I had met John and Dani on my last trip 3.5 years ago. You bond with people instantly in one night and that’s what happened. Visiting with them was at least 50% of the reason for me to make another trip out here. The kids are older and even more fun than last time and we had an amazing visit. This is the part about being involved on blogs/bulletin boards that I truly treasure.
We did have a Jacques Selosse NV Champagne that was OK. Deb and Dani both roll their eyes at me, as they are much more devoted to bubbles than I am.
2005 Felton Road Block 3 Pinot Noir
Rather sweet-fruit expressive with maybe some cola and allspice nuzzie. Both John and I remark that it’s quite atypical dans la bouche, with a CO2 spritz at the front of the tongue and an overdeveloped sugared sweetness to the red fruit that shouldn’t be there. Reminding me of a California pinot style that I don’t enjoy, I suspect a flawed bottle.
1997 Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino
Only the barest whispers of coffee and coffee crisp to go with plum notes that need a bit of coaxing. Le gout, though, is just amazing. Fabulously smooth, elegant and incredibly fresh, all at the same time, chocolate-covered plum, sweet blackberry and touches of blueberry and bilberry all make their way down my throat. Smidge of leather only at the back end, this is a fantastic Brunello, absolutely at its best drinking spot and a WOTY entrant. John, who’s pretty selective about what he likes outside of burgundy was also a very enthusiastic supporter.
1996 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages
More for its “sentimental” value, I wanted to share this with John and Dani as I’d “won” it at auction at FallTacular 2009 and Frank and Jill had come up in years past to visit with John & Dani in Kelowna. Good Cali typicity, with a little dill, some sweet black fruit and other herbs and a dash of pepper at the end of the nuzzie. This is sweeter than I might have expected, carries itself well for what it is, plenty of plum with some blueberry, light black pepper and maybe dark chocolate, but not truly convincing or special
2005 Chateau Climens Barsac
Still a very alluring bouquet with botrytis in proper proportion to apricot, orange and honeyed fig. This continues to develop, as the honeyed side is starting to take hold of the cheeks, while still having the core of lacy acidity to go with more citrus, some pineapple and some apricot and vanilla bean. Extremely nice, but takes a second seat to the Brunello tonight.