LAID BACK DINNER WITH CO-WORKERS - Semiramis, Chicago IL (6/6/2009)
This had been set up by my manager as he knows the owner, so all of the food was taken care of ahead of time
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1982 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
nose: beautifully balanced nose that took a bit to get going. As it opened up it revealed wonderfully mature tones of cedar, pencil lead, black currants, dark red cherries, cranberries and some hints of cassis. It was really open and blooming
taste: great medium feel with good tannins that are still present. The tannins are there for support with beautiful and balanced tones of cedar, black currants, dark red cherries, and cassis
overall: while mature, this comes off as having a long way to go. The fill level was great as it was slightly above base neck. This was straight pop n pour, and while it was pretty good on the initial pour, it gained weight and darkened in color a bit with about 30-45 minutes air. This is the kind of wine I’d love to drink all the time (93 pts.)
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2005 Burly Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
nose: very full and rich nose which stood in major contrast to the GPL that had been previously drunk. Not a complete HW boxer, but certainly more of a bruiser then the GPL, this had big rich tones of vanilla, red cherries, coffee beans, black currants and some dark tones of mixed berries.
taste: full bodied and rich with excellent balance. Great fruit without being over the top and well defined tones of red currants, dark red cherries, oak, mixed berries, and some bits of roast coffee beans. Good plush tannins that make you know that they are there
overall: a quality cabernet. Nice and rich with great body to it, this is again very enjoyable with great fruit that should emerge with a little more time. While it was certainly different then the GPL, this held itself well (91 pts.)
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2004 Blankiet Estate Merlot Paradise Hills Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley
nose: massive, extracted, over-ripe and over done on the nose. Bombastic tones of cherries, berries, and red currants that could honestly be from almost any varietal in a new world spectrum. Too much, and this isn’t even a hedonistic rollercoaster, its just too much in every way, shape, and form. There is little to distinguish as merlot on the nose at all
taste: ridiculously hot, overdone, and extracted. Big tones of oak, dark red cherries, red currants and black licorice poke through under the heat. Full bodied with decent depth, but again, there isn’t that silky feel that I enjoy from merlot and there is little on this that resembles merlot
overall: this had been decanted in the afternoon for two hours. It wasn’t a disjointed mess, but it was certainly way overdone and overblown that didn’t make it all that enjoyable. Unfortunetly there was no dump bucket around, so I was just glad that I didn’t give myself too much of a pour
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1996 Cims de Porrera Priorat Classic - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
nose: well evolved and mature nose with round tones of mint, cedar, tobacco, dark red cherries, and some bits of leather and spice tones. Very nice, and it took a slight bit to open up, though it never really got fully revved up
taste: great medium/full feel with good medium tannins that are very much present. They don’t overbear, but certainly make themselves known. Well balanced tones of dark red cherries, dark berries, cedar, and some bits of leather work very well together
overall: this was a pop n pour and it was consumed rather fast by the 6 of us. It really started to get going by my last sip, so if I am able to get this again, I’ll make sure to give it a short decant as it seemed like it could use about 30-45 minutes (91 pts.)
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2005 Bodega Catena Zapata Nicolás Catena Zapata - Argentina, Mendoza
nose: big, jammy, and rich nose that while filled with fruit, isn’t anywhere near as overblown as the blankiet was. Waves of rich and deep tones of blackberries, belgian chocolate, black cherries, and all sorts of crushed berry tones with some dark berry pie tones too. Supremely balanced and rich with just all sorts of pure dark fruits
taste: very full bodied with rich tones of blackberries, belgian chocolate, mocha tones, black cherries, and dark berry tones for days. Rich and plush tannins give this a big spine to work with
overall: this had been decanted for a while before it was taken to the restaurant. Certainly a very new world wine, but nowhere near as overdone as the blankiet was. Big, plush fruit that was deep and delicious (93 pts.)
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1990 Château Lafite Rothschild - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
nose: this took a good while to get going, and sat in the decanter for about 2-3 hours. As it opened up, what emerged was the essence of finesse and precision with lovely perfumes just emitting out of the glass along with deep and nuanced tones of red cherries, red and black currants, tobacco, bits of leather and some beautiful tones of violets that just seem to lurk underneath. Beautiful and so balanced that you really need to focus on what is going on to try to understand it
taste: ever so elegant with a beautiful medium/full feel and good tannins letting you know that this wine isn’t fully ready yet for primetime. Deft and silky with pure tones of berries, red cherries, red and black currants, leather, cedar, violets and some bits of cigar tobacco
overall: as can be ever so customary, the last sip was the best sip. This was continuously growing in the glass and enveloping the senses with its beauty. Ever so pure, this took a while to fully get going, and when it did, you just needed to let it do the talking. Beautiful and still getting better, this still needs some more time to fully let loose (95 pts.)
The food, conversation, and wine were all great, what more can you ask for. It was done in a tapas style, so it made for fun with different pairings
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