WTN: 2004 Havens Bourriquot

[Jenise]

The first Bourriquot I ever had was shared by some rock star at the wedding of a mutual friend. It was young and earthy and wonderful and maybe a little extra dazzling because of the guy sharing it.

This was my own bottle and the first Bourriquot I've ever had with any time on it. At eight years old, we were hoping to find it pleasantly middle-aged, with both grapes evident as well as some secondary nuances. It was decanted only about fifteen minutes before service. And it first it seemed kind of simple, mostly merlot on the nose with a bit of vanilla and red rose notes on the palate. When it changed it shifted entirely in the direction of the cab franc becoming kind of prickly--almost more weed than herb--with a bitter finish following raspberry and chokecherry fruit. Drinkable throughout but disappointing and not an experience I'd look forward to repeating. Glad I don't have another bottle.

Surprised at that. I have the 96 still in good form.

[Jenise]

Might be the vintage or a change in philosophy or possibly it was just in a dormant stage. No idea, but this certainly wasn't one you'd hold that long.

Better try my 96 soon, I think.

I went down to look for it and found a single bottle of 1995 Havens Syrah, which definitely should have been drunk a few years ago. Put it on the counter as tonight's bottle, so we shall see.....

Thanks to Dale Williams, I had the opportunity to try the 2006 version this past June and enjoyed it: http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/village/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=44204&p=361651.

[Jenise]

Sounds like your own wine was pretty great, Howie, congrats.

Bill, how'd the syrah turn out? A friend gave me bottles she'd been given when she worked in Napa and the Havens owner was a client, but they were all seriously brett-affected from warm passive storage, so I really don't have an idea what a Havens syrah tastes like. I do remember his merlot fondly, though, having gotten my hands on some separately back in the 90's.

SWMBO wanted to have a Burrowing Owl 2003 Pinot, so of course that's what we did!

I looked up the syrah and it showed well in 2010, so maybe it is lunch material......

I still have most of a case of the Bourriquot 2003 which still needs time, just out of balance, or going thru some closed stage.

I've got several bottles of the '01 Bourriquot left, not too worried. I've opened mags of '94 and '96 in last couple of years without issues.
I do think the winery had a mild brett issue, but cool stored bottles never showed too horsey for me.