Friday:
2006 Domaine Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet Cornas
PnP. Would have benefitted from decanting, but what a lovely wine. Blood and iron with juicy sweet black cherry fruit and a very mild tarriness, showing as nicely middle-aged. Will push drinking window out to 2020.
Saturday:
1994 Château Léoville Las Cases St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
Absolutely stunning. Opened and decanted off the sediment, started drinking 30 minutes later. Third of three bottles owned and the best so far. Perfectly ready: powerful fruit, relaxed tannins, the flavors resonated with me all day the next day. Years of life left but couldn't be any better than it is right now. Poster child for why "off vintages".
Sunday:
2004 Long Shadows Wineries Pirouette Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
One of my favorite Washington reds, with winemaker of record Napa-hotshot Philippe Melka though I doubt he spends more than a day up here actually 'making' this wine. Decanted one hour. Removed minor sediment. From a classic, cooler WA vintage, complex berry fruit with mild cedar notes. Good for what it is, but with the Leoville still dancing in my head this wine seemed simplistic. Just starting to show some bottle maturity but holding up well, no rush.