After last night's good showing of the newly released 2007 Chateau d'Aiguilhe I decided to dig in the cellar for one of my two remaining bottles of the 2001. I did not know this producer at the time, so I only bought three bottles. One was consumed several years ago in the first flush of youth, while the others slept gracefully in the glacial cellar. So now I am sitting at the dinner table, cleared of food, utensils and such, with the laptop fired up, ignoring work which desperately needs to get done. Why? Because I have a lovely glass of Bordeaux in front of me.
My mangled napkin (pizza tonight, so paper napkins - no grease on the cloth) still makes for a fine background to admire the deep ruby to purple color. There is no fading at all in this economically priced, nine year old wine. It is on the nose where just a touch of age is evident, with a slightly balsamic character creeping into the black cherry (oh how I love black cherry in wine) and spicy/earthy aromatics. It is on the palate where age is even mroe evident, as the tannins are present but not at all dominant, even after a good swish to get their full effect. The fruit is still substantial, but in no way over ripe, and the balance is enhanced by a bracing streak of acidity that brings clarity and freshness to the wine. This is nothing short of a lovely way to kick back and forget about Microsoft Power Point and the evils it causes to men (and women).
. Back at Grosvenor House this week so could use a good red to go with the crowds here.