Les Blancs de Pessac-Léognan @ my place

Netherlands
Tasted Sunday, May 31, 2009 by jkoenen with 696 views

Introduction

Being a longtime Pessac-aholic I knew that it was inevitable that, someday, I would put a White Pessac-tasting together...
And today was that day. 12 partners in crime joined me on this blissful trip.
Since I was quite busy organising and hosting this tasting, some TN's are a tad on the short side.
Wines were served blind, but of course I knew what was coming....

Flight 1 - Flight #1 (2 Notes)

Flight 2 - Flight #2 (3 Notes)

  • 2005 Clos Floridene Blanc 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves

    Lots of oak on the nose, heavily perfumed. Smokey almonds, bananas, pine apple, bacon. Very dense and seducing, lightens up in the aftertaste. Not very complex, subtle or graceful. Just extremely tasty! 16.5/20

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  • 1997 de Ladoucette Pouilly-Fumé Baron de L

    France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé

    Opens up with a lovely soft and unctuous, flower driven bouquet and mouthfeel. Impresses me as slightly over the hill. Alas, it fades very quickly and dies in the glass. Off-bottle?

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  • 2004 Boekenhoutskloof Sémillon 88 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region, Franschhoek Valley

    Hot buttered toast! I thought this was kinda Chardonnay-like. Chamomile, honeysuckle, some alcoholic heat. Alas, the nose is too pale and plain. Interesting rather than tasty. 16.5/20

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Flight 3 - Flight #3 (3 Notes)

  • 1998 Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Subdued aromatics on the nose, some seawater, cooked vegetables. Lemony, lean and stylish but not very charming. Had some nice moments in the past with this wine, but I guess it has turned the corner. Sauvignon-styled. 16/20

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  • 1998 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Closed for business. Chockfull of minerals and matter, but not showing much right now. I think it will do so in a couple of years. 16.5/20

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  • 1999 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Coconut, vanille, pine apple. Wonderful mature fragrance of coffee, tea leaf, sweet tobacco, assorted nuts, oak and drippingly juicy yellow fruit. Indian summer in a glass. In a very good place right now. Giving all it's got. 17.5-18/20

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Flight 4 - Flight #4 (3 Notes)

  • 1989 Château Latour-Martillac Blanc 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Refreshing acidity, nutty bouquet of almonds and roasted hazelnuts. Beeswax, summer flowers, antique shop, pine apple, wonderful balance and (to me) surprisingly vivid. 17/20

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  • 1988 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    This had a distinctive note of oxidation. But it didn't bother me. It just added something to the total presentation of the wine, something characteristic and recognizable. As long as it's not overbearing, I like it. The 88 had an elegant complexity with soft nuances of bread crumb, fennel, and lime zest. Nice wine. 16/20

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  • 1988 Château Laville Haut-Brion Blanc 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Very expressive, creamy, juicy candied fruit (melon, peach, pear, pine apple, tangerine). Wonderful savoury hints of sea shells, salted caramel, roasted nuts, hot buttered anise rolls, cinnamon. What a delightful and complex glass of wine... 18/20

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Flight 5 - Flight #5 (3 Notes)

  • 1994 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    There's that whiff of oxidation again... I'm starting to recognize it. Maybe this is typical to Chevalier Blanc? Furthermore there are lots of lemons and goose- and elderberry aromas. Almond also. This is my 3rd bottle from a case (in 6 months) and they all showed very different. 16.5/20

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  • 1995 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Strong and convincing example of classically built white Pessac. Very mineral (riverbed, ozone, flintstone, chalk) and citrusy. Fresh nose of oak tinged tropical fruit, very grapey too. Tight, strict and focussed. Flawless and clear like a mountain stream. Good length, awesome wine. 18/20

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  • 1996 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Controversial wine because of the piercing acidity. This has a Chenin Blanc-kind of profile. Just entering it's prime drinking window and at least 20 years of life ahead of it. This definately is a food-wine. I like it. RP didn't (hence the 78 score). 17.5/20

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Flight 6 - Flight #6 (3 Notes)

  • 1976 Château Laville Haut-Brion Blanc 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Sauternes-like on the nose, and nice and crummy but completely dry on the palate. Dark notes of coffee, caramel, molasses and apple syrup. Very special and unique, but probably past its best. 17/20

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  • 1985 Château Laville Haut-Brion Blanc 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Fan-Tas-Tic! You hear me? Bright, light, pale greyish yellow colour. Perhaps the lightest of all 32 wines at this tasting. Jaw-droppingly complex and concentrated. Creamy fruit, salty peppery bacon notes. This is both light on its feet and compellingly charming and powerful. Extremely young and lots of potential. A total masterpiece, my WOTN and one of my top-5 dry-whites ever. 19/20

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  • 1992 Château Laville Haut-Brion Blanc 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Ahh... such a pity. This one has evolved to quickly. Orange colour. Notes of apricot-jam. Looking for balance and couldn't find it. 16/20

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Flight 7 - Flight #7 (2 Notes)

Flight 8 - Flight #8 (3 Notes)

  • 2001 Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux

    Awesome and very typical Sauvignon. Powerful opening with vanillin, oak and caramel, but after sufficient swirling more subtle notes of tropical fruit emerge. Very ripe, dense and complex, but utterly graceful. This wine combines power and elegance in a sensational way. Fantastic wine! 18,5/20

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  • 2001 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Voluptuous and dense; impressive, sure. Thick layers of passionfruit, vanilla and coconut, and although there's enough freshness and acidity to balance this richness out, I feel like it still needs a couple of years to shed it's babyfat. 17,5/20

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  • 2001 Château Pape Clément Blanc Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Impressive concentration and density, but there was discussion in the group whether this was flawed or not. Maybe corked?

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Flight 9 - Flight #9 (3 Notes)

  • 2002 Château Bouscaut Blanc 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Tempting fragrance of asian spice and floral nuances fill the nose. On the palate smoky bacon, tropical fruit and honey are added. After a while one can find distant but typical Sauvignon characteristics like elderberry, mowed lawn. Not very cerebral, nor discriminate, yet very well made and and very tasty. Best QPR of this tasting. 17/20

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  • 2002 Château Mouton Rothschild Aile D'Argent Blanc 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux

    Marvelous. Succulent, sweet and sexy. Full throttle ripeness and concentration. Mighty, powerfull and racy. Just like the red Mouton. Others liked it even better and called this WOTN. 18/20

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  • 2002 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Still a baby, but bursting with talent and promise. This is, of course, by far the most backward and reserved wine in the flight and, therefore, its hard to judge it right. But I feel its breed and potential. I am happy I bought this as a birthyear-wine for my daughters'. For now 17/20

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Flight 10 - Flight #10 (3 Notes)

  • 2000 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Toast and butter. Apricot, mango, passionfruit, beeswax. In the typical unctuous and ripe style, but just enough acidity and freshness to prevent it from turning flabby. Soapy scents, pears, lemon oil. Very nice. 17,5/20

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  • 2003 Château de Fieuzal Blanc 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Again, as a descendant from this atypical vintage, very thick, ripe and oily. In comparison with the SHL this is more bright, pure and fresh. A bit sharper, too.
    But equally enjoyable and classy. 17,5/20

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  • 2003 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Charming, compact, cool and great minerality. More upfront and open compared to older vintages, probably due to the vintage. But in the end typical for Chevalier. 17,5/20

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Flight 11 - Flight #11 (2 Notes)

Flight 12 - Flight #12 (2 Notes)

  • 2004 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Wow, this is beautiful. And will be extraordinary in 5 years time. Freshly cut garden herbs, lemon peel, spring flowers. In its early approachable stage now, and likely to close down soon. Pure, clean and fantastic poise and definition. 18/20

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  • 2004 Château Haut-Brion Blanc 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Geeez, what a privilige.... And what a shame that it's this young. One can only try to imagine how singular this wil be in 5 to 10 years time.
    Right now it has power and stature clenched like a fist, though utterly filigreed and graceful. Polished mouthfeel with clear nuances of nutmeg, pepper and grilled pine kernels. Seducing and promising like your girlfriends' summer dress... So difficult to keep your patience! 18,5/20

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