WTN: Birthday Wines, Including a wow Cru Bojo

It's my birthday today (May 2). At age 45, I really don;t care about birthdays anymore, but heck, it's an EXCUSE to co-host a party. My friends graciously got together and I have a lovely new Lenox decanter and more glassware.

In addition to burgers, chicken, beans, polenta, and a substance which is like crack to me (mashed potatoes!), the wine highlights included:

2001 Pacalet Pommard. Yum. Not cheap, but absolutely beautiful Pinot Noir from an organic hipster winemaker. Along with Puzelat, Pacalet is high on my list! Just proves that having a good wine retailer is one way of really finding great wines. Thanks Terroir Wine Bar! Earthy in a major way! Mushrooms. Beautiful Pinot fruit, but not piercingly sweet or jammy at all. Mushrooms and a great mouth feel. Only major complaint: rather low in acidity. Still, 90 points!

2005 Domaine Bernard Burgund Cote Rotie. My seeping cork and sticky bottle wine. Hmmm. I can only guess how lovely this would have been in ten years. Decanted at the party. Opposite of the Pacalet, this has fine even piercing acidity. Very high toned red fruit, with a meaty, savory "feeling" more than a flavor, and a blast of black pepper on the finish. Simply delicious. I am new to Northern Rhone, so my score may be too high but the guys at K&L were absolutely right about how wonderful this wine (their last bottle) is. I might just barely prefer the 2004 Clusel Roch, but this is a great food wine and that would be a difficult call. 92 points.

2005 Domaine Piron Morgon Cote de Py Cru Beaujolais. Wow. WOTN. Simply delicious. Great berry berry fruit, but underpinned by captivating earthy structure. Clove, we all agreed was the flavor profile under the fruit. Cru Beajolais is such a steal. This may actually be my favorite Bojo yet. Imported by Beaune Imports. A must re-buy. 94 points.

2004 Sausal Alexander Valley Zinfandell. Lovely, lovely Zin. Certainly some good berry fruit, but this is not a simple koolaid wine. Great spicyness, brambly character. Good acidity. Relatively medium bodied-the alcohol is not obtrusive at all. A very fine Alexander Valley Zin. 89 points, which is high for a zin!

Sadly, the 1999 Leroy Bourgogne had a rotten cork and a very funky cardboardy smell. It tasted off-even rotten. Oh well.

Happy Birthday, and, great that a Morgon can oust a Cote Rotie and a high-priced Pommard for WOTN.

Happy Birthday.
Never heard of Piron, but sounds like one to look for. Thanks.
I generally like Pacalet's wines, but find them expensive. But sounds like he found grapes like escaped the damage some CdB grapes suffered.

t'was not cheap. Which is why I love Cru Beajolais. I think I saw one Cru Bojo that was $30. Everything else is a "bargain."

The Cote Rotie was somewhat pricey, too...but I am developing a love for Northern Rhone Syrah, even drunk painfully young like this.

Very good birthday wines!

Happy birthday, Brian!

Thanks, Cynthia. It was just an excuse to co-host a party.



Alas...cannot easily get ahold of more Dominique Piron. One wine shop in Burlingame. I'm told that the more widely available Lapierre Morgon is even better!

[Jenise]

Happy Birthday, Brian--and I totally agree. A birthday is an excuse to open great wines. When your cellar gets a little deeper, you'll have to expand the celebration. At my house, we have birthfortnights!

Beaujolais Cru can indeed be bargains compared to their Burgundian neighbors. A late happy birthday wish.