The 1996 Joseph Phelps Backus Cabernet Sauvignon was completely underwhelming... It was our last bottle and it's nice to have it gone. It's got a cedary-black currant-blackberry nose that is much lighter than one would think, especially from the outstanding 1996 vintage... anyway, the 2002 Ramey Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay is amazing... still one of the best California Chardonnay's I've ever had, this wine is minerals, spicy oak, apples, pears, and there is an amazing purity about the wine. I wish I had bought the magnums when I had the chance...
Anyway, back to the countdown. It will be at least Friday, if not Wednesday before I get back to writing again (busy, busy few days ahead)... So we'll scratch the next three off the list.
#7 - 1990 Krug Brut, en Magnum - without question the single greatest Champagne I've ever had (better than the 85...) This is the complete opposite to the 1988 which is silky and soft. This is raw power with layers and layers of oxidized pears, brioche, autolisys, and an immense finish... It just doesn't get any better than this. So much better than the 1990 Krug Clos du Mesnil...
This is where all of the Cabernet Sauvignon based wines come out... Despite my heart being in Alsace, Germany, and Burgundy - the best wines being made are still from this grape. There is only one non-Cab based wine from here on out...
#6 - 1982 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, Premier Cru, Pauillac - one of the legends of wine, this is the single best bottle of Mouton I've ever had (still waiting for the invite on the '45 or '47...) After being decanted for 3 hours, it was just staring to show the depth and power of this wine. So silky and simply still a baby... I wouldn't open this until 2020 if I had some and they have been stored correctly... Black plums and graphite with amazing power. A stunner - was tasted next to 1982 La Mission Haut Brion and 1990 Montrose...
#5 - 1955 Chateau Haut-Brion, Premier Cru, Pessac - the only first growth not in the Haut-Medoc, this wine is bound to be different than the other 4... And while the other 4 are very different from each other (Mouton with it's silkiness, Lafite with its cedary elegance, Latour with its power, and Margaux with the sexy nose and amazing texture), it's Haut-Brion with its bacon-fat and gravel nose that makes it the most seductive. It will never be the most elegant, but wow, when its good, its really good. And when its great, almost nothing can come close. This was the first of 5 bottles I've tasted and it was the best... Tasting like a 1975, this wine was young and didn't open for about an hour and 1/2... Beautiful texture and completely envelops all of your senses... Great wine...
Ok... all that's left is the top 3 (two are tied at #3)...
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