Transition

Not sure what happened, but after a very lackluster week at the restaurant, I come home to this... The 1999 Gaja Barbaresco is still such a baby... lovely notes of rose petals, dried cranberries, dried black earth and huge tannins. Very good - very Gaja. The 2004 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon was over-extracted and too big... the wine was not well balanced with the anise and extraction overpowing any sense of elegance. Not my style. The 2003 Domaine de Paillieres Gigondas is awesome... A slightly browning rim and deep spicy-garrigue/earth notes dominate the dried strawberries and raspberries. Very nice, especially for a 2003 - some of which are disjointed and overly alcoholic. The 1975 Bertani Amarone was stunning... a beautiful example of an incredible wine. Smokey-raisins and stewed prunes and cedary-dried leaves. A beautiful, long complex finish. Awesome, awesome stuff.