Weingut Drautz Able
Château Mouton Rothschild
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1990
From magnum. No formal notes. The fill was top-shoulder. Underneath the capsule, the top of the cork looked nasty which I wiped down as best I could. About four hours before service, using a Durand (which is almost essential with old bottles) I was able to pull the cork completely intact and decant for sediment. The cork was completely saturated but appeared to have done its job! At this stage in its life, the 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild pours a garnet color but it doesn’t appear particularly tired and the nose supports that. While it’s certainly a vinous wine, there is a lot to like: a mix of red and black cassis, rip and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. The structure is still sound and while the tannins have integrated and the acid is keeping this very much alive. In fact, this seemed to brighten with air and almost get a second wind! As I find with all great Bordeaux wines once they enter this stage, they seem to live forever. This was a lovely pairing with a Prime, Niman Ranch porterhouse served with corn, squash and porcini. This is squarely in the “drink now” window, not that it will be falling off a cliff anytime soon. Decant for sediment and enjoy through 2030+ — a year ago
Vieux Château Certan
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 1982
1982 vintage. Mid-shoulder fill, fully saturated cork. Not decanted. Tasted after 3 hours open. Light body. Earthy nose. Smooth, lean, integrated flavors gliding along to that 35 second finish. Should be able to hold court in this status for another 5-6 years. 7.6.24. — 6 months ago
Château Léoville-Las Cases
Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1995
1995 vintage. Great aging cork in good shape. Decanted and tasted immediately, after 30 mins and after 2 hours. Decent amount of sed. Slight brickish color. Initially and generally throughout, reticent nose and flavors. Very tightly wound overall. Eventually able to coax a small amount of black olive out of the nose along with minerals for days. Some dark cherry and plum allied with baking chocolate in the transition from mid-palate to finish. It was tough sledding in the frontal palate. Super dry with summer earth/dirt at the start. Obvious class but never really flashed more than a few cards to play. Perhaps a different bottle shows a little more love? Producer is always on the leaner side so unbridled optimism on that front is likely wasted energy. 10.25.23. — a year ago
Dom Pérignon
Brut Champagne Blend Rosé 2002
Our host served two bottles of this blind. Of course we all guessed them as being two different bottles as there was definitely bottle variation. Got the vintage wrong (I guessed 1995 on the first bottle) but was able to figure out this was Dom Rose. Light salmon color, great nose, sweet. Notes of kiwi, strawberry and powdered stone. Nice power and structure. Improved with air. Good acidity. Nice start to the evening. — 4 years ago
A. Rafanelli
Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1988
Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over period that lasted a few hours. After removing the capsule, cork was revealed to be completely saturated and moldy at the top. It was positively nasty. After wiping it down, I was able to extract the cork intact, with the use of a Durand. The 1988 pours a deep garnet with near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment even after decanting. On the nose, the wine is a vinous mix of ripe and desiccated black and red fruits: brambles and currants, with tobacco, bell pepper, leather, organic earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and so delicious. Brilliant. The ’88 is ready to drink now with a short decant but has plenty of stuffing to drink well for at least another 10+ years and well-stored examples will be alive for much longer. — 8 months ago
E. Guigal
La Mouline Côte-Rôtie Syrah 1990
1990 vintage. Decanted and tasted after one hour. Medium body. A shade darker than the 1990 La Turque tasted alongside. Deeper smoky, gamey nose. Meaty, gamey, smoky and beef broth/sous bois in the flavors. Super savory. This was phenomenal. Should be able to sustain this performance for the better part of a decade before noticeable drop off. Wowzers. Last tasted 3.24.23 with the same score. 3.15.24. — 9 months ago
Dom Pérignon
Brut Champagne Blend 2008
Ming L
Quite approachable at this young age. 30 minutes decant and it’s open for business. Aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, sweet spices, cocoa, and lightly roasted nuts. The depth of flavors and elegant medium to full body show the pedigree. If blinded, I would not be able to tell this is a Sangiovese dominant blend. Would prefer a bit more acidity. But who am I to complain. — a month ago