Frescobaldi Brunello di Montalcino Castelgiocondo 2007

Frescobaldi Brunello di Montalcino Castelgiocondo 2007 (WS90 $54.99 SKU 333989) This was one of the many brunellos available at the LDB store recently. The best vintage was of course the 2004 but they were all sold out. The 2007 is still a bit of a mystery but most brunellos need 7 to 10 years in the cellar. Wine Spectator indicated that this wine is best from 2014 to 2023.

 

I tasted it last night with some snacks and cheese. The aroma was sweet with lots of fruit. The body was medium to full and the finish was quite long. This was a powerful wine and would need some more time in the cellar. It certainly would go well with some Italian food, especially those prepared with cheese.

 

The price is attractive for a 90 point brunello and there is great potential for cellaring. You can open it now with proper decanting or put it away for a year or two. There is ample stock in the LDB system.

Chateau La Grave a Pomerol 2003

Chateau La Grave a Pomerol 2003 (WS92, $73.99, SKU 789131) This was one of the recent re-release of vintage Bordeaux wines at the LDB store. I had my eyes on it since the 2004 and 2005 vintages were very sought after. This was a right bank wine from the Pomerol region, so the wine had more Merlot than Cabernet Sauvignon. 2003 was a very good vintage and Wine Spectator said it should be ready after 2009.

 

I finally decided to get a bottle on Dec. 14, 2012. When I paid for it, it scanned out at $55. I checked the bar code and description and it was the correct wine. So I sent all of you an e-mail that evening. One friend managed to get six bottles of this the next day at the lower price. But when I went to the LDB store, they had already corrected their “mistake” by using a felt pen to cross out the bar code. When they entered the SKU, it indicated a  price of $73.99.

 

In any case, I opened it tonight in the decanter for an hour and drank it while having some  Greek food (lamb shoulder and chicken). The aroma filled the room when the wine was being decanted. The color was slightly brown, consistent with the age of the wine. It was very smooth in the mouth and the fruit was pleasant. Since there was more Merlot, the tannins are not as pronounced and would be easily appreciated by novice drinkers. One tasting panel member found it had a caramel nose. It was a very easy drinking wine and easy to enjoy. I would say this wine is at its prime and should be enjoyed now. At $73.99, it is a little pricy but still a good effort from a good vintage. This would definitely be a great Christmas present. There are still 3 cases at the 39^th and Cambie store.

Vincent Girardin Moulin a Vent Clos de la Tour 2009

Vincent Girardin Moulin a Vent Clos de la Tour 2009 (WS92, $29.99, SKU 181180) This is a special Beaujolais that can be enjoyed now or cellared. It was the No. 54 of Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines of 2011. I first opened a bottle in December 2011 and found the color very richly red. It drank like a red Rhone wine - fresh and fragrant with a medium finish. I recently opened another bottle at a banquet and it was equally good. It went well with lighter Chinese food but also stood its ground with a steak. This is a lighter wine, but it grows on you. It is quite balanced but obviously still has lots of potential.

 

Beaujolais red wines usually are consumed when released because it is a lighter wine. The grape is gamay noir and the color is usually a lighter red.  However the 2009 vintage is quite a different breed as it can be enjoyed right the way or cellared. Wine Spectator indicated that this wine can be cellared until 2016, quite a long life for a Beaujolais. When I sent my friends to get some at the 39^th and Cambie LDB store, a certain store employee told them that this wine should not be cellared. The employee obviously relied on his/her usual knowledge of Beaujolais but did not know about this exceptional vintage. In addition, the price is very attractive for a wine in the Top 100 ranking. I last saw seven bottles of it at 39^th and Cambie. LDB website indicated that there are lots of stock scattered at various stores.