Big Bordeaux VII

A strong showing

• 2010 Secret de Grand Bateau Blanc 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux

  Savory green bell pepper that is beneficial, not annoying. The palate is a bit boring, but nothing really wrong with it.

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• 1996 Henriot Champagne Brut Millésimé 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  This wine seems a bit heavy, largely because of the oxidized caramel nose and palate. It is very complex wtih so many flavors coming out - pear, funk, floral, toast. Unfortunately, it doesn't strike me as "tasty", more of an interesting curiosity. Sill quite nice.

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• 1986 Château Gruaud Larose 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Decanted 2 hours and drank a small pour over about an hour. Slightly green and either a little or a lot of funk depending on the timestamp. Anise dominates at times too. This seems to be changing all the time, which is always fun. The palate is on the thin side and slightly austere.

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• 1986 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  2 hour decant and drank a small pour over about an hour. Savory, rich and interesting nose. Rich mouthfeel. Nice round fruit. Graphite. I'm happy to say this Bordeaux's palate was as good or better than the nose. Blackberry liquer comes out after about 45 minutes and seemed to be gaining with time.

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• 1989 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Corked

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• 1989 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  2 hour decant and drank a small pour over about an hour. Really nice funk, rich, good fruit, asphault, flowers. Long finish. Slightly better than the 1986 of the same wine that night.

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• 1989 Château Montrose 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  5 hour decant and followed a small pour over a little over an hour. This opened up considerably within 20 minutes in glass. Tobacco, tar, dusty chocolate, palate was thin initially but became very rich and dynamic. Structure is incredible. Long strong finish.

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• 1990 Château Cos d'Estournel 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Decanted 1h45m and drank a small pour over about an hour. Slightly brooding with considerable fruit. Mushroom, earth, graphite, slightly, very slight green bell pepper. Long strong finish. Well done.

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• 1989 Château Rieussec 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  One of the best Sauternes houses and this did not disappoint. However, it surprised me that the 2005 I had last week (and a few other times within the last couple months) seems to be practically as good. The 1989 had a little more spice and only slightly more complexity, so it gets 1 extra point.

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