spice and a finish of earth and leather.

2001 Solaia – This bottle threw everyone for a loop with guesses ranging from Cali Cab to Northern Rhone. The wine was as fantastic as it was hard to peg down. The nose showed sweet red fruits with hints of pipe tobacco and lavender. The palate had fresh red and black fruits dusted with black pepper and a superb balance.

1998 Joseph Drouhin Musigny GC – A great wine to finish the night with. We committed some infanticide with this bottle but after a good four hours in the glass the wine started to open up and show its true colors. Great dark fruits with savory earth and roasted tobacco.

2007 & 2008 Dos Logos Cabernet – We blinded the 07 and 08 Dos Logos together and got many different responses. The 07 was called Cali Cab by most while the 08 was named many things from young Bordeaux to Humboldt Syrah. I was impressed by both bottles but I think the 08 was drinking more forward right now while the 07 is about to go through a dumb faze.

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by | May 27, 2011

A Great Night of Great Wine

By: AJ McClellan

This was a crazy night; we had three different groups come in throughout the day each opening some great bottles of wine. After the dust settled we ended up with a great night and an excellent lineup of empty bottles.

 

1978 Remoissenet Clos de Beze GC – Rustic earth on the nose followed by dry currants and dusty plums. The palate was very well balanced with a smoothness that can only come from a well aged wine.

2005 Amuse Bouche – After opining the first one it was so good that we needed another. Juicy blue fruit and succulent spice. A great bottle of wine that will only get better with time.

1989 Pichon Lalande – Classic Bordeaux. Wet soil with cooking spices and a cigar box finish. The body was very silky with smooth tannins and excellent balance.

1999 Grange – Still a baby. After an hour in the glass the wine finally started to open up showing classic Grange notes of eucalyptus, tea leaf, spearmint, and juicy dark fruits.

1988 Schramsberg Blanc de Noir – A great bottle to refresh the palate. Citrus notes of freshly squeezed lemon and lime zest. Mild yeast on the palate with a pleasant minerality.

2008 Corra – This bottle is always a treat with giant ripe fruit and a finish of tobacco and chocolate it will be one of the greats in years to come.

NV Pierre Peters Rose – The grower Champagne from the winemaker of La Grande Dame. Soft and approachable with fresh strawberries and watermelon backed up by white rock and a hint of yeast.

1997 Leroy Corton Charlemagne GC – This was my wine of the night. Buttered popcorn with a blazing acidity and tropical fruits. The minerality was extremely impressive and a slight hint of white pepper.

1978 Remoissenet Chambertin GC –  More elegant than the Clos de Beze with a hint more minerality. Red fruits with a hint of wood spice on the end.

1989 Ramon Lafon 375ml – This is such a good bottle of wine. The perfect amount of sweetness with a touch of honey and limestone.

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by | May 26, 2011

Rosenthal Wines

By: AJ McClellan

Our favorite importer of Rosenthal wines, John Payne, came in yesterday to taste us on some goodies. All wines were in the 30-50 price range and drinking great. I was particularly intrigued by the Moscato, the Savennieres, and the Chianti…

 

2010 DeForville Moscato d’Asti – A excellent Moscato d’Asti with great citrus notes of orange and tangerine.

2007 Mas Cal Demoura L’Etincelle Blanc – Very dry with waxy notes on the palate. Green apple, dry white flowers, and lemon peal.

2009 Monastero Suore Cistercensi Blanc – Sweet peach on the nose with a touch of watermelon. The palate showed complex oxidative notes with a crisp finish.

2008 Chateau de l’Eperonniere Savennieres La Croix Picot – A fun glass of wine. Kiwi bubblegum with star fruit and a huge minerality.

2007 Henri Prudhon Saint Aubin 1er Les Frionnes – Bright purple in color with a earthy nose and ripe fruits. There was a rocky minerality on the palate with light cherries and watermelon.

2008 Domaine de la Petite Mairie Cuvee des Galluches – This wine was mamas brisket with a heavy hand of pepper and sliced jalapenos over top.

2007 Chateau Belregard Figeac – Wet rock minerality with rustic spices and white pepper on the finish.

2009 Domaine Faillenc Sainte Marie Escapade – Very floral wine with purple violets and red roses. The palate showed notes of beef jerky and smoke.

2007 Villa Sant’ Anna Chianti – Huge soy sauce on the nose followed by tobacco and big dusty cherry. The palate showed notes of cedar and dark fruits.

2008 La Torre Rosso di Montalcino – Leather and tar with big earthy notes followed by wood spice and dark fruits.

2006 Mas Cal Demoura Coteaux du Languedoc Rouge – Sweet red fruits with classic Bordeaux earth notes. Some Graphite and smoke on the finish.

2003 Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rouge – Huge liquorish on the nose with tilled earth and a touch of VA. This was a funky wine.

2009 Domaine de Fenouillet Muscat de Beaumes de Venise – A great way to end the tasting, the nose reminded me of walking into the bath and body store assaulting my senses with citrus peel, lemon, white lilies, and lavender moon.

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by | May 25, 2011

Krisi Raymond and Five Vintners

By: AJ McClellan

We had a great tasting with Krisi Raymond, owner and winemaker for Five Vintners. While Krisi keeps a very modest price point on her wines they easily drink with wines twice their worth. It was a lot of fun to sit with Krisi and talk to her about the different methods of winemaking she employs, and how she has a very similar winemaking style to her father Walter Raymond of Raymond Vineyards.

 

2009 Five Vintners Sauvignon Blanc – A wonderful Sauvignon Blanc that showed classic tropical fruits with a mineral backing holding the wine in excellent balance.

2007 Five Vintners Zinfandel – I was very impressed with this Zinfandel. Bright red fruits with plenty of pepper and spice.

2003 Five Vintners Syrah – Jammy fruit burst out of the glass on this wine along with white pepper and cooking spices.

2007 Five Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon – A 40 dollar cab that drinks like an 80 dollar cab. Plums, black chery, and red currants with a selection from the spice cabinet that makes a great balance coupled with hints of pepper, vanilla bean, and chocolate.

After the tasting it was time to pop some great bottles around the table.

 

2008 Realm Farella Vineyard – One of my favorite bottles from the Realm line there was a great fruit structure with subtle hints of cooking spice and a soft background of tannins.

2007 Revana Cabernet Sauvignon – Revana typically has a light hand with his wines making a more approachable style with refined tannins and smooth fruit. The 07 is no exception and was drinking beautifully yesterday.

2001 Palmaz Cabernet Sauvignon – This is a personal favorite of mine. The Palmaz vineyard makes great wines but this 01 bottling of their Cabernet is simply stunning. Ripe red and black fruits with tannins that melt in your mouth.

2008 Corra Cabernet Sauvignon – In time this wine will grow up to be a great bottle. Right now it is a little rough around the edges (compared to the 01 Palmaz) but for how youthful the wine is it is simply fantastic.

2005 Laetitia Pinot Noir – This bottle was disappointing. Thin and with a super hot alcohol burn that made it a quick contribution to the dump bucket…

2005 Le Gay – A great bottle but we drank it about 15 years to early. Tight tannins made this wine difficult to drink out o the shoot. After a few hours the wine mellowed out and stated to show some pleasant fruit and wood spice but it really needs some bottle age to come to fruition.

2006 Egelhoff Cabernet Sauvignon – Corked.

2005 Hill Family Double Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon – This bottle is drinking like a champ right now. Succulent fruit with smooth tannins and great balance.

1999 Rockford Shiraz Basket Press – I was very impressed with this wine. Our good buddy Bill brought it over from Australia for us and boy was it amazing. Drinking like only an Australian Shiraz can this bottle made me think of Grange with spearmint, menthol, jammy purple fruits, and a elegant black earth note on the finish.

 

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by | May 24, 2011

Bolly Rose on a Monday afternoon

By: Simon Roberts

A nice couple of hours spent with two great clients yesterday afternoon, The Chairman was in full effect with  great stories as was our Aussie friend  and world traveler William .  Great fun guys!

 

NV Bollinger Rose – This never fails to please, just a great bottle of bubbly showing strawberry and  fresh baked bread on the nose , some nice yeasty nuances, superb balance of flavors and silky smooth finish. A great value Rose and a Graileys staple.

 1998 Penfolds Bin 707 – Thanks for this one Bill,  the nose on this was interesting , oaky and intermixed with spearmint . This is super concentrated cabernet that leaves a lasting impression of huge black fruits , eucalyptus and a smoked barbeque finish.

 2005 Maybach Materium Cabernet – Phil popped this one and it was firing on all cylinders , massive attack to the senses, I am not a huge cab guy myself but this one impressed with mocha, milky chocolate and sweet cassis mid palate.

 1990 Remoissenet Richbourge – Not to be outdone by the chairman and Wild Bill I snuck off to the cellar and pulled this beauty, classic Richebourg nuances, Hermitage like beef blood and iron that blew off after 15 minutes revealing a classically balanced burgundy that just kept asking you questions every time you sipped it. It was still evolving at the last sip, once again I drank it too quickly. I need to be more patient with these…..but is is tough when it tastes this good!

 2007 Crocker and Starr Stone Place Cabernet – We were joined late by another member  and Brian opened this up and it impressed once again. I went back to this wine this morning when  I came in…..it was still showing massive fruit and  was tasting a lot softer than when we first popped it, no hard edges with velvety smooth blackcurrant and plum and nicely integrated  oak.

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