WTN: Birthday tasting - warning, graphic descriptions of infanticide

Last week my favourite wine shop held a "blockbuster" tasting to commemorate their second anniversary. My birthday was the day before, and my wonderful and understanding wife thoughtfully bought us seats for it.

Admittedly, most of the wines were far too young. Yet even then, they showed well and provided an interesting benchmark to compare against some years ahead.

Bob Parsons could not attend (I feel for you, Bob), so this one's for him. With the exception of the Fevre Chablis, these are all priced over $100 Cdn.

1997 Bollinger ‘La Grande Annee’ Brut Very focused nose and palate, with citrus, ginger, bread and nuttiness. Soft mousse with a bright acidity that seemed to lift the flavours on the palate.

2004 William Fevre Les Clos Minerally, with subtle white fruits. I didn’t find a lot of depth and it was my least favourite of the flight.

2002 Louis Jadot Clos de Vougeot Cherries, plums and violets on the nose. Loads of vanilla, too, along with pepper, cranberries, cherries and spice on the palate. This needs at least 10 years aging, but was a guilty delight at such a young age.

2001 Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino Vanilla and smoky oak on the nose. Tart currants and dark berries in the mouth, with green olives at the mid-palate. The finish was never-ending. Given some more time, this will be a gorgeous international-style Brunello.

2003 Dominus Almost Bordeaux-like nose, with coffee, currants, spice and cedar, but it was largely one-dimensional red fruit on the palate. Given time to open, some more flavours of cocoa and spice began to emerge slightly.

2002 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz Instantly recognizable as Aussie Shiraz, with blueberry, blackberry and pepper notes on the nose and palate. Oaky, but with soft tannins. Not much subtlety, I’m afraid.

1990 Clos Labory This was served blind. Unmistakable Bordeaux nose, with cedar, currant, and some Ste. Estephe funk. The nose carried through on the palate, with additional graphite and allspice characteristics and a balanced grip.

The Clos Labory was my WOTN until the next one . . .

1970 Graham’s Vintage Porto My thought process: “Hmm, smells slightly medicinal . . . tastes it too [swirl, swirl] . . . oh my freakin’ God!”

Once it opened up, it was transcendental. Figs, spice, raspberries, tobacco, caramel and chocolate on the nose and palate. I kept finding more and more with every sniff and sip. So velvety soft in the mouth, with no hints of booziness. Absolutely wonderful.

Thanks Mike for this. I had to show a new GM how to run a restaurant! I heard great things about the tasting, your notes confirm.

California Wine Show in town tomorrow!!!

Bob, we certainly missed you.

I assume you'll be at the California Wine Fair tomorrow, then? The missus and I will probably be camped out at the Lanigan & Edwards table drinking all of the Nichols wines.

2004 William Fevre Les Clos Minerally, with subtle white fruits. I didn’t find a lot of depth and it was my least favourite of the flight.

Did they have both Domaine and Negociant bottles of this in 2004? If it was the latter that might explain the lack of depth. Or maybe needing air. Because it should have been good.

But what was the flight? From what I can tell from your notes this was the only still white.

2004 William Fevre Les Clos Minerally, with subtle white fruits. I didn’t find a lot of depth and it was my least favourite of the flight.

[...]

The Clos Labory was my WOTN until the next one . . .

1970 Graham’s Vintage Porto My thought process: “Hmm, smells slightly medicinal . . . tastes it too [swirl, swirl] . . . oh my freakin’ God!”

Once it opened up, it was transcendental. Figs, spice, raspberries, tobacco, caramel and chocolate on the nose and palate. I kept finding more and more with every sniff and sip. So velvety soft in the mouth, with no hints of booziness. Absolutely wonderful.

I rather liked the Clos - until this wine, I hadn't been too enamoured of Fèvre. But the Clos was very Chablissy. A great pity about the high prices, though.

I have one bottle of the Graham's patiently waiting any occasion that demands a nice port. After this note, I really hope the opPortunity comes soon.

-O-

Bob, we certainly missed you.

I assume you'll be at the California Wine Fair tomorrow, then? The missus and I will probably be camped out at the Lanigan & Edwards table drinking all of the Nichols wines.

Yeah, going to the trade show in the afternoon. I have started a new thread for our impressions.
Will you be taking the usual folding chair?!!!

2004 William Fevre Les Clos Minerally, with subtle white fruits. I didn’t find a lot of depth and it was my least favourite of the flight.

Did they have both Domaine and Negociant bottles of this in 2004? If it was the latter that might explain the lack of depth. Or maybe needing air. Because it should have been good.

But what was the flight? From what I can tell from your notes this was the only still white.

Perhaps it did need air, but I did give it a lot of swirling. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad wine, just not worth the $94 it retails for here.

It was the only still white, but I don't know the answer to your Domaine/Negociant question.