by Patchen Markell » Sun Aug 18, 2019 2:36 pm
In NYC for a weekend of hedonism, went out for what we decided to call an early 50th birthday dinner for me at one of those restaurants whose wine list needs to be downloaded and researched hours in advance (I assume Yaniger will get a cut if they ever move a bottle of the 1993 Overnoy Arbois Pupillin at $1475.) We settled on a lesser extravagence, a 2004 August Clape Cornas to accompany a meal culminating in duck with olives. First impression was of warm hillside aromatics but a slightly hollow palate; after decanting and nursing the first glass as patiently as possible for an hour, though, the wine relaxed, filling out in the middle with some still-fresh red and black fruit as well as dark tobacco, herbs, and earth. Not a showy or spectacular wine, but very rewarding to sit with for an evening.
cheers, Patchen
