Working in the wine industry gives you the access - and spikes your intrigue - for some of the world's most unusual foods and unique wines. Foie Gras paired with Sauternes will never get old, but sometimes one longs for a return back to the classics. And sometimes, you just crave an aged Cabernet paired with a perfectly grilled steak. After raiding the wine fridge, we settled on a tasting between a 20 year-old Cali Cult classic and a village-level Bordeaux from the monumental 2000 vintage (that turned out to be the star of the night!).
1992 Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
2012 marks the 20th anniversary for 1992 Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, and with a drinking window of up to 2015, it seemed like a good time to enjoy this beauty. Upon opening, the wine was very expressive - rich and fruity, with notes of crème de cassis and black cherry, and a slight funk. I let it breathe for about 30 minutes but noted afterword that I should've let it open for much longer. The bouquet was brilliant for the better half of 10 minutes, but then shut down. On the palate, the wine had significant acidity but not enough fruit to harmonize together. Overall, I wish I had more time with this wine. After hours of decanting, I'm sure that this wine could've blown us away. Luckily, I have a few more bottles of this, and I plan to drink them as soon as possible, as it may be approaching its peak.
2000 Tronquoy Lalande
The star of the night! This bottle was recently acquired from a long time customer who sold his perfectly stored collection back to us. The price was on point ($24.95!!), and the wine showed like a Second or Third Growth. It was medium bodied with full red fruit on the nose. Earth, leather and berry with hints of smoke and plum danced on the palate. Not very complex like one would expect to find in typical Bordeaux, but just lovely enough to keep you interested. After decanting for 45 minutes, the alcohol finally started to blow off. The more you blew through it, the more the tannins relaxed and allowed the palate to come alive.
I have a few more village-level 2000 Bordeaux in my cellar that I cannot wait to drink, including the 2000 Cantemerle. Call your personal wine consultant today or email sales@sokolin.com for an updated stock list of 2000 Bordeaux, starting at $29.95! Take it from Robert Parker when he said, "2000 was the first vintage to demonstrate that numerous high quality Bordeaux wines can be made in all price categories".
Remember: Grilling season is right around the corner. If you haven't treated yourself to a perfectly cooked filet mignon paired with an aged Cabernet in a while, pick up a few bottles of 2000 Bordeaux before they disappear!