Notes from a small lunch gathering.
2002 La Pousse d’Or Corton-Clos de Roi – obvious pinot nose with sweet cherry notes, juicy in the mouth, seemingly on the simple side at first but it opened up with time in the glass and also gained a bit of Burgundian funkiness in the nose. Great way to start..
1998 Dom. Brusset Gigondas Les Hauts de Montmirail – good colour now getting paler at the edges. Nice nose of wet stone and dark fruit, sweet entry with a hint of astringency on palate, and a long smooth finish.
1986 Sassicaia – dark with lightening rim, clearly a cabernet but after that we were a bit flummoxed. Fruit and earthy notes in the nose, and still showing great up front fruit and excellent structure, with a long finish.
1994 Hess Collection Cabernet Estate (Napa) – medium colour and showing a ton of vanilla in the nose, originally a bit funky, but it smoothed out. Smooth finish with big extracted impression. Certainly not a subtle wine….
1986 Ch. Leoville Poyferre – dark, with a slight mustiness in this nose too. It had good structure albeit with some remaining tannic stiffness and adequate fruit. Pleasant, now probably as good as it will get.
2002 Lopez Heredia Vina Tondonia Rioja Reserva – dark sweet vanilla nose with hint of VA and excellent concentration. Lengthy finish.
A VERY pleasant lunch!