STG does Right Bank Bordeaux

Tonight it was my turn to host a small gathering of the Seattle Tasting Group (myself, Ed, Michael, Steve, and Megan). We enjoyed a right-bank Bordeaux theme.

Courtesy of Megan by way of the Champagne Warrior Brad Baker, we started with this stunning and unique sparkler as I whipped the meal into shape. Thanks folks for a special wine! (That deserved much more attention and adulation than it received)

• NV Jacques Selosse Champagne Grand Cru Lieux-dits Extra Brut Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Les Carelles 94 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  I certainly would not pick this as a Blanc de Blanc. Tasted blind I immediately guessed Selosse. Faintly sweet, very rich, slightly yeasty, this is a truly unique Champagne. Deep color. Wonderful notes of bread dough, vanilla and cream. This is luscious and poignant stuff for sure. Behind the richness there is a nice note of citric acidity, but the cut and acid take a distinct backseat to the rich, bready, yeasty, leesy character of this wine.

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With a simple dinner of roast chicken, roasted potatoes, sauteed Chanterelles (thanks Steve!), and collard greens with Andouille sausage, we tucked into a dream flight of four really special wines.

• 1989 Château Angélus 97 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  This was my wine of the night. Immediate OMFG. Ash, briquette and a touch of mint. Ed notes some orange peel, and it is certainly hard to disagree once he points it out. Bright, smoky and sultry all at once. The palate just screams of minerality wit a savory, dusty, smoke edge slathered all around pure cherry fruit. Wowza!

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• 1995 Château Angélus 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Riper than the 1989, soy, black fruit,ample mineral. On the palate quite juicy with lots of blackberry. Very vibrant with great acidity. It's not as exotic as the 1989 and still needs to unwind, but clearly this has a very bright future.

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• 1989 Château La Conseillante 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Perhaps faintly over-decanted (about 4 hours). I prefer to watch these unfold with only 30-60 minutes of air. Hints of pickle and tomato leaf. This moves to zingy notes of cherry cola. Perhaps a touch light on the mid-palate and faintly drying in the finish. Nonetheless, this is quibbling about a great wine.

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• 1990 Château La Conseillante 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  So ripe with soy, and grilled plum. Spicy yet faintly green (in a good) way. Zingy. Lots of dusty, fine tannin in the finish suggests a long future for this sexy and quite ample wine.

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We finished up with a delicious almond and pear tart courtesy of Megan, thanks!

• 2001 Château Climens 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  From 375ml. Is this utter perfection as Mr. Parker suggests? Well that is going a bit far. I have a clear preference to d'Yquem, Rieussec and Suduiraut in this vintage. Nonetheless, this is clearly a stellar, stellar wine. Deeper color than I might expect for such a young Barsac. Exotic notes of coconut (ala Hawaiaan Tropic suntan oil) and mandarin orange move to a palate that is far more honeyed, intense and syrupy than I would expect. There is a very pleasing and surprisingly unexpected note of smoky brewed coffee at the finish with a sort of orange peel note on top. This is quite unctuous and much lighter on acid than I would have thought given the usual more delicate style of Climens. Actually, this is really this is quite a shockingly ripe bruiser at this stage. As I work at it and concentrate I can find the very ample and mouthwatering acidity, but at this stage the rich, ripe unctuous aspect of the wine is simply swamping the acidity. This is a seriously ripe wine that is far, far from shy.

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Thanks everyone for a stellar evening!