By: AJ McClellan
Dave and his friends Mitch, Alex, and Majdi dropped into Graileys while in town for the Super Bowl. The original plan was to have a bottle or two then head out for dinner… Half a case later everyone was having such a great time that the decision was made to enjoy the Graileys atmosphere, throw a few steaks on the grill, and blow it out with some great bottles of wine.
1987 William Hill Cabernet – A nose of ripe red cherries and cedar with a touch of clove and tobacco on the end. The palate was surprisingly fresh with ripe red fruits and smooth rich tannins.
2006 Sisters Cabernet – Always a treat, the nose showed blue and red fruits with a background of cooking spices and leather. The palate was rich and easy drinking with sweet chocolate and ripe fruits.
2007 Crocker & Starr Stone Place Cabernet – This 500 case production wine is one of my favorites from the 07 vintage. The nose had hints of smoke and tobacco with soft black fruits. The palate was very refined with notes of star anise, smoke, and rich ripe black fruits.
2007 Caymus – One of Napa’s classic wines, the Caymus, was showing well with wild cherries and big spice. The palate was hard and in need of some time to smooth out but very drinkable.
2005 Fousalette Reserve – Opulent on the nose with black liquorish, mushrooms, wet soil, and crushed wild black fruits. The palate was powerful and chewy with dark fruits and a mouthful of tobacco and barnyard.
1999 Monbousquet – Huge out of the gate with an unusually high alcohol level of 14%. After the heat blew off, the wine showed concentrated black fruits with tobacco, mocha, and graphite. The palate took a few hours to come around but once it did the wine showed a magnificent earthy display with forest floor, mushrooms, damp leaves, and dried bark.
1998 Domaine Jean Grivot Richebourg – This wine was brilliant right out of the gate. A seductive ruby red color in the glass with a nose that jumped out and grabbed you, showing bright Bing cherry, blooming red rose pedals, and a hint of red liquorish. The palate was silky with soft tannins and a complex combination of perfume, exotic spices, and ripe red fruits.
1988 Beringer Private Reserve – Dusty on the nose with old leather and spice box. The palate showed some dried black fruits with soft well integrated tannins and a long finish.
1996 Pichon Lalande – This Pichon was drinking exceptionally well, the past few bottles I have had of the ‘96 were excellent, but in need of some more time in the bottle. Not so with this wine, the nose was forward showing ripe cherries, plums, forest floor, crushed rock, and classic Bordeaux funk. The palate was smooth with notes of autumn leaves, black liquorish, and vanilla bean. Long finish coupled with a slight sweetness to the tannins.
1998 Cru d’Arche Pugneau – Glazed apricots on the nose with green pears and honey. The palate was caramel apples and butterscotch.