WTN: 1999 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage

1999 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 13.0%
Was going to give this thread some punning title like "Que Syrah, Syrah," but my cleaver-wielding pun probation officer threatened to cleave my palate*. So I'll just drily state that the nose was a dance of dark berry, tar and smoked meat enveloped in an earthy pot pourri (literally "rotten Cheech & Chong") of forestine flavors, including underbrush, eucalyptus, sage and mushrooms. Alas, such a multivalent polynasal experience set me up for monobucal disappointment: good acidity and weight, clear and present tannins, but somehow lacking in the meaty, big and bouncy attributes that made the 1996 of this so hedonistic.

*leaving it cleft

I have some of these as well as some Guiraude which I have not yet opened. Your TN makes me think that still more time is needed. 96 was indeed delicious but all gone.

Is your officer named Beaver?

Is your officer named Beaver?

I hate it when I don't understand...

Is your officer named Beaver?

I hate it when I don't understand...

Sure, drain all the life out of a bad joke.

Old tv series. Really old tv series. The Cleaver Family. Ward and June and Wally...and Beaver Cleaver. Although you're more of a webbish version of Eddie Haskell.

Nothing's funnier than an explained joke! Is this the same beaver as in Leave it to Beaver?

Nothing's funnier than an explained joke! Is this the same beaver as in Leave it to Beaver?

Yup.

1999 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 13.0%
Was going to give this thread some punning title like "Que Syrah, Syrah," but my cleaver-wielding pun probation officer threatened to cleave my palate*. So I'll just drily state that the nose was a dance of dark berry, tar and smoked meat enveloped in an earthy pot pourri (literally "rotten Cheech & Chong") of forestine flavors, including underbrush, eucalyptus, sage and mushrooms. Alas, such a multivalent polynasal experience set me up for monobucal disappointment: good acidity and weight, clear and present tannins, but somehow lacking in the meaty, big and bouncy attributes that made the 1996 of this so hedonistic.

*leaving it cleft

I adored the 2006 (I think it was) of this wine. Do they not age well as a rule? Or are you saying that the '96 did age? The one I had seemed like a real drink/hold wine in the best possible way.

I adored the 2006 (I think it was) of this wine. Do they not age well as a rule? Or are you saying that the '96 did age? The one I had seemed like a real drink/hold wine in the best possible way.

Ed, Graillot's basic Crozes is an excellent ager. I attended a vertical a couple of years ago where even his earliest wines from the mid 80s were showing beautifully. Guiraude is even more robust.