Left Bank Bordeaux Group Tasting

Chez Matt et Reema
Tasted Friday, May 10, 2013 by mattyboy_ with 568 views

Introduction

Wine Tasting Meetup: Left Bank Bordeaux spanning 1970 - 2002

Communes tasted (in order):

Whites - Pessac Leognan
Reds - Paulliac, St. Julien
Sweet - Sauternes

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • 1996 Château de Fieuzal Blanc 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Very funky, racy and fresh. So youthful, based on cork condition this has a long road ahead.
    Mangosteens, star fruit, wet stones, sous bois, gooseberry, scorched earth, minerals.
    Not sure what % the blend is but probably more sauv blanc than semillon. Mixed reception to this one from the group but I was a big fan of this. One of the group members noted this drinks like Smith Haut Laffite of same vintage.

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  • 2000 Château Carbonnieux Blanc 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Better on the first day. Not sure if the wine is past peak as others have stated. I believe this is just more the style. Very waxy and oxidated with bright deep golden color. Could pass as an aperitif.

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Flight 2 (5 Notes)

  • 1970 Château Lagrange (St. Julien) 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Cork soaked all the way through but came out whole.

    Sweet with fine perfume. Very delicate. Started out a bit tired but picked up so much energy and weight on the palate with the nose getting fuller within an hour. Lots of roses, lilacs, brown spice and ripe cherry. A treat to drink.

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  • 1983 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Cork soaked all the way through but came out in tact.

    A beautiful Ducru in a rather classic style in this overlooked vintage. more masculine with leaner fruit profile and tertiary character. Leather, [unsmoked] cigar, black olive, minerally, tar, black tea, black currants. Lots of life left in this. Well balanced with fine tannins. Driven and focused. Kept giving more throughout the course of drinking.

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  • 1990 Château Clerc Milon 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Cork soaked 80% through. Bottle in pristine condition.

    WOTN! This is in it's prime drinking window. Mature color.
    Toasty and smoky with pain grille, soy, beef jus, roasted meats, roast plum, and cassis. Sweet tannin with very fresh acidity. The bottle was opened and being drank for over 8 hours and the wine kept performing, kept going till the very last drop. Wow. A true testament to this spectacular vintage.

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  • 1995 Château Léoville Poyferré 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Based on this cork's pristine condition, this wine has easily 20-30 years left to go, in fact I would say an easy 30-40 years if the cellaring conditions are right.

    Not as forward as the other wines we tasted, but this wine probably had the best palate and structure out of all. Very extracted and very youthful at this stage only showing a touch of brown at the meniscus. Pain grille, sweet oak, cigarbox, sweet cassis, berry compote, espresso, coffee grounds.
    Don't touch these for another 7 years where they should begin to start drinking at peak. 93-95pts.

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  • 1996 Baron de Milon 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Cork soaked all the way through.

    Lots of lead pencil and oak. Very woody with lean black fruits, brett, black tea, tar, minerals, chalk, licorice. Very masculine with chewy, chalky tannins. Well integrated at this stage.

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Flight 3 (1 Note)

  • 2002 Carmes de Rieussec 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Group-member said this is made from Rieussec's younger vines. A good way to try the vintage/rieussec without having to wait a long time for the grand vin. A good bit of botrytis with lots of honeyed apricot, dried fruit, candied orange peel. A bit too much RS which made the wine feel cloying and noticable VA were the only flaws but all in all a good sauternes.

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Closing

A terrific evening with great company and incredible wines.

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