Tasted this wine last night:
1. PierreGaillard AC: StJoseph Clos de Cuminaille (MeBalP; 12.5%) Malleval 1988: Med.dark color w/ little bricking; beautiful smokey/roasted/NRhone/black olive tapenade cracked black pepper classic NR very complex nose; very smooth/silky/velvety strong roasted/NR/smokey/pungent/black olive slight blackberry/Carneros Syrah very gentle very complex classic NR flavor w/ light/smooth/quiet tannins; very long classic NR/roasted/pungent/smokey/black olive tapenade/peppery very slight tangy/metallic verry complex finish w/ light/gentle/velvety tannins; a beautiful example of a NRhone that's quietly fading into the sunset like a lovely/elegant old lady; a fully mature (and beyond) NR w/ a silky/velvety mouthfeel. $13.95 (SWC)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. By the end of the evening when I'd finished dinner (2 hrs later), the wine was already cracking up and showing a tangy/metallic/dried-out edge and losing the silky mouthfeel and howing a distinct browning. It never ceases to amaze how fast these old reds start to turn a murky brown once they're opened.
Tom