Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind

Busy afternoon.

• 2008 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

  Blind tasting. Not difficult to guess this wine since the 2008 Mugnier just arrived in Chicago and several attendees were eager to try. When very young, Mugnier Marechale typically comes across as showing the producer's Chambolle style on the nose with the terroir's bigger/blacker fruit coming through on the palate. This bottle was exactly the same. In prior vintages I've found that in 6-12 months the wine harmonizes better, and look forward to seeing where this wine is next summer. Not quite at the same level as when tasted at the Domaine in April. No surprise, since it literally just arrived in Chicago days ago.

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• 2005 Domaine Daniel Rion et Fils Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes

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

  Tasting. Lots of Vosne spice but a bit subdued. I think that's the phase many 2005 Burgs are in today. Plenty of structure to last, I just hope the fruit takes on some more weight and depth.

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• 1976 Château Latour Grand Vin

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Blind tasting. Very strong 76, this wine is at a great place now. Lots of intensity, with some reasonably lively fruit and energy. Not much finesse, but was a very fun wine to drink.

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• 2006 Louis Jadot Chevalier-Montrachet Les Demoiselles Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Blind tasting. Lush and rich but not flabby, this wine really showcases the vintages nicely. Intense fruit follows all the way through from start to finish. Hold to 2015 or later.

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• 2000 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Oxidized

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• 2000 Château Cos d'Estournel

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Blind tasting. Big massive fruit but lots of elegance as well. No question about the potential. Good spice, fruit density, traces of graphite.

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• 1960 Château Lafite Rothschild

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Tasting. Surprisingly there was still a bit of red fruit, although this was dominated by forest floor and cedar aromatics. Bit of sweetness perhaps propped the wine up a bit, this was certainly interesting if not exciting.

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• 2001 Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

  My contribution to a blind tasting along with the Dujac 2000 CdlR. Big and bold, with just a hint of where this will peak. (2020? 2025 for some secondary character?) Very dense and powerful with lots of spice. Long finish is starting to show finesse. This wine has lots of everything and I'm excited about where it will be in the future.

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• 2004 Château Latour Grand Vin

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Tasting. From magnum. Drinking nicely young. Good accessible fruit, nicely balanced. Well made for the vintage.

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• 2007 Kapcsándy Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon (Grand Vin) State Lane Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville

  Blind tasting. I guess the nicest thing I can say is that other people liked this wine a lot, but it reminded me why I don't drink many cult CA Cab.

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• 2001 Michel & Stéphane Ogier Côte-Rôtie Cuvée Lancement 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Blind tasting. Classic Cote Rotie aromatics. Charming fruit is still reasonably primary with excellent spice and pepper. Great balance, density, and finish. I like this style a lot.

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• 1986 Henschke Cyril Henschke

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  Blind tasting. Good red fruit and good spice. Enjoyable but somewhat simple and short.

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And to finish...

• 2005 Domaine Huet Vouvray Cuvée Constance 94 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  Good tropical flavors with plenty of botrytis. Rich fruit with very good acidity, but didn't seem to have the same intensity from some of the vintages I've enjoyed best, 1997 and 2002 coming to mind first.

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• 2001 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Musigny

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru

  Popped and poured. Elegant and seamless wine, this really demonstrates Musigny's "velvet glove" character. Very feminine and charming fruit and spice, with real density on power on the finish. This probably has at least another decade in which it will continue to improve. Possibly two decades. Truly beautiful wine. Only had time to give this 20-30 minutes, but I am confident this would have gotten better and better over several hours.

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