What's Laird Drinking Now?

Sundays are special here. It is our one day to share and we try to do them right. We prepare a nice meal or two and I try to serve a little really good wine to taste and share with friends. Sometimes, despite careful planning, you just miss the bullseye. In this case I was confident heading in, I had the top sparkler from an under the radar producer that I like a lot and a pair of reds from two top flight wineries in Europe. The results were a bit less than I had hoped and planned for. None of these were bad, not at all, just lacking inspiration and soul.

1998 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Cuvee Late Disgorged:

Spicy, ginger inflected nose is followed by citrus (bergamot and lemon), vanilla, and a hint of yeast. With some air the wine turns into a broad shouldered, generous tasting bubble with a very fine bead. I like this wine a lot and would love it if it was ten dollars cheaper. At $42 cost it has to be compared with Pierre Moncuit Grand Cru and Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blanc and it loses its luster at that point.

2004 Alois Lageder Pinot Noir:

Very cool in the mouth with limestone drenched Morena cherries and burnt matchstick. Aromas of spent shell casing and rose water with a hint of tar & candlewax. This is a very vinous style and Stacey did not like it one bit. I enjoyed it as an academic exercise but it really was a lot more fun two years ago.

2004 Artadi Rioja Orobio:

I believe this is a second wine for Artadi. It’s a big wine with loads of oak and extract. Not my cup of tea really but it is very well made. Overflowing with blackberry fruit, vanilla, and molasses this is the kind of wine that you drink as a cocktail. It shouts out at you but never really speaks. I should say that many folks would really love this wine even if I do not.