Sharon Bowman
Sharon Bowman
On December 24, we had a visit from .sasha Claus, who invited some of us to the cellar on the promise of generous pours of Georgian saperavi by the glass. He gypped us on that one, but I think we made out OK, anyway. Some lovely things were poured:
2002 Coche-Dury Meursault - I found this very hot on first sip. However, with time, there was a persistent niggling something that wouldn't let itself be dismissed. It didn't really have a sense of Meursaultiness, but it had a racy thing going on. Class, like. I came to like it and even said to the dotster that if I told him it were Ganevat, he would believe me. Turn that label upside-down!
2010 Texier St-Julien-en-St-Alban - decanted some time before pouring, but remaining of course at 55 degrees, cave oblige. This had the young, wildly floral serine thing going on, almost ilke hand soap. But with air and repeat visits, you could find all of the other things shimmering around in what was in the end a brutally young wine. Made me want to put on a bonnet.
1988 Domaine de Chevalier - there was something strange about this. Mouthful of ashtray in the start. Like eating smushed cherries out of an ashtray. Later on it would become more likeable.
1964 Ch. La Mission Haut-Brion (375ml) - Dang, Victor.
1981 Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou - This was super swell, as well. It didn't back down after being tasted post-'64 La Mission. Just a good Bordeaux friend. Hold it close.
1993 Lafarge Volnay - A shockingly young showing for this village wine. It was even a bit frooty. I meant to come back to it, but somehow it got away.
1991 Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées - Big-boned pinot in a timeless phase.
1955 Ch. Lanessan - Smashing oldie. Lock turns in the cylinder. Pour yourself another glass.
2010 Bart Marsannay Champs Salomon - after wines of more age and breeding, this still won the favor of some. I found it a bit too "modern" for my tastes, but I was shouted down. Oak or stems?
In any case, this was a fantastic set of wines, and a fantastic group of winos. Despite the fact that some Bunuelian Exterminating Angel did not allow some participants to leave as planned.
2002 Coche-Dury Meursault - I found this very hot on first sip. However, with time, there was a persistent niggling something that wouldn't let itself be dismissed. It didn't really have a sense of Meursaultiness, but it had a racy thing going on. Class, like. I came to like it and even said to the dotster that if I told him it were Ganevat, he would believe me. Turn that label upside-down!
2010 Texier St-Julien-en-St-Alban - decanted some time before pouring, but remaining of course at 55 degrees, cave oblige. This had the young, wildly floral serine thing going on, almost ilke hand soap. But with air and repeat visits, you could find all of the other things shimmering around in what was in the end a brutally young wine. Made me want to put on a bonnet.
1988 Domaine de Chevalier - there was something strange about this. Mouthful of ashtray in the start. Like eating smushed cherries out of an ashtray. Later on it would become more likeable.
1964 Ch. La Mission Haut-Brion (375ml) - Dang, Victor.
1981 Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou - This was super swell, as well. It didn't back down after being tasted post-'64 La Mission. Just a good Bordeaux friend. Hold it close.
1993 Lafarge Volnay - A shockingly young showing for this village wine. It was even a bit frooty. I meant to come back to it, but somehow it got away.
1991 Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées - Big-boned pinot in a timeless phase.
1955 Ch. Lanessan - Smashing oldie. Lock turns in the cylinder. Pour yourself another glass.
2010 Bart Marsannay Champs Salomon - after wines of more age and breeding, this still won the favor of some. I found it a bit too "modern" for my tastes, but I was shouted down. Oak or stems?
In any case, this was a fantastic set of wines, and a fantastic group of winos. Despite the fact that some Bunuelian Exterminating Angel did not allow some participants to leave as planned.