Chateau Cissac Haut Medoc, 1970

The 40 year-old Chateauneuf worked just fine for me last night so I decided to push back even deeper for a 55-year-old Bordeaux. This 1970 Cissac is no longer the full bodied youngster we drank during the 1980s, but it is still a decent drink and a good accompaniment for birthday leftovers.

Not much ullage and an intact cork. Bouquet a bit muted, some cigar box. Tertiary flavors as well but great balance and smooth mouth feel. Cherry-like acidity, currant-like fruit.

I bought several bottles of this ($10) at Gold Standard Liquors on Rush Street in Chicago in the early 1980s. It was already mature enough to drink at the time with tannin and acidity to suggest long-term aging.
 

Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape, 1985

Itt was sitting there in the cellar, now 40 years old, showing a little bit of ullage due to past leakage from the cork. But it was Vieux Telegraphe, and I knew it would still be a great wine. What better choice for my 86th birthday?

Brickish red with a small pour but still deep and bright in the glass. I gave it two hours of aeration, but it was showing best at about three hours and more. Still needs swirling to reveal aromatic Provencal herb aromas and a little bit of funk. Flavors are fantastic and getting better with each sip. Dried cherries, leather, sea salt. Sweet and savory. Savory and sweet. Great balance. Haunting flavors. Great wine. I am so happy being 86 and drinking this beautiful 40 year old wine.

 

Louis Latour Puligny Montrachet, 1990

 

March is my birthday month (86 this year), and I use this time to dig out some long neglected bottles in my cellar to see if they are aging as well as I feel that I am. This 375 ml bottle of Puligny Montrachet has some pluses and some minuses.

When I removed the capsule, the cork was indented a bit, indicating that it could have been exposed to excessive cold at some time before I purchased it 30-some years ago. Deep gold color. Still some floral scents among the oxidized notes. Also sliced apples and citrus. Flavors are bold and attractive with impressive depth complexity on the finish. Balance is still excellent. I can drink this happily for the next night or two..

Paul Jaboulet Aine Cote Rotie Les Jumelles, 1982

I bought a case of this Cote Rotie for less than $100, believe it or not, and had it shipped to Kalamazoo from Brown Derby Wines in Springfield, MO. That was an excellent price, even then, but bottles opened in the early to mid-1990s were a bit disappointing. They were way too young, of course, and bottles consumed around the turn of the century were much better. This final bottle, tonight, is fantastic, and I wish I had saved a few more.

Medium deep garnet with considerable bricking. Some floral scents (violets?) along with minerals and red and black fruit. Excellent acidity that captures the essence of this wine at the front of the tongue and guides it along the palate to a powerful finish. Dried cranberries and raspberries, black olives, iron and sea salt. Very savory. Does not quite measure up to bottles of Jaboulet's Crozes-Hermitage Thalabert from the 1980s, but has many of the same qualities.
 

2 Lads Old Mission Peninsula Pijnot Grigio, 2016

2 Lads Winery, located on the crest of a hill in the top part of Old Mission Peninsula (near Traverse City) is one of our favorite places to visit. We go there at least once every summer to taste wine and then enjoy a charcuterie platter on the lawn outside overlooking the bay. Donna has a glass of the Pinot Grigio; I have a glass of one of the Rieslings.

When I saw this 2 Lads Pinot Grigio at our local Crosstown grocery for a price ($15.99) that is less than the price at the winery, I was pleased. Not until I got the bottle home did I note the 2016 vintage date, a red flag for any white wine. I believe it is the first nine-year-old Pinot Grigio I have ever had, but I was very pleasantly surprised.

Fairly deep lemon yellow. Ripe pears, honeydew melon and lime. The zesty fresh smells and flavors I remember from past tastings have filled out and developed nicely. Now richer, deeper and more complex. I haad no idea Pinot Grigio could age so well. I love it.
 

Hidden Hill Estate McLaren Vale Shiraz, 2021

The days of the $5 Ausie Shiraz are long gone, unless you are okay with Yellow Tail or similar "critter wines," high in alcohol and sugar. This Hidden Hill Estate wine, selling for $5.99 at Trader Joe's, is a notable exception. The grapes come from vineyards on the Fleurieu Peninsula of McLaren Valle, a highly respected appellation. And it is several leagues higher than Yellow Tail.

Deep, dark ruby. Coconut, blueberries and dark chocolate. Bright up front fruit and ripe tannins. Pleasant finish, but not very complex, at least at this stage. For $5.99, though, it is an excellent choice for frequent every day use. I will buy more.
 

Domaine Sainte-Anne Cotes du Rhone Villages Notre Dame des Cellettes, 2011

In Saint Gervais, on the Gardois side of the Rhone River, Domaine Sainte-Anne produces several tiers of Cotes du Rhone wines, all of which are long-term favorites of mine: Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages, CDR Villages Notre Dame des Cellettes and CDR Villages Les Rouvieres (formerly Saint Gervais). All age very well. Notre Dame has the third highest rank in price, just below Les Rouvieres.

Medium dark ruby indicative of 20-30% Syrah and 10-20% old vine Mourvedre to go with 60% Grenache. Red and black raspberries, currants and anise with a slightly peppery finish. Still has noticeable tannins but they are friendly and add rather than subtract from the ripe flavors. Long, complex finish. Drinking well now.