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Last night my wife and I went over to Roy's La Jolla as we were in the mood for Sushi. I'm now home after a long trip, and between GM Brian Lee and Chef Percy, both of whom have been friends, in the true sense of Ohana, for ten years or so, I always get to go "off the menu."
I brought along three aged Languedoc wines as I'm on a kick to start tasting and drinking up what has become more of a time capsule of late than a wine cellar. With the historically deep collection I have of Languedoc reds, the opportunity to work through them is now here.
1994 Domaine Clavel La Mejanelle-initially closed and thin, as it opened in the decanter the wine evolved into what Pierre Clavel had made. Light purple in color, with hints of lavendar and sage on the nose, the blend of Syrah and Grenache, with a hint of Carignan clearly was no spring chicken, but it was far, far from fading away. Ample flavors of black raspberry, juicy blueberry and a hint of anise finished off the wine.
1996 Chateau La Roque Mourvedre I had planned on taking the 1994 La Roque Pic St. Loup but decided to go with a pure Mourvedre bottling as I've been on a Bandol kick of late popping some 2000 and 2003 from Chateau Pibernon and hankering for something older and from a different region, beyond Santa Barbara's fine Mourvedre called Mister Mourvedre by buddy David Corey of Core Wine. And there wasn't any dissapointment here. The high mountain fruit has aged the way Bandol should, and it presents a very nice, solid, sexy and seductive taste. A hint of herbal garrigue gave the wine a light kick, that surrounded the blackberry and dried cherry flavors. I'm glad I aged this one as it is again, not in a rush to be drunk but as I have more, I will, as it's a great pizza and BBQ wine right now.
Sadly, the 1995 La Roque Cupa Numismae's cork had not done it's job. While the wine still held it's gorgeous color, the wine was DOA.
Today….well, you'll just have to wait..
