Vertical of Ports

Had a nice vertical of Port today... 1970 to 2003 (10 of them in that range). The 2003 Dow's is going to be exceptional... very long on the palate with pretty caramel and grapy qualities with loads of blackberry. The 2003 Graham's is a bit more dusty with cherries and plum and TONS of black pepper. The 1994 Dow's is a blockbuster... while not the Fonseca or Taylor Fladgate, it is one heck of a wine. Amazing depth and layers of fruit. The 1991 Dow's is a powerful, but pretty, wine. The 1985 Smith Woodhouse is a smooth, soft wine that needs time to reveal pretty caramel popcorn that is in the background. The 1983 Graham's has much higher acidity and freshness than even the 1985. Nice, but not great. The 1970 Graham's is gorgeous. Honeyed pear, citrus, candied plums, and caramel... loads of complexity. A good tasting...

Perfect Barolo

The 1996 Gaja Sperss is the greatest Italian wine I have ever tasted. Filled with tar, leather, truffles, black currant, cherries and rose petals. Such a delicate, powerful wine. Reminds me of a great Le Musigny - with more tannic power. The wine just completely envelops the palate and is amazing. I served it to a serious collector last night who proclaimed it (as did I) one of the 10 best wines they've ever had. As a side note, WS only gave this 89 Points... I don't know what they were tasting that day, but while this is not worthy of 100, it is far beyond that rating. ? Anyway... I'm excited to see how this wine develops over the coming decades (yup... if you have a few, open one now. If not... wait for a while. This is only a baby).

Fun Times (This post has nothing wine-related in it)

I know alot about beer... more than most people would ever want to know. Other than Michael Jackson (no, not the one with the glove), I think I met the uber-beer man the other day. Amazing knowledge. Not even in the beer business (does homebrew). Amazing person... Saw the band Crazy Fingers the other night - really killer. Amazing Grateful Dead cover band... brought me back... if you ever get a chance to check them out, do it. They play all over South Florida.

Fun Friday

Had a nice bottle of 2001 Argyle Sparkling Brut earlier in the week. A very nice wine from Oregon... good stuff at the right price. Last night the 1998 Chateau Beychevelle was green and short and quite thin. Not the best wine. The 1997 T.FX.T Arachon, Mittelburgenland, Austria (Merlot, Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch und Cabernet Sauvignon) was earthy and powerful with beautiful tannins and lovely mature fruit. A great wine from a very underappreciated region in a great vintage. The 1995 Chatau Mouton-Rothschild is just starting to open. Loads of cocoa and mocha with black currants and lots of tannin on the palate. I'm not selling another of these for another year or so. It took 2 hours to open.

From the Week

The 1996 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill is a simply awesome bottle of wine with decades of life left in it. One of the few California Cabs to need at least a decade of aging before it's approachable (ala Dunn). Lovely cedar with gripping tannins and tons of fruit. If only winemakes would follow this lead... Right now I'm having a glass of 2002 Reichsgraf von Kesselstadt Schwarzhofberger Riesling Spatlese. These 2002s are showing pretty petrol notes and lots of classic slate on the nose and palate, but they are missing the great length that defines truly great German Riesling. The 2001s are great... the 2002s, pretty good...

Saturday

1997 Gaja Costa Russi, 1999 Gaja Sugarille Brunello di Montalcino, 1990 Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne, 1996 Chateau Pichon-Baron

Friends

A marvelous few days at the beach with great friends... 2002 Lewis Alec's Blend, 2004 Weinbach Cuvee Laurence Gewurztraminer, 2003 Newton Unfiltered, 2000 Chavy Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru, 2003 Turley "Hayne Vineyard" Petite Sirah, 2001 Rochioli River Block Pinot Noir, 2002 Kistler Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, 1995 Frigalli Brunello di Montalcino, 2002 Artadi Vinas de Gain Rioja, 1999 Quilceda Creek, 2002 Dehlinger Pinot Noir, 2001 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir, 2003 Betz "Clos de Betz", 2003 Betz Syrah "La Serenne", 2001 Col Solare.

Sorry...

I've been really not keeping up with this... not that much great wine in the last week either... except for Tuesday night. The 2002 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grands Echezeaux is so dominated by wood, that the pretty strawberry, raspberry and earth perfume almost couldn't penetrate... right now the wine is unbalanced and acidic. Give it a few years before opening... the 1998 Penfold's Grange on the other had is tremendous. Simply amazing wine. Black raspberry with tons of clove, vanilla, black pepper... amazing depth and layers of fruit. It's 8 years old and tastes like it was just bottled... give it a decade.