Bev and I met with the legendary winemaker Serge Hochar of Chateau Musar at the Wine Barn on Tuesday evening. We were unable to attend his seminar and tasting held at Luma's earlier that day but we did get a chance to try his new release, the 2005 Chateau Musar. This wine had a ruby red color with a nose of dried red fruits, baking spices, and floral notes. Very elegant and silky with nice round tannins.
We shared one of my favorite Champagnes, Jacques Selosse Initiale with Mark, Serge’s son, before we left for dinner. This had a deep golden color with hints of lemon curd, brioche, and showing slight oxidative notes. Very rich texture in the mouth with amazing structure and minerals on the palate.
The @wineorls invited us to join them for dinner at a local neighborhood Italian Trattoria,TerraMia, where the owner brought out four or five platters of various antipasti to start with so we could casually go through our lineup of wines.
The first flight was dedicated to whites. My bottle of the 2002 Gagnard Batard Montrachet was severely premoxed. Keith brought the 2005 Billaud Simon Les Preuses which exhibited sweet lemon, grapefruit, and tangerine as well as crushed rocks, and seashells. Medium-bodied with bright acid.
Next up was the Piedmont flight comprised of the 1999 Rinaldi Le Coste Barolo and the 1997 Gaja Sori San Lorenzo. The Le Coste was a full-bodied, old-world-style Barolo which showed aromas of black cherry, strawberry, sandalwood, leather, tar, and rose petals. This showed good structure, bracing acidity with chewy tannins, sour cherry, and leather notes. I really liked this wine. The Sori San Lorenzo had a deep dark color with cherry, raspberry, tar, and violets on the nose. A more modern style than the Rinaldi. This was rich and powerful with a firm structure and showed amazing balance. This was a beast and one of the best Gaja's that I have tried. I will let the other bottles rest for another 5 years.
The Bordeaux flight was the 1989 Ducru Beaucaillou and the 1990 Pichon Baron. The Ducru had a slightly muted nose of black fruits, saddle leather, and tobacco. It comes across as somewhat tannic and austere with a medium finish. I am not sure where this is heading as it may just need more time or, as is the case for some 89's, they may have picked the fruit too early and, as a result, there are more tannins showing than fruit. The Pichon Baron offered up a nose of black fruits, cassis, and spice box along with cedar and wet tobacco. This was more open and richer than the Ducru with very polished tannins and good structure. There is no rush to open as this has a long life ahead of it.
We had to have one more bottle before ending the night and Keith (finally) pulled out a good one -- the 1990 Castello Rampolla Sammarco. I had never had the 90 before and this tasted like a good Bordeaux with sweet black fruits, cigar box, cedar, and leather. This was still very fresh with supple tannins and a medium finish.
Another very fun night!
©Wine -- Mise en abyme
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