1996 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend
Opened one day, found the midpalate hard and tight, recorked and drank four days later. No longer so tight, but tannins etc still awkward--this wine needs more time. I'm pushing the drinking window out to 2021.
2002 Taltarni Cephas Pyrenees Cabernet-Shiraz Blend
Big nose of dark berries and smoke. On the palate, somewhat jammy notes of ripe fruit with a flavor not unlike brown paper shopping bags* and highly toasted barrels. Stops just short of turning sappy on the finish. Tannins still hold everything together. The syrah (70%) flavor comes across prominently. At peak, and should drink well over the next five years, maybe longer.
*When I mentioned the brown paper bag flavor, Bob almost choked in disbelief. I know I've found that flavor in other wines, but apparently it has been so long that he doesn't recall it, so he found this description highly entertaining. Then when I commented on the charred flavor, he said "I think your shopping bag's on fire." My turn to choke.
2012 Charly Nicolle Chablis 1er Cru Les Fourneaux
From the getgo a Chablis more fat than lean, and that hasn't changed. Now fleshy and steely at the same time with lemon and apple prominent--and it shows (nicely) like a wine about five years out. No rush in remaining bottles.
2011 Phelps Creek Vineyards Pinot Noir Columbia Gorge
Pleasant enough to finish the bottle but the fruit seems to be fading. Drink up.