Wine Party Wine Review

The wine was flowing last night and it was all amazing, but before we get to that, I have to say that our friends outdid themselves with the decorations and food. I'll get the name of the caterer and post it, but, again, the food was just incredible. Obviously, the idea behind the party was to taste some exceptionally good wine, which we did. My friends set up the table with flights of 5 wines. Each, thankfully, was a 2 oz. pour or I don't know if I'd be writing this so early. The wines, in the order that we recommended tasting them were: 1) Coudolet de Beaucastel, 2) Ch. Mouton Rothschild, 3) Pira Barolo Cannubi, 4) Fanti Brunello, and 5) Phelps Insignia. This may not come as a surprise to anyone who knows these wines, but I loved them all. Each has its own distinctive character and taste, but they were all outstanding. Here's what I thought of each (dinner wine -- 2000 Ch. LaGrange -- and Port later).

Coudolet de Beacastel: This is a Cotes du Rhone and, although a solid medium bodied wine, I thought it tasted much lighter that the other wines. It pairs well with meats and stews (Beef Burgandy, etc.) When you first smell the wine, it smells like Welch's grape jelly and has a similar jammy berry taste. It also gives a full mouth feel so that you can really taste a smoky spice, although I can't quite place which spice (clove, allspice, cinnamon, anise, or all of the above). Although this wine may suffer by comparison with those that follow, this is a great wine.

Ch. Mouton Rothschild: This is a classic Bourdeaux (Pauillac). Produced by one of the premier French first growth properties. The wine smells distinctly of dirt/earth (the French "terroirs"), but has none of what you might think of as a dirty taste. Although 1997 was not considered a classic vintages, this is considered a solid effort and a very good Mouton. I love this wine. It has good color and texture, soft tannins with a silky finish. With hints of currants and cedar (classic for this wine), this wine just tastes great. A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, this wine is not as full-bodied as what many might expect from a Cabernet. This is not a California "fruit-bomb" it is a classic medium bodied Left Bank French Bourdeaux.

Pira Barolo Cannubi: Although not made with the same grape, this is the Italian version of a great French Bourdeaux. This is similar in body and color to the Mouton but with different texture and taste. This wine has more oak and, as any good Barolo, a flavors of flowers and tar as opposed to the liquorice and coffee taste of the Mouton. The layers minerality and complexity of this wine make it something truly special. When you think of a sensuous wine, this is it.

Fanti Brunello: This is a truly amazing wine and has been described as a "blockbuster" by Wine Spectator. This wine will be best in another few years, but this was my second favorite of the night. It has a dark, dark color and tastes of rich dark fruit, chocolate and vanilla. It is velvety and has a long soft finish.

Phelps Insignia: I started with this wine (sort of a mistake) and finished the tasting with it (definitely not a mistake). This wine is fabulous. Sometimes I will read a review of a wine and think about why a wine might be "the wine of the year" and not have the highest score of any wine reviewed that year. I don't know the answer to that question, but I know why this was the Wine of the Year. This is a California "fruit bomb" its best. Insignia is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 7% Petite Verdot and 1% Malbec and while we obviously opened this wine now, it can easily be cellared for another 2 decades. It is just an amazing effort. Well balanced and powerful, with a deep purple inky color and a rich, great jamminess and a mouth filling/coating flavor of blackberry, cherry, roasted coffee and a hint of vanilla. When I think of "mouth feel" this is one wine that will come to mind. As I sit here and close my eyes, I can still remember the taste of this wine and my mouth starts to water. In case you couldn't tell, this was my favorite, although there were no loser last night except those who didn't come.

Again, thanks to the hosts. We know how much work went into this great party.