Here’s a review that my dad, Larry Burton, did. He’s been our wine editor for Hot in Little Rock for 3 years, and we love his columns.
We’re embarrassed. We should have known better. We served a wine we didn’t know to guests and, well, let’s just say it was not a very good decision. We vowed, when we began writing this blog a few years ago, not to write about any wine we hadn’t enjoyed. So here’s the rub: the wine we are going to describe may get better with age, but for now it is best left along.
This 2006 Calvet Réserve de l’Estey Médoc is a red Bordeaux blend. When we opened it there was not much of a nose, a little red apple and some cedar. Truly, the nose was thin, we don’t know how else to express it. Silly us, we never should have poured it, but we did. Thank goodness our guests are polite people, but there were no requests for more. After everyone left, we tried again. Glad to say things had improved a bit and there was cherry, maybe a little strawberry and a touch of vanilla, in addition to the apple. Not delicious, but much better than when we had opened it. Perhaps it will develop if left cellared for a couple more years…but maybe not.
We certainly learned our lesson. We won’t offer any wine we haven’t tried. The exception of course is when guests have brought the wine. We’ve been lucky on that front. Now, duly humbled, we headed back to the wine store. Maybe we’ll even listen to the recommendations there. They seldom fail.
P.S.
Next time we’ll tell you all about the hors dourves we’ll be serving at Wildwood on Sunday, before a wonderful recital of District Met Audition winners. Or, you can taste them yourself by attending. Cost is $25 for adults and tickets can be secured through Wildwood.
