1998 Grand Puy Lacoste, Paulliac, Bordeaux
Returned home from a week in L.A. to a nearly empty fridge. Too tired to go to the store, I grilled a pair of steaks a thoughtful friend dropped off with some glazed carrots--the only vegetable in my fridge--and this bottle of Bordeaux. Not sure what happened while we were away, but our three cats, not usually into human food, stared intently at our dinner and Jailbait, in particular, could not stop howling. Anyway, I had a case of these and have been drinking them on and off for about eight years now. Not sure I ever hit its perfect sweet spot but it's certainly the best now it will ever be, I think. Good color and depth, only barely browning at the edges--mature but fresh with all the usual characteristics of aged Paulliac, if on a slightly thinner frame, and shows best with at least two hours of decanting.