Grand Ol' Harlan 93 with Good Ol' Friends

An impromptu get together with old friends last week was over a lovely array of wines which included Bass Phillip Pinot Noir Premium 2001, Kistler Kistler Estate Pinot Noir 2001, Harlan Estate 1993, to name a few.

What I've always appreciated about these bunch of guys is their unabashed, unpretentious love for great wine - and boy did we have some great stuff that night! Fighting through a fog of intoxication, my hepatic cells working overtime, I actually managed to pen down a few thoughts on the wines that really stimulated the senses.

> Kistler Kistler Estate RRV Pinot Noir 2001 - Sadly, Kistler Pinot has always been a disappointment on the handful of occasions I've been fortunate enough to share a bottle, but I was to be pleasantly surprised on this night. To the eye, a deep ruby. Impressive nose akin to a large basket overflowing with a cornucopia of red fruits. On the palate, fresh strawberries, cola (to borrow a term from "The Prince"), brush. Quite elegant. Best bottle of Kistler Pinot I've had to date.

> Harlan Estate 1993 - Always one of my favorite vintages of Harlan. Someone that night said this was like a fine Bordeaux, a St Julien. Reg, the claret lover amongst us, would have loved it. Still youthful looking, the nose gave forth minerals, cedar, pencil shavings, and a touch of smoke. Very refined, its fruit profile was multi-dimensional and the balance of acid and wood was intoxicating. Truly impressive. Reminded me very much of the 1999. We should all be so lucky to drink a great bottle of wine such as this.