By: AJ McClellan
Sometimes a bottle comes along that is truly a remarkable wine. I had one such experience Saturday afternoon here at Graileys. We had planned on it being a special night; I had a bottle of 1971 Dom Perignon Oenotheque already chilling down and another bottle of 1996 Dom Perignon Oenotheque in the wings. But nothing could prepare me for the 1955 Leroy Chambertin that ended up getting popped after the bubbles.
The wine was absolutely sensational! Starting out with an ever so elegant nose of dried red cherries and crushed currants mixed with a limestone mélange containing vanilla bean and coco. Over a two hour period the wine continually changed giving off subtle mineral, earth, and spice notes giving you a different nose each time you take in the beautiful perfume. I was astonished at how full the fruit notes were, giving a very ripe nose and luscious sweetness on the palate.
Wow, what tannins and mouth feel on this wine! Like drinking fine silk. The wine was light on the palate but the finish refused to leave the senses, leaving behind a rocky minerality and fresh red berry note that combined to electricity the palate. This was simply one of the finest wines I have had and by far the best bottle I have had this year.