Sunday, November 23, 2008

A successful hunt: Finca Luzon 2003

I got a bottle of this a long time ago. A super bargain at WS 93 and only $16, it was fantastic at a Spanish wine tasting I ran back in early 2008. Most people thought it was the best wine there, including me. Fruity and ripe and rich with complex wood and spice notes that went down smoothly. Of course, since I only had a small glass (since the one bottle was shared among 15 people), I wanted more and it tasted even better because of the scarcity. Sigh. In my mind it was a 95 pointer.

But this wine isn't easy to find as only 1,500 cases were imported.

But visiting NY this past August, on my way to work I walked by a small run down liquor shop in the Chelsea, that seems so typical in a typical Manhattan block. And lo and behond, 2 bottles of the 2003 Luzon. Collecting dust in the sparsely furnished "good wines" section of the shelving. There was a special deal on getting two bottles of the same type. After a double check back at the apartment, that this indeed was the wine I wanted, I bought them both for $14/ bottle.

And they've sat in my wine fridge for 4 months. Trying to temper expectations. How well where they stored in that ratty liquor store? How well would this wine age?

But I've realized I can't hold this thing forever so this bright and sunny late November Sunday, I opened a bottle. And it's still fresh and lively. Nice with red berry and some plum, spices and woody tannin notes. Yet... while it is very good ... it's not great. I'm drinking it slowly, pouring very small glasses to let each one breath and come up to room temp, but I still haven't re-found that hauntingly good memory. My score so far: 90.

All in all though, this bottle has been a success...

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