Last Few Days

Tonight, the 1990 Dom Perignon "Oenetheque" (their version of RD) shows a gorgeous, classic Dom nose of hazelnuts with pretty brioche and yeast... Delicate and very much a finesse-driven wine. Apricots and pears mostly... a long, elegant finish. Very good, but not stunning... it's no 1988 Krug, for instance... Tuesday, the 2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia is still shut... continue to give it time. The 1998 Ornellaia however, was completely and utterly... underwhelming. Yes, it has a long, balanced finish. Yes, it has vibrant acid and a pretty nose. What is so underwhelming about it? The fact that the wine is showing so much wood that it tastes like a 2x4!!! There is a little bit of fruit, but I'm amazed at what this wine has turned into in the last 12 months. I hope that this bottle was a freak, but I don't think so... I've never been all that impressed by it and wouldn't imagine it improving much.