The dudes got back together again after a 4-week hiatus to watch a queen stage of the Tour de France, drink some serious wine, engage in revelry. Fellow Berserkers MarcF and Ian Howe joined. As usual, everything took back stage to the company, the smack talk, the camraderie. But, we did have some good shiz.
My very abbreviated notes:
2013 Ch. Graville-Lacoste, White Bordeaux
I could drink this beauty any day of the week. Imminently quaffable, varietally correct. Minerality, tropical and stone fruits, floral, crisp, quenching. Paired very well with cheeses and dried meats. (89 pts.)
2001 Harlan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Pop and pour. Massive concentration, incredible intensity on the palate, impressive range of red and dark fruits. Crisp acidity. Some heat, heavy dosage of oak. A wine built for scale not nuance or distinction. (NR, not my style, not my 100 pts.)
2000 Chateau d’Armailhac
Decanted for 30 minutes. Musky, perfumed. Silky smooth. Pencil, graphite. Rich cassis. Perfect balance of red and black fruits. Tannins resolved. Slightly crimped finished. Classic in style, happy to have in my cellar, an incredible QPR. In prime drinking window. My WOTN. (93 pts.)
2000 Chateau Leoville Barton
Decanted 5 hours. Excellent, showing the structure one expects from Barton, perfumy nose of Bordeaux musk. Nice range of red and dark, high acidity. Not as evolved as the d’Armailhac, perhaps will exceed it in 5+ years. Today, quite lovely but not at full potential. Needs time. (92+ pts.)
2003 Chateau Leoville Poyferre
Decanted 3 hours. Total disappointment. A Bordeaux trying to be Napa and failing at that. Heady oak, ripe fruits, astringent finish. Placed last or second to last by most of the group. Second poor showing for me. (80 pts.)
2005 Ch. Haut Brion
Ah, what might of been. Ever so slightly corked, just barely, but noticeable. Major bummer as this wine has huge potential. Packed to the gills with amazing everything. Damn cork. (NR)
2012 Chateau du Tertre
Way too young, way too grapey. (NR)
2010 Foillard Cote du Py
Ridiculous to pop this now, should have been first in the line-up. Even still, it’s my second favorite wine of the night. Ridiculous how good this wine is. Magenta in coloration, almost glowing. Smokey in coloration and on the nose. Explosive nose of spicey red raspberry fruits, sweet strawberries, bubble gum. Game, iron, funk. Citrus, tart, good acid. An interesting, fascinating wine. Throwing a lot of stuff. (93 pts.)
Super fun night as usual.