Friday was a great start to the weekend with a great band of strong California wines, Bordeaux, and Champagne that were opened by an even greater group of members. It was hard to pick a favorite, as there were many potential bottles for the stars of the night. From Bordeaux we opened, we had a side by side of Graileys’ House Bordeaux: Pichon Lalande. 1959 and 2002 vintages were opened and wow what a great difference in these bottles. With the age, the Pichon Lalande from the stellar 1959 vintage was dark brick in color, and everything about this wine was delicate to me, but nowhere near in a bad way. Ripe and dried red cherries, delicate tobacco, soft nutmeg spice, were all dancing on the nose and palate along elegantly integrated dried leaves, dried rose petals, and soft dried herbs with Pichon Lalande’s signature silky texture. The fruit was the first to cut off from the finish, but soft forest floor lingered forever.
The more youthful 2002 Pichon Lalande boasted fresh red cherries, blackberries and fresh floral tones. Black-pepper, cedar, and rounded vanilla all beautifully mingled with the riper fruit. The mid-palate was luscious with lavender, black currant jam, and a layer of smoke and graphite. The fruit and earth were more pungent in the finish than the ’59, but lingered just as long.
We also opened a 1982 Beychevelle, which was rocking! At first nose, it was nothing but espresso, mocha, and coffee with rich black fruit and lush red petals. Layers of toasted earth, roasted mushroom, toasted wood and deep vanilla all sprang into play with a very distinctive sweetness in the wine that caught my palate. There was power and length in the finish with notes of leather, crushed pepper, and gravel, along with that hint of sweet cigar.
Normally, we blog about the best wines of the night, but I have to mention there was a bottle that was not as pleasing to say the least. A 1978 La Lagune was opened and Haut-my lord, this Haut Medoc has definitely seen better days. The wine had completely fallen apart. I could tell you how there were notes of rotten plums, burnt nuts and charred herbs on the nose, but my palate was not as brave to confirm such said marks.
I hate to finish on a bad tone, so other wines that were non-Bordeaux, but showing equally at their best were the 2005 Sine Qua Non Atlantis Fe2O3-2a Grenache and the 1997 Tignanello. The 2005 Sine Qua Non Atlantis Fe203-2a Grenache took me to chocolate covered Luxardo cherries, licorice, and lavender with luxurious mouthfeel loaded with baking spices and a sweet blue and black fruit liqueurs. The 1997 Tignanello also made me think of Luxardo cherries, but with the Italian funk. This full-bodied wine had tannins stronger than the 2002 Pichon Lalande. The Tig opened up to dried purple petals, red licorice, leather, tar, red peppercorn, and dried herbs. The finish was extremely lengthy with dried blackberries leading the more complex elements of leather, mushroom, and dusty minerals.
Other great bottles opened this night…
2013 Miraval Rose Provence
2002 Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Champagne
1985 Louis Roederer Crystal Brut Rose Champagne
NV Krug Grand Cuvee (Half Bottle)
2010 Michel Gay et Fils Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru Serpentieres
1970 Chateau Lynch Bages Pauillac
2009 Chateau La Fleur-Petrus Pomerol
2010 Chateau La Fleur-Petrus Pomerol
2000 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
2011 Entre Nous ‘9 Barrels’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Oakville
2005 Sine Qua Non Atlantis Fe2O3-2a Grenache
2010 Robert Foley Merlot Napa Valley
2009 Amouse Bouche Red Napa Valley
2009 Araujo Eisele Vineyard Syrah (Magnum)
2012 Pahlmeyer Red Blend
2012 Del Dotto Cabernet Franc Napa Valley