I have been fortunate over the years to taste some incredible wines - or, rather, wines that come with a reputation of being incredible. Over the years I have figured out that I just don’t like some of those wines, some of them have been “off” bottles, and some have been tasted where I just wasn’t ready/able to appreciate them. Always a great learning experience, even if I have walked away disappointed.
Yesterday, however, the stars were aligned. An impromptu Saturday afternoon tasting with a small group, where every single bottle seemed to be singing. No theme, just some people who decided to open something fun. I brought a 2005 Saxum 44 (extended barrel age) because I knew I couldn’t compete with what the others were bringing, so at least I could bring something they had never tried. The Saxum provided a nice counterpoint to the older French wines. Somehow the 15.9% alc didn’t come across as hot, just a lush, young, modern take on Syrah (and another data point confirming my love for Saxum).
The biggest surprise (for me) was the 2002 Vosne Romanee DRC. I have been lucky to have tasted a handful of DRCs over the years, but blind I have never been impressed; non-blind, and knowing the cost, hasn’t helped. But this one? Captivating. Over two hours, it was several different wines. Fresh and vibrant; savory and penetrating; floral and lithe. The #1 wine for many (my #2), it was a treat to have multiple glasses with one holding this wine to return to.
The 2006 Chave was another pleasant surprise. I love Syrah - all kinds. Chave shows up with a reputation and an expectation of greatness. The few I have tasted have all been good, but nowhere close to revelatory. This bottle seemed to be firing on all cylinders. Some funk on the nose, but captivating fruit notes on the back end - something I’m not sure I have ever experienced. The interplay of savory and fruit, with tell-tale northern Rhône Syrah notes, this wine just got better and better with air.
My favorite, which received a couple other #1 votes, was the 2001 Guigal La Mouline. I have never had a bad La La, and many have been spectacular. This afternoon, as I sat gobsmacked by the DRC and Chave and their evolution, the steadiness of the Guigal was like a warm hug. I know some of this is just personal preference, and I readily admit that I like Syrah and I like what Guigal does with it.
The 1989 Bechyvelle suffered a bit from the competition, but acquitted itself nicely. A nose of older Bordeaux without being over the top in the barnyard notes - just enough to make things interesting, but not off-putting. Good fruit, good acid, good balance. Seemed much younger than 1989, it would have won many impromptu tastings.
2022 has just begun, but if this ends up being the best tasting of the year for me, at least I will have the next 11 months to dream about it.