A special dinner of Julia Child's Boeuf a la Mode, with friends and family, and 5 really nice wines.
Domaine Bois de Boursan, Blanc, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2007
Dark straw. Great nose of floral nectar, apricot, pinnapple, and herbs. On the palate, creamy citrus, citrus rind, apricot, pinnapple, herbs/grass, and floral nectar. A bit of citrusy bite toward the finish that mellows nicely with air; also some wax and honey emerges. Opens nicely. A great wine. 4* [1/15/11]
Canonica a Cerreto, Sandiavolo, Toscana 2003
Dark ruby red - great color Awesome nose! On the nose and palate, a personality of roses, red and black currants, plums, herbs, orange rind, plum tomato, hints of raisen, with mineral. Great body, great fruit, great aromatics - this wine has wooed me again. I LOVE IT!!! Awesome. 5 - 10 more years. 4* [1/15/11]
O'Brien, Impression, Napa 2009
Excellent California Sauv Blanc. Citrus, ripe pear, ripe peach, honey, herbs/grass, and mineral. Napa brings extra depth here. 3* [1/15/11]
Joseph Sabon, Clos du Mont Olivet, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2003
Cherry, blackberry, currant, cocoa, and mineral earth. Good quality here, but either prematurely past its peak, or mildly corked. Certainly was better the previous time I had it (a few years ago). Based on this bottle, drink now. 3* [1/15/11]
Chateau La Croix de Gay, Pomerol 2005
Dark, almost opaque red. Decanted 4 hours. Nose pruney at first. Good nose: tart cherry, cassis, tobacco, cedar/wood, and flowers/vanilla. Similar on the palate: dark fruit, plum, hint of tar, maybe some herbs. A lot of tannin hiding here; a bit astringent on the finish, with some cocoa in there maybe. Some blueberry emerging later on. Has 2005 flesh and tone. Still really young. Never fully openned up even after 5 hours in the decanter. Give this 10 more years; will last until 2030 - 2040? A potentially great wine, which seems to have been underrated by the critics. 4* for future potential. [1/15/11]