By the time clock struck 4pm, the place was abuzz with cork popping all over the room. My first stop was the 2006 Smith-Haut Lafitte Blanc. Youthful and aromatically expressive with big gooseberry, quince, lime blossom, orange peel and oaky notes. The palate is rich and full-bodied with pronounced toasty oak and vanilla along with juicy apricot, peach, tangerine and quince. Unabashedly oaky but great harmony and high energy on the palate. Long, citrusy finish. The creamy texture balanced by gobs of ripe fruit make this wine attractive to drink now. Personally, I’d like to see it in another five years; I’m hoping for a greater integration of the oak component.
My Man MM and Bill N were huddled around the bar area deciding what awesome wine to start their night with. Bill N was up first with his 2007 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve whose haunting liqueur-like aromatics filled the bar area as the wine was poured into glasses. Impressive purity of fruit here. Loads of raspberry ganache, wild berries, candied black cherries, licorice and sweet spice led to a beautifully smooth, succulent and broad palate. This wine’s seamless and fruit-driven structure nicely hits and fills every corner of your palate. Wow!
MM reciprocated with a bottle of 1982 La Mission Haut Brion which was really good on the outset but blossomed into an incredible bottle within two hours of sitting in the glass. It became broader on the palate and deeper in flavors. Savory notes on the front; peaty, charred wood, black truffle, scorched earth, leather, tobacco with a background of blueberry compote. Supple textured with well-integrated and ripe tannins. Just enough grip in the back end to balance all that flavor concentration. This was an exquisite bottle of wine that wowed me with its complexity.
MM followed up with the 1982 Camille Giroud Mazis-Chambertin. This pull came out of the left field as he is a Bordeaux and California Cabernet fanatic. But he apparently loved Mazis-Chambertin’s silky, sensuous texture. Fully mature with iron, leather, game, dried herbs and a background of roasted coffee on the nose and palate. Full-bodied and vibrant; velvet textured; persistent length.
This was turning into a proper Graileys night but what made this occasion more incredible is that all these amazing bottles were getting shared around the few groups we had in that night. As Bill N sauntered over to the closest table to share his wine, he recognizes an old acquaintance and promptly orders a bottle of 1990 Angelus for the table. This had amazing density, concentration and opulence. Packed with ripe black fruit flavors (plums, blackberries and currants) backed by tobacco, eucalyptus and green pepper. That addition of Cabernet Franc really added aromatic complexity. This is appealing right now but definitely youthful and has easily another 20 years of life ahead.