Oh wow...

Ok, first I'll talk about Saturday Night... the 2002 Dom. Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Clavillions" was closed and tight. The minerals were very striking - coupled with the acid - it was almost too intense. This wine should be spectacular in a few years, but I think it's slightly disjointed for now. The 1990 E.Guigal Cote-Rotie La Mouline was much rounder, earthier and smokier than the other night. This wine is immense - and still a youthful baby. For syrah, it does not get better. Also, hints of tar and asphault. The 2000 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Grands-Echezeaux had an incredible perfume. Classic young DRC clove nose with roses and violets. Slightly spicy with soft earth, raspberry, and wild strawberry. Beautiful, long finish. For an off-vintage Burgundy, this wine still needs another 5 years at least to open.

Yesterday (Monday) was incredible. A tasting in Miami... You won't see comments about each wine unless I feel they warrant it. Get there for a Rose Champagne Seminar. Rose is so hot right now... it's great. Dom. Chandon etoile Rose, NV, California; Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Rose; Ruinart Rose (an especially powerful, extracted Rose); Moet & Chandon Millesime Rose 1999 (yeasty, bold, with slight tannins); Veuve Clicquot Vintage Rose 1999 (very floral - rose petals, red fruits); Veuve Clicquot Vintage Reserve Rose 1985 (truly spectacular - mature Rose! Nutty, buttery, and rich. Orange/yellow color); Dom Perignon Rose Vintage 1995 (caramel and nuts, with florality. Balanced, but very tight. Needs time); Dome Perignon Rose Vintage 1990 en Magnum (very classic Dom nose - coffee, nutty, toasty, with oil. Very pretty Rose); Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rose 1995 (sweeter, with marzipan and pastry notes - tropical fruits and quince with cherries. Excellent, with outstanding finish); Krug Rose MV (Best Rose... biscotti, tight, elegant, finesse - touch of tannin, with some yeast - classic Krug! The best!); Moet & Chandon Nectar Imperial Rose. Next, a "20 year Retrospective - 1985 & 1986" - 1985 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva "Il Poggio" (needs time - the 1968 shows what this might turn into); 1986 Chateau La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge (an amazing wine... the essence of Grenache - licorice, heavy earth, asian spices, smoky, sweet fruit - suprise of the tasting); 1986 Ceretto "Bricco Asili" Barbaresco Faset (Classic Barbaresco dried fruits, still hearty - but soft - tannin. Long, sweet finish. Beautiful); 1984 Marques de Grinon Dominio di Valdepusa Cabernet Sauvignon, La Mancha, Spain (pretty, cedar, black fruits, anise, dill, sawdusty); 1985 Newton Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon (very extracted, tired, sweet and jammy); 1985 Capezzana Cabernet Blend "Ghiaie della Furba", Supertuscan (smokey, still with strong tannins); 1986 Chateau Cheval-Blanc 1er Grand Cru Classe, St.-Emilion (still a baby, just opening, powerful, licorice, black currant, smoke - not yet showing the true strong cedar/cigar box nose that CB is so famous for.)

Ok... not done yet! In the Grand Tasting... 1998 Dom Perignon (classic Dom... needs time), 1990 Dom Perignon Oenotheque (so much coffee!!! Beautiful!); Krug Grand Cuvee, (more) Krug Rose; the highlite of the day... the 1990 Krug en Magnum (amazing... this is simply incredible stuff.); Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 1996; 2003 Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta (very tight... not my favorite); 2001 Ceretto Barolo "Bricco Rocche" Prapo (very intense... in a few years - like 10 - this will be simply stunning); 1999 Chateau Cheval Blanc (very nice - drink young); 1995 Chateau d'Yquem (classic d'Yquem nose, if not a bit lacking in power); 2000 Chateau La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge en Magnum (earthy, excellent); 2004 Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir (new release! - tighter than the 2003!); and lastly, you have to try Adbeg Islay Single-Malt... Nice day, huh? Everything was special... an amazing collection of wines. The highlite was clearly the Champagnes, being able to taste Dom and La Grande Dame with Krug... Still the 1990 Krug from Magnum was the stunner. Simply the greatest Champagne I've ever tasted.

Had to come back and edit this as I forgot the simply stunning 1994 Stags Leap Wine Cellars "Cask 23" with dinner... so young and lively. Just starting to show secondary aromas. Amazingly youthful wine...