Got together with the doctors:
1995 Château Gruaud Larose St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
Very obviously Bordeaux and I correctly guessed St. Julien. But interestingly (to me anyway), I didn't get pick up on Gruaud Larose--a favorite house because the number of bottles of 86 I had supercedes all other repeat Bordeaux experiences in my limited career. This made me realize that I don't really know the wine outside of that exceptional vintage. Anywho, good tone but the tannins are gritty and not yet fully resolved--it needs red meat for taming.
2005 Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Stunning. Seemingly a lot younger than the 07 Barolo that preceded it, it's youthful with concentrated notes of anise, dark berries and dried plums. Tasted with a group of friends; would love to sit down with a bottle of my own some day.
2007 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala Nebbiolo
Voluptuous with ripeness and very drinkable upon opening. Classic Barolo profile.
1971 Fontanafredda Barolo Nebbiolo
From the days when Fontanafredda was a less-industrial producer than they are today. Pale-orangey with tarry tea-like fruit. A treat.
1985 Camille Loye Trousseau Arbois Cuvée Saint Paul
Pale warm taupey-orangey red with a musty old, disagreeable nose showing some cabbage amid the fruit. Tastes better than it smells and the nose improves somewhat, just not to the point where I can commit to liking the wine.
1964 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Viña Real Gran Reserva Tempranillo
Served blind. Very old, blood orange hues with a faint note of black rubber and a bit of coconut from the American oak. A splendid bottle.
2006 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne Chardonnay
What an experience! Have never before put my nose in a glass of champagne and not realized I was drinking champagne until I sipped bubbles. But that happened here: no yeast, brioche, bread dough or pie crust here--just a very pure, demure chardonnay nose in the manner of a high end California wine like Ceritas (which I thought it was). Enthralling.
1973 Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend more
Pale in color and off in that ethereal, tertiary zone for very aged wines where grape and region are elusive, but nonetheless this wine possessed an inherent class that insured no one was surprised when the bag came off. Well done, Chaz.
Missing in this batch is my note on the 2001 Rayas Reserve Fonsalette, which was my contribution. Will have to see where that went.