TN: Lagier-Meredith, Girardin, Saxum

LAGIER-MEREDITH, GIRARDIN, SAXUM - My backyard (5/7/2012)

I spent a lot of time working on the yard this spring thanks to the good weather. Got the garden constructed and ready to plant, trees planted, and a fire pit built. The weather was great this weekend, so I spent a couple of nights relaxing by the fire and drinking wine. Luckily some neighbors stopped by so I could open a few bottles.

  • 2005 Lagier Meredith Syrah - USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder
    Popped and poured. At first this seemed to be a typical cooler climate Syrah. The nose is nice but not complex. Boysenberries, some white pepper and just a bit of bacon fat. On the palate, this has a nice acidity with good boysenberry fruit. With air and time, this really unwound. At first, it was on the palate. Showing more layering and depth. Then the nose really opened up. This was at the four hour mark. It went from being a very nice wine to truly outstanding. It lost the “cool climate” quality which is perhaps my way of saying restrained and instead really began to show exuberance while not losing its sense of place. I have had very few Syrahs do this. As I said, it took about four hours to reach this point. The last glass from the bottle seemed to hold at that level. I will wait a bit on remaining bottles. (93 pts.)
  • 2002 Vincent Girardin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Hauts-Doix - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
    This bottle has really started to come around. No hurry but the prevalent oak on release has integrated. It took about an hour or two to really open up. The nose is complex with good sour cherry fruit. There is a bit of funk/merde and it slightly increased with air. I would prefer a bit more but this was good. Some wet forest floor notes as well. The palate, drinks less complex but still outstanding. Cherries and sour cherries with a bit of a floral quality. Round and while not lacking acidity, certainly not a ton of it either. Kept improving all night long. (92 pts.)
  • 2006 Saxum James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
    Popped and poured. This was very tight at first but after about a half an hour opened up. The nose has black raspberries, a bit of camphor, leather and black pepper. This has such a wonderful lush texture. The fruit is sweet and delicious. Easy to drink. Plenty of alcohol but no sign or taste of it. A crowd favorite. (94 pts.)

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