By Simon Roberts
Friday afternoons are gaining great reputation here at Graileys: good wines are always opened, people are relaxed and in a generous and sharing mood collectively enlivened by the weekend ahead. So, as usual, we had a plethora of wines shared around the tables last Friday. Some of the stunning standouts included a 1996 Jones Family Cabernet Sauvignon popped open by Keith who was hanging out at Graileys killing a few hours as he waited for his wife to finish shopping. This is a well made wine and standing the test of time. The palate has fleshed out, the tannins were softer and more approachable showing a well-rounded finish. Next up was a 2003 Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5 which was opened by The Don whose whole family was in for a pre-dinner tasting. The nose was really expressive with sandalwood, spice and big black currant flavors. For me, this wine needed a longer decant or better yet, lay it down for a few more years. This wine clearly has everything in balance, it just needs time to realize its potential. Doc Scott was in fine form again last Friday opening a 1998 D’Auvenay Meursault Les Gouttes D’Or. Wow!!! This is one of those wines that defy everything. It tastes like nothing you have had before. There was so much going on in this glass; for me, it was liquid gold showing a perfect balance of fruit with very strong mineral and wet stone flavors. The mid-palate was sensational with cream of butterscotch. It tasted like a piece of cake that you know is very bad for the arteries, but so worth the risk. I wanted more as the glass drained out. Brad strolled in next and opened a 1966 B.V. Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon. He’s had some great luck opening classic aged cabernets of late, but his luck ran out with this bottle. It was dead as a doornail. In true Brad fashion, it was time to move on and the next wine pulled from his locker was a 1991 Leroy Corton Renardes that was singing. I kept going back to this classically-made Pinot over the next two hours and it got better and better with air. Note to self: going forward, I am going to pour a couple of ounces and hide it until the end of the night and see how wines evolve over time. That is if, I can keep my stash away from L.A. Corks started popping as more members filtered in. Dr. Ellis opened a very good 1999 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon. I love Togni cabernets, they are so individual in style, so elegant and complex and always deliver. Everyone had a Friday head on such that when Keith’s wife Jean walked in the door, a 1996 Dom Perignon Oenotheque , was waiting for her. As the bottle was passed around and shared amongst everyone, this place just went nuts. For me, this is one of the best Champagnes I have had the pleasure to taste. The nose was not at all overpowering. At first sniff I thought it was quite muted but once I tasted this and rolled it around my mouth I knew… this was a special wine. On the palate, it exploded with a myriad of flavors and completely enveloped the taste buds. Aawesome, just friggin’ flat out stunning, crazy good wine! Matt commented it may be the best Champagne he has ever tasted. Iit was superb. I did not think it could get any better but it did. Not to be outdone, Doc Scott opened a 1971 Dom Perignon. Once again, it was passed around and gasps were heard all over the room. Tasting a classic, perfectly-aged Champagne like this is a rare occasion. I had to personally police this bottle as once you get a taste of this, you instinctively want more. It is like nothing you have had before with nutmeg, brioche, butterscotch, and sourdough pulp. It tasted like a great old Montrachet with a slight effervescence. I may have to summon St. Peter to man the door next Friday the way it has been going on here at Graileys wine heaven.