What's Laird Drinking Now?

It was one of those sit around the house and read books nights. I love evenings like that, especially this time of year. We had the door open for the breeze and a starry night overhead.

2007 Pali “Bluffs” Pinot Noir Russian River Valley: Shows warm sun kissed plum and cherry fruit with a hint of baking spice and a good dollop of vanilla. The fruit takes on a briary edge with air. It seems plush and velvety, with a core of decent acidity that seems to focus it on the back end. A good wine, but not up to the quality of their single vineyard offerings that are just a few dollars more.

2002 Calera Selleck Vineyard Pinot Noir Mount Harlan: Calera is one of my favorite California Pinot producers and the Selleck is, to my mind, the flagship. Sadly, it is also the rarest of their offerings. Calera wines need time and this really showed it. At seven years of age it is just beginning to show its stuff. The nose is spellbinding with pomegranate molasses, graphite, stone, and chocolate covered raspberries. It is medium in weight with a cool, clean tone; it really sails on the palate. Air changes this wine from moment to moment, as it rolls out a crescendo of aromas and flavors. Iodine, figs, and aged balsamic evolve into cherries, cedar, and orange pekoe tea notes. The neat thing is that while intensely fruited, it is so deft and subtle; a really tough trick to pull off. It is a really beautiful, noble wine that evokes true Grand Cru Burgundy from a great producer and vintage. The complexity is surreal and it has sneaky length and palate persistence. I have not had many better wines this year. Many thanks to Jay for sharing.