The "Grand Cru" tasting with Bacchus Wine Society

Merton College, Oxford
Tasted Wednesday, June 16, 2010 by Benj with 520 views

Introduction

The last tasting of the year, and the last tasting with Alex (W) as president, so he selected a variety of wines - some unsung, some loudly sung, of a variety of different persuasions to treat us all. A couple disappointments but generally excellent all-round. Point scores aside, I personally *loved* all the wines except the Joseph Perrier, Tegernseerhof, the Silexes and the Musar. What an evening!

Flight 1 (11 Notes)

  • 1998 Joseph Perrier Champagne Cuvée Royále 88 Points

    France, Champagne

    From magnum. Excellent fine mousse, apple juice and slightly stale bread. Excellent, though not deserving of the price in my book (others disagreed)

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  • 2007 Tegernseerhof Riesling Smaragd Ried Kellerberg 82 Points

    Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

    Baked apple, orange blossom and a little rubber on the nose - very pretty. However, disappointing on the palate. No attack, fairly dull flavours, alcohol slightly out of balance (it's 13.5% by the way). Slightly off-dry style, some people seemed to love it, I was meh. £23

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  • 2006 Didier Dagueneau Silex 89 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé

    I'm not getting what the fuss is about. This, far more than the 2007 (which I actually preferred), shows to me something different, unusual. It is smoky, it feels oaked, it is quite animalic, very long but in need of time. It's excellent, but it in no way blew my mind. And pushing £100? Yeesh.

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  • 2007 Didier Dagueneau Silex 91 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé

    With the 2007 we were in much more familiar territory than the bizarre 2006. Stony, citric, lots of grapefruit, a drumstick-like creaminess, very pure, very focused, very very good, but still nothing crazy. One of the best Sauvignon Blancs I've had, but I didn't fall in love. The price tag (what, £70-100) is absurd in my book.

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  • 2002 J.M. Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Champs Canet 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

    Ok, now I get it. The expression of the oak on this is exceptional, just a gorgeous, smoky, warm wine but with superb acidity. Beautifully structured, the first white Burgundy that's really made me go "wow". Drinking beautifully now. £42.

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  • 1998 Chateau Musar 83 Points

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    Nope, not this one. Barnyard and bin-liners on the nose, warm oak and a little VA. Not great, a little vinegary but no more than other Musars. £25

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  • 2004 Domaine Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

    Beeaautiful, sweet, warm nose of vanilla, mustard seed and some woody herbs. Good acidity, some tannin, a little bitterness (good), good attack and mid-palate, could be a little longer. Very delicious, drink over the next few years I reckon. £41

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  • 2005 Sylvain Cathiard Nuits St. Georges 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges

    Noticeably too young. Bright nose, some earthiness, but not yet strutting its stuff. Plenty of fruit there, fair bit of acid and tannin, needs a few years to resolve, but already very very good. A hopeful 92 points. £45

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  • 1989 Château Léoville Las Cases 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    A little different from what I was expecting - won't bore with the usual mature Bordeaux descriptors except to note that there was a *lot* of graphite on this one, plus some sweet roasted tomato and a balsamic edge, a nice touch. This bottle feels a little tired, but excellent, very dry, very "classic" style. Did not compare to the 89 Pichon Lalande so a "disappointment" but still lovely.

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  • 1989 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    My WOTN, though give the Gorelli a decade and we'll see...Darker nose than the Las-Cases, nice balsamic (not vinegar) and liquorice notes on the nose. Still *remarkably* young, plenty of tannin and acid there to keep going, but drinking superbly now. A green, mouth-watering lovely bitterness and plenty of rich dark sweet fruit. This style done well is just so my kind of thing.

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  • 2004 Tenuta le Potazzine Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 92 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Infanticide for sure. Rich red fruit, lots and lots of cranberry, a slug of (nicely controlled) oak, but high tannin, high acid, even after 5 hours in decanter. Give it a decade, but looks promising - nicely wound structure, very long, should open up into a beauty. 92 with room for improvement. £50

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Closing

I don't think I'll ever understand Silex...

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