With dinner tonight.
Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1998
From half bottle. Full ruby-red, retaining a purple hue and center, a nice gloss and black reflections. Strawberry jam with a touch of beetroot, sage, rosemary and thyme. Mild mixed pepper. Ripe, round, smooth, very long, ending on a note of cocoa powder. Pure velvet, as well as clean and pure – for Beaucastel! dp 94(+?)
Graham Vintage Port 1994
Half bottle. Still nearly opaque ruby-black. One of the few 1994s (a favorite vintage of mine, most reminiscent of 1970 right from the start, as well as the finest vintage since) I've had doubts about for several years simply because 70% of the grape material wasn't foot-trodden as tradition would have it, but using the Remontagem machines Peter Symington was promoting at the time. It's now clearly past an unusually (even for Vintage Port) sullen phase, coming into its own, even if still youthful with upwards potential, even from this format. Sweeter and more milk-chocolatey, thick grapey plum, a hint of walnut, round and smooth yet structured and balanced (a hallmark of the vintage, same as 1970, has always been its early, as well as it's long-term potential for harmony). Mouth-filling, juicy, still firm, nicely tannic. Minor viscosity, reminiscent of sugary-caramelized strawberry with milk chocolate and mint. dp 95+/96?
Greetings from Switzerland, David.
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„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
