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Fortunately, the Wings were having none of that. As one player was heard to say,
"We're going to get this done. We just have to settle down." And that's what they did, with dominating efforts in Games 5 and 6, scoring impressive 4 - 1 and 2 - 0 wins. The offense came alive, the defense threw a suffocation blanket over the Predators, and
Curtis Joseph, starting his first games in a month, made
the key saves when he had to. And of course, there was some serious Red Rhône mojo being uncorked here at
Gang Central, and that had to account for something, right?
 1999 Domaine Le Mas des Collines Regis de Taxis Gigondas, 13.5% alc.: This ruby dark garnet is all tar and black fruit on the nose, with little of the characteristic cola that is usually found in these. Like flavors of tarry black currant, blackberry and pepper are thick and dense, with a rough, burry mouth feel from the considerable tannins and acidity, and the finish is all earth and tar. A hint of cola finally emerges with extended air, but it has to climb out of the La Brea Tar Pits to make itself known. If it sounds like this isn't so great a wine right now, that's true, but it has great potential for those with patience. Hold this until its 10th birthday and beyond; it could well be a 15 - year wine.
Imported by J et R Selections, Mount Pleasant, MI
1999 Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf du Pape, $29.99, 13.5% alc.: Kim probably put it best when she described this dark garnet as "green;" medium bodied, it gives flavors and aromas of smoke, pepper, earth, dark plums berries and spice. Showing only medium intensity, it gradually puts on a little weight as it opens, gaining some forest floor and leather while showing more Châteauneuf character, but it never quite makes it to the big - time. The tannins can use a few years, and this will likely improve in that time, but this will never be more than merely a good Châteauneuf du Pape at best, one that I'd like it a lot better priced at around $10 less.
Imported by Wines of France, Inc., Mountainside, NJ
1997 Domaine des Remizières Hermitage Cuvèe Emile, $48.99, 13% alc.: This slightly cloudy deep, dark garnet exudes aromatics that are not unlike a young Ridge Geyserville, showing some funky barnyard, oak, tar, plums, berries, a little licorice and as it opens, more sweet, dark fruit, some chocolate and coffee. However, the flavors are like a black hole, sucking up almost all of the charms shown on the nose; dense and concentrated, almost monolithic at first, this slowly unfolds to show some of the promise of the bouquet, but there's mostly just hard, dark fruit with a little shoe polish. There are tannins to take it at least five years down the road, and frankly it needs the time to come around. I would have done well to have given this two hours in a decanter before tasting, but ultimately, there is no substitute for patience.
No hey problema, it'll be worth the wait.
A Patrick Lesec Selection, Imported by The Stacole Company, Inc., Boca Raton, FL
2001 Domaine le Sang des Cailloux Vacqueyras Cuvée Floureto, $38, 13.8% alc:
The nose on this inky garnet Vacqueyras had a woody thing that made me wonder if it wasn't corked, but Kim and Alan Kerr argued against that; Alan did note a "phenolic" chemical quality, saying that it smelled like nail polish, but Kim and I didn't get any of that. I did note deep, dark black fruit, with a creamy overlay, a big hit of cola, and plenty of tannins and acidity. Give it a couple of hours in a decanter if you have to drink it right now, but it really needs to sit until its tenth birthday and beyond.
Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkley, CA
 1990 Domaine du Pegau Châteauneuf du Pape, $19.95, 13.5% alc: Alan Kerr contributed this to our mojo making, and it seemed to confirm the impressions of many who tasted it
last September that it still has a while to go before it'll show its best. A slightly rusty ruby garnet in color, it's showing mature earthy stewed fruit, roasted beet, smoke, cola, cured salted meat, brine-y olive, nutmeg and a touch of white pepper. It really blossoms with half an hour of air, and it continues to open and evolve as long as there's some left. Still, it has the structure to hold and improve for another ten years; I just wish it was still available, especially for the price that Alan paid for it way back when.
Imported by J et R Selections, Mount Pleasant, MI
2001 Eric Texier Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes,
$26.05, 14% alc: This deep, dark garnet smells like red pop, and tastes something like it as well, which doesn't play too well at our house. It's all about sweet oak and red fruit, but where's the smoke? Where's the sweat?? Where's the leather??? Where's the garrigue???? Too much oak, Mozart, and an even bigger disappointment than the Wings' 3 - 0 loss to Nashville in Game 4.
Imported by North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA
 2001 Patrick Lesec Châteauneuf du Pape Marquis, $34.99, 14% alc.: Kim commented that, to her, this dark garnet tastes like flat rock and rye, but I found that the substantial tannins and zippy acidity almost mimic a carbonated quality. Whatever the case, this is quite satisfying (especially after the Texier), with notes of smoky plum, black currant, blackberry, cola and some chocolate-y overtones. Lots of CdP character here, and the chocolate-y nuance doesn't detract from that in the least. This drinks pretty well now, with three hours of air and more, but it really needs several more years to resolve those tannins.
A Patrick Lesec Selection, Imported by The Stacole Company, Inc., Boca Raton, FL
1996 Domaine Bois de Boursan Châteauneuf du Pape, $19.50, 13.5% alc.: Much as I remember it from
last
season, smoke and leather dominate the red and black fruit on the nose of this slightly rusty dark garnet, while the flavors echo and expand with plum, prune, black currant, blackberry, cola and even a little dark chocolate. This is one big beautiful Châteauneuf du Pape that's still on the way up, with the tannin structure to take it five years down the road and beyond. It's showing everything that I love about this bottling from this producer, and from the appellation as a whole. Bravo!
Imported by J et R Selections, Mount Pleasant, MI
Reporting from Day-twah,
Bastardo
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