FOUR GUYS, FOUR WINES - Seattle, WA (12/19/2011-12/20/2011)
Mssrs Saxon, Laband and Adams joined me for a little holiday lunch. Good conversation, good food and good wine.
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2004 Domaine Jasmin Côte-Rôtie - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie (12/19/2011)
Deep garnet red. Nose and palate were quite tight for an hour or so. Once it opened, we got a lovely contrast in Syrah. The nose was a textbook mix of floral aromatics wrapped around pepper and savory/briny smells. Some dark fruit comes through with some air time as well. The palate showed in contrast, a medium bodied, elegant wine. A very delicious expression of acidity manifests in bright citrus flavors on the first sip. It shows varying weight and layers as it moves through the palate, showing some black olive, black pepper and some dark fruit. Medium length finish. Soft, but some chalky tannins add some depth. -
1988 Château Léoville Las Cases - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (12/19/2011)
Dark maroon with a touch of bricking around the rim. The nose was very shy at first, but opened nicely in around 45 minutes to show dark fruits along with earthiness and tobacco. Still quite full bodied, and it shows some pleasantly surprising red fruit as the nose led me to believe this would show some darker elements. This has a spicy green pepper element running through the mid palate. This is not for everyone, but it is something that while in balance, I really enjoy in Cab based wines. Still showing some nice acids, but tannins have mostly resolved. Very soft mouthfeel. Good showing. -
2006 Domaine Chandon de Briailles Corton-Clos du Roi - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru (12/20/2011)
Dark, but clear garnet. Expressive, almost perfumed nose showing an array of floral aromatics along with some dark fruit. Full bodied Pinot Noir. At first, this shows some excellent layers of pure fruit, but with some time a lovely spicy and savory element creeps in creating excellent complexity. The structure is evident here, no surprise considering the youthfulness of the wine, but it is quite forgiving with a short amount of air time and very appraochable right now. Brooding finish. -
2000 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (12/20/2011)
Dark core, nearly pitch black with some clearing and the slightest hint of bricking around the rim. What a nose, a blast of balsamico, fig and some floral aspects. I could have smelled it all afternoon. Fuller bodied than many Barolo, it enters with typical cherry flavors, but then shows layers of black pepper, mincemeat and more balsamic notes. The mid palate is bright and fruity showing the excellent acidic backbone on this. Much like some other 2000’s I’ve tasted in the past few months, the tannins are quite soft and the mouthfeel here is pleasant and has a coating character which brings you right back to the glass. Amazing finish. Top drawer.
Posted from CellarTracker