| | My first CdB dinner
All the reds were double decanted and held off from serving for at least a couple hours. Reception Hors d'oeuvres of:
Tomato Bruschetta
Crispy Coconut Shrimp
Baked Potato Skins with Sour Cream & Caviar Appetizer Pan Seared Crab Cake with Roasted Tomato, Mustard Aioli
First time I can recall having a dry semillion wine, this was very enjoyable and something I would like to continue exploring especially with other seafood like the crab cake - 2018 Château Climens Asphodèle - France, Bordeaux
Very nice wine. Had the characteristics of a sauternes without the dense flavors, I would almost say funky or nuttiness at times. Really nice expression of dry semillion. Very bright but dense, rich fruit in this. (92 pts.)
Entre Grilled Petit Filet Mignon with Roasted Mushrooms, Sauce Bearnaise
The La Lagune stood out here, far more refined and enjoyable. Not sure if with time the balance with change between the two producers / wines, but this was clear. - 2010 Château La Lagune - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
This was very good. Tasted more mature due to the delicacy of the wine, but the fruit was still very fresh and vibrant. Tannins subdued throughout (91 pts.)
- 2010 Château Gloria - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Good but not as good as the 2010 Chateau La Lagune this was up against (90 pts.)
Cheeses Bread from Zak the Baker with Brie d'Isigny (Normandy, France) and Gran Reserva Iberico (La Mancha, Spain)
The 2009 Chateau d'Armailhac took the show here. The 2010 was great but still tight and with a lot of structure that needs time to unwind and be assimilated better. And the Grand Puy Ducasse was a close second. - 2009 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
This was great, very approachable. (92 pts.)
- 2009 Château d'Armailhac - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Tasted side by side the 2010
Very approachable and delicious. This has come together at this point, can it age further, I am sure, but this is drinking beautifully. The structure is there but let the fruit and delicate nature of Pauillac really shine through.
60% Cab Sauv / 24% Merlot / 14% Cab Franc / 2% Petit Verdot (93 pts.)
- 2010 Château d'Armailhac - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Tasted side by side with the 2009
This was a great wine but but the tannins are still very strong and distracting, the structure of this vintage lends itself to more aging - I would venture at least 5 more years before this it will be closer to it's potential
60% Cab Sauv / 23% Merlot / 15% Cab Franc / 2% Petit Verdot (89 pts.)
Key Lime Pie - 2016 Carmes de Rieussec - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Delicious Sauternes. For the price, this is a great value. Classic richness, not the densest or fullest Sauternes but excellent. Honeyed notes.
The alcohol was somewhat present which was a bit distracting and less enjoyable, but not sufficiently so that this isn't a good wine. (90 pts.)
The 2009 Chateau d'Armailhac was the winner for me as well as the experience of a delicious dry semillion from Chateau Climens. |
