Been a long time...

and it's going to be even longer...

2005 Chapoutier La Bernadine Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 1975 Suduiraut, 1957 Pichon Baron, 1988/1989/2001 Pichon Baron, 2006 Rose des Tourelles, 2005 S de Suduiraut, 1995 Calon-Segur, 1985 La Mission Haut Brion, 2005 Robert Weil Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken, 2004 Kosta Brown Sonoma Coast, 2002 St. Innocent Shea Vyd Pinot Noir.... All will be coming shortly

Will they ever come around???

Some nice wines last night... The 1999 Chateau Pontet Canet was nice, but certainly ready to drink. Lots of coffee and mocha with cedary black cherries. The 2004 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon was powerful, a bit unbalanced though with excess extraction and alcohol... The 1999 Jean Luc Columbo Hermitage "Les Rouets" was earthy, meaty, and spicy... The 2001 M. Chapoutier St. Joseph "Les Granits" could be the best example of the appellation produced today. Lots of black olives and peppery black raspberries. Very meaty and earthy... could easily be mistaken for a decent bottle of Hermitage. The 2001 Sterling Diamond Mountain Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon is beautiful(!!!!)... the nose was very seductive with silky black currants, dusty earth and chocolate boisenberry liqueor with loads of cassis. Sterling gets a bad rap sometimes, but they are still making traditionally styled Napa Cabs built to age a long time. The 1975 Chateau Suduiraut (same bottle from a few weeks ago) is just beginning to open up!!! Can anyone say honeyed apricots??? On to a fairly controversial vintage (at least for now)... the 1995 Chateau Haut-Brion was closed. And closed it stayed. Except for perhaps an ounce left in a glass for several hours - and it was beautiful - loads of gravely bacon-fat and cedar. Can anyone say "long-lived vintage"???? Most of the 1995s I've had are still closed and not giving much at all - BUT - and this is a big BUT - they are in such balance that when they do open (and I now believe most will come around), they will be one of the great vintages of the last 30 years (up there with 82 and 90)...

Oh no!

The last bottle of 1997 Dominus we had was completely corked... nasty stuff really. Such a shame. Gave me an opportunity to try the 2004 Plumpjack Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - what a powerhouse! The nose was a bit closed, and so was the palate at first, then WHAM! All at once... this needs time. BTW, this was in screwcap! The 1985 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion was beautiful bacony-pulverized gravel and leather. Not the most powerful, but a beauty.

It's coming...

Just when I thought I might be able to take a breather... nope!!! Two great bottles... 1998 Alvario Palacios L'Ermita Priorat and the 2000 Guigal La Mouline Cote Rotie... both beautiful. Straw and black earth for the Priorat (incredible finish... big tannins), and amazing meat and beautiful dark chocolate, black olive and smoky grilled bacon... awesome stuff. The 2005 Lewis Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most powerful Lewis has ever produced (and that's saying something)... though, it is nicely balanced. The 2003 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Clavillion was a bit warm and the alcohol a bit overpowering to get a good read on this one.

"6 is the new 8"

Back from an amazing week in Chile. I'll write about it in the coming days (hopefully not too many days!)... just recovering for now.

End and Beginning

So, the end of a year and the start of a new one. They both were quite the same... lots of DRC on both accounts. So, the start of the year was two bottles of the 1988 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grands Echezeaux... the first bottle was superior to the others I tried but not by much. It was perhaps a touch younger... earthy, spicy, peppery - a completely awesome bottle of wine. The 1999 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Echezeaux was a great contrast. Still extremely youthful and powerful, this wine took a good hour to open and was even better by hour 3. Lots of wild berry fruit with clove and a bit of woodiness in the tannins. Exceptionally long finish... this is why I love wine!!!!!!