Retrospective: Eric's Birthday

2/13/06 - Retrospective

For Eric's birthday proper on Monday we hit Grapeseed where Derek and I tasted our way through a well-balanced and light Pinot from Mt. Carmel, and Eric's unwitting repeat of the Edge Cab we'd had a few months back and he's forgotten till I showed up and reminded him (massive Eucalytus, big nasty slut of a Napa Cab.. needs. food.), erm... Derek got a Sonoma Cab I'd had doubts about and I turned out to have had foresight on that.. I had the David Bruce Petite Syrah which was full of nice dark fruit and moderate structure but too subtle for what I'd wanted.. I should've just hit up a Pinot if I'd wanted something that light (Derek unfairly swayed me when I walked in the door) or just gone for the Shiraz but I pussed out.

I made up for it with an Alexander Valley Cab that Derek and I both agreed was pretty sexy (nice traditional red raspberries, a firm structure with the AlexVal characteristic terroir that was the sell on this one for me). The real winner of the night was Eric's choice of the Columbia Crest Walter Clore, Columbia Valley CA 02 Bordeaux blend (mostly Cab with some Merlot). We shared a bottle of that between the three of us, Eric and I split some incredible fois gras that struck a great note with the wine, bringing out the earthier notes. The raspberries vied with a darker, juicier black cherry fruit and the french oak pulled it all together and infused it with a mocha-y husk (reminding me ever so slightly of the Rocket Science we'd had a few days ago.. only that one was more chocolate than coffee, and about twice as big and brawny). Just looked it up and it's apparently ranked #33 on WS top 100 of the year. It took maybe twenty minutes for them to find in their cellar but it was well worth the wait. Good call, Eric!

P.S. As part of my V-D pity party I picked up a bottle of Sequoia Grove '02 Cab . Love me that Rutherford dust. [2/28: Last week at the Fine Wine Napa Cab/Meritage tasting I NAILED a Rutherford Cab at first sniff. I was beside myself with joy, almost squirming in my chair. That may be my first blind ID of a sub-AVA!!]