So yesterday started with a bang- literally, I was awakened by a mini-explosion, and watching an electric wire arcing spectacularly in front of house. We lost power (and an hour later a tree from neighbors' came down and ripped out service line to house anyway). A rather spectacular storm, but at least I rigged a cord to a neighbor on a separate grid, and was able to get sump pump going. Whew.
So with no power and Betsy away, David and I dined on supermarket chicken and salads, by candlelight. I opened a bottle of the 1989 Tayac "Cuvee Prestige" (Cotes de Bourg). I'd had this a couple times before, always decent, but this showed much better than previous bottles. Resolved tannins, some coffee and mocha aromas, rich blackcurrant and black plum fruit. Really surprising depth of fruit compared to previous bottles. Sitting in dark by light of laptop (thank goodness for neighbors with unsecured wireless networks) this could pass for a midlevel mature Graves or cab-heavy St Emilion. Excellent showing for a satellite, B+/A-
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.