Monday with a friend at the cigar lounge and a couple nice bottles. (Not pictured: 2004 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 & 2001 JosJos Burg Ravensburg Spatlese) the cigar was the most underwhelming of the day, sticking with the Avo/Davidoff from now on.

 

That, eventually, will be one HELL of a wine. Rioja needs a few decades to realize it's full potential, but at least it drinks well young.

 

I'll agreed with both statements, he has a case and this was the first one from the 12, that was some tasty grape juice.

 

Yes, it was in its appropriate drinking window but had plenty of life left in it

 

Afternoon Ale for me

 

How was this? Tasting notes pls

 

Had these tonight

 

You were certainly thirsty! Okay, question time.....

How was the '88 Drouhin? We finished the last of our '83 and would love to find a few more bottles from that decade at auction.

How about the Harlan - what year and how was it?

I'm looking as some softer vintages for my wife, so how was the 2001 Comtes? I have a 2000 on the way.

 

You sure know how to pick them @ulackfocus! Those two - the 88 Drouhin and the 94 Harlan - were the reds of the night! The other two other red Burgs (03 Prieure Roch Clos de Vougeot and 97 Beaune Close des Moches Drouhin) were too young still. The 88 was classic old Burg though. Can still keep for a few more year though. The Harlan, which was my bottle (I deliberately brought a curveball), was a pleasant surprise! It was a delight, it drank like an Old World Napa and a New World Right Bank Bordeaux. An excellent combo if you ask me.

The Comtes was also drinking well! Good balance of oak and minerals. It was excellent! It paired really well with these:

 

TGIF! Quinta Ruban, one of my favorite of the Glenmorangie line..

 

That sir ^ is my current favorite scotch! Well done!

 

Does the port cask aging give it a sweet taste at all?

 

My wife has told me that I have an unsophisticated palette. That said, "sweet" is not a word that I would use to describe it. Hold on, let me get the bottle and a glass and I'll reacquaint my unsophisticated pallette.................I so love that woman.

 

Well, if there are any signs of a sweet hint there -as Glenmorangie describes on their site- iI'd say t is very subtle one. I think this one is one of the smoothest 12-year scotch in its price range.

You can put the blame on me!

 

Presently enjoying the same, sir. Great minds...

 

A ripper, drank it quite a few years ago (magnum) in company with a lot of other good kit, Hait Brion, Chateau de Ampuis, etc... was in superb condition, clearly a ripe year with fleshy youthful fruit, ripe tannins, sinewy minerality and plenty of mature characters too, but not a single note suggesting it was in or nearing its dotage ... finishing with the assertively angular fruit cut and tannin profile you'd expect... opened up beautifully over the course of 5 or 6 hours... pity I didn't buy more, given that it cost me less than $800 aussie dollars (purchased in Australia, but effectively ex cellars)

 

Amazing, considering the age!

 

Cheers!

It's got some hefty taste

 

Special evening deserves special bottle of wine..

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