Back I went to Los Colibris, the Mexican restaurant I’m terribly fond of. My friends Lynn and Jon (who accompanied dad and I on the Bordeaux portion of the France trip in May) were in town to taste-drive the restaurant in advance of our whisky and food extravaganza there at the end of January. Boardmembers Jay Shampur and Victor Un also joined us.
2011 Esporao Reserva
I think it’s Portuguese for “hope” and hopes were realized here. This is absolutely delightful stuff. Nose of yellow fruits and light floral accents gives way to a vivacious palate filled with sweetish lemon, orange/citrus edges, yet yellow plum and star fruit at the same time—for me, a hypothetical cross between Muscadet and Alsatian Pinot Gris. Touch of vanilla at the back. And no way you’d ever think 14% alcohol—this is fresh as the day is long and dangerously easy to drink
2009 Pearl Morissette Blackball Riesling
This has come quite some way from the jumpy version of itself about a year ago. There is still a small dab of carbonation in this bottle, but now the lines are tremendously clean and offer tart apple, lemon and steel as the components. Very balanced and of itself
2010 Lucien Muzard Santenay 1er Cru Maladieres
Decanted this for about an hour. Raspberries, unripe cranberry and currant have to contend with a fair bit of earth and sous-bois. Palate is full of energy, indeed, but it is in the last days of its early-days presentation. I would think that in 6 months or less, this will pull the covers over and not come out to play for at least 5 years. are the 2010 reds headed in this direction? It’s starting to look like it. Today, a very interesting wine.
2001 Argiano Solengo
I commented to Victor, who brought this, that if it was in its right place, it was going to be a prizewinner, and such is the case. Very elegant and sophisticated bouquet of violets, persimmon, plum, blackberry and light cocoa dusting. Palate finds it oh-so-suave, rico suave, with blueberry, black plum, dips of leather and black raspberry all having a say. It is just in the beginning of its maturity drinking window and puts paid to the stardom Argiano achieved in 2001. Victor declares it better than the 97 he had recently. I declare it a darned good bottle of wine. 91 at least.
Cheers,
Mike