Community Tasting Note

timewithwine wrote:

Friday, September 9, 2005 - Friday, September 09, 2005 When the Colonel comes to town you can bet on two things: cooking aromas to fill the house and great stories. ‘Wine,’ you say? ‘Why not wine as one of the two things?’ Well, that’s nothing to bet on; it simply IS. Just as wine is a given when speaking of Bob, compound that fact with the arrival of Michael Ross and your cup shall surely over floweth. The view of the room brightened mightily with the visage of both Adair Sigmon, Michael’s fianceé, and my spousal unit. Michael graciously took responsibility for note taking through most of the evening. I’ll try to do his handy work justice here. With Bob commanding the risotto, the spousal unit attending to other sides and overall kitchen logistics, I manned the rotissorie and we set out on a gastronomic mission with a foray into Cabernet Sauvignon (Old World and New World) and leg of lamb. My asides are in parentheses. The Whites - With assorted cheeses (we’re not talking yellow farm cheese), nuts and breads. E. Guigal ‘La Doriane’ Condrieu 2000 Deep golden color with a very focused nose of apricot followed by spice, peach and white fruits. Very full and expansive on the palate. A bit of oak shows, but certainly nothing overbearing. The finish is a little short, but the wine overall delivers loads of satisfaction. (This was my last bottle of this vintage and it did not disappoint. I don’t know of a more satisfying Viognier.) 13.5% alc. Haut Brion Blanc Graves 1982 With the knowledge of Michael’s affinity for this wine, the Colonel secured this bottle; no doubt sending in Special Forces to liberate it. Over the hours it was open, its color never varied from the deep yellow with a slight bricking on the rim. Oxidation, however slight, was apparent, yet the expansive nose invited you in time and time again. Hints of anise, green apple, walnuts, spice and pastry dough. Great mouthfeel, what with its full, luscious coating of the palate. Excellently long finish. Alc.: ‘11% to 14%’ per B&G added label. (Several hours later a couple of tastes are still to be found in the bottle. The color is the same, but the profile had morphed so that it now delivers up lanolin and bees wax more than anything else. The generosity of Bob to open this bottle was overwhelming.) With spit roasted leg of lamb, butternut squash risotto (courtesy of Bob’s hard labor), green beans with red pepper, mashed butternut squash and rosemary bread. Grand Puy Lacoste Pauillac 1996 Somewhat muted nose but still showing good black fruits, licorice, cedar, rosemary and currant. Similar flavors on the palate. Texturally, it was excellent on the palate and full bodied. Surprisingly open. Very nice. (Now this is where so much of wine is about subjectivity. While I’d agree the wine was very nice, it was Michael’s preference between the two Pauillacs. 13% alc. (My take would be that this wine has soft, round tannins. I probably prefer wines with more grip. Nevertheless, this is one of Michael’s go to wines and I can certainly see why. Much to my surprise, it was the only bottle with a pourable amount left over. Bob commented on the noticeable Merlot in the blend of this wine. Indeed the Merlot is probably responsible for the soft, enjoyable roundness of the wine. Michael correctly pegged the Merlot at 25% with the balance being Cab. Sauv.) Pontet Canet Pauillac 1996 Also classic Pauillac; showing cedar, graphite, cassis, currant and blackberry. While Michael describes the wine as ‘harsher on the palate,’ I’d describe it as bigger with more structure than the GPL. We agree it is ‘very nice,’ although Michael found the finish ‘a little short.’ 13% alc.

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