Here marks my return to posting notes after a nearly 6 month hiatus. Just been that busy. So I've got quite the backlog, but of all of them, these two more recent ones seemed the most important to post. These came from the cellar of a dear friend and former professor, and for those of you who remember, this is the same cellar that produced the '72 Petrus and '73 Mouton I had a while back.
This post also debuts my new, but perhaps only transitional, rating system. It is still loosely anchored to the 100 point system, but I have modified it to be even less precise than before, and to more accurately reflect the ranges between which there is a real difference in the quality, as perceived by my palate and my palate alone. However, I think I'm ultimately going to move over to a 5 star system.
Les Petits Fils de J. Guenier, Puligny-Montrachet 1988
Sparkly, burnished golden yellow. Amazing color for a 22 year old! Beautiful, deep nose of stone fruit, white flowers, and stone/mineral. Palate thin at first, but grows nicely as it opens and warms. Pinapple, white flowers / citrus blossom, stone fruits, and citrus, with a finish of oak and a suggestion of butterscotch / toffee. Textbook Puligny. Full bodied, and so youthful I had to constantly remind myself I was drinking a 22 year old rather than a 5 - 10 year old. There may be some oxidation waiting in the wings here, but the balance is impressive, and it should continue at this level for perhaps another 3 years. A remarkable experience! Excellent (88 - 92). [11/24/10]
The following is the best wine I have yet tasted from my friends cellar. Particular special to have gotten to also share this with my brother, who was born in '83.
E. Guigal, Hermitage 1983
Fairly youthful color: dark garnet going toward pink/orange at the rim. No brown! Excellent Northern Rhone nose of currants, smoked bacon, and earth, with some exotic apricot and rose notes; nice depth. Remarkably closed on the palate at first, needing 30 minutes in the glass to open. Tart, savory cherry upfront, with juicy, succulent currant, and suggestions of blackberry, with exotic floral and apricot notes, hints of coffee, hints of bacon, and mineral. Some glycerin showing. Good finish. Full bodied, aromatic, and gamey, with nice ripeness still showing. Excellent body. Grows and grows aromatically, only hitting its peak nearly two hours after openning. My first Hermitage proper (rather than Crozes), the best old red (>25yr) I've had, and amongst the best reds I've had period. This is a special wine, and a special experience. This has at least 5 more years to give, maybe 10. Exceptional (92 - 96). [12/30/10].
