Another lazy Sunday gathering with 95 Latour, 98 Rayas, 90 BDL, 11 the stone terrace and etc.

Table Restaurant - Washington D.C.
Tasted Sunday, September 21, 2014 by dcwino with 585 views

Introduction

We planned another lazy Sunday dinner. It turned out to be small gathering of five winos. We spent almost five hours enjoying great wine and great company

Flight 1 - Starters (2 Notes)

I was really looking forward to the 05 Leflaive but it seemed a bit too advanced. At this stage, I would expected more white fruits and precision. The 05 Roederer was a pleasant surprise.

2005 Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet 92 Points

France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

A wine that I really looked forward to try but a disappointment. Ripe yellow fruits, ginger, mineral and spicy spices. Very tight, mineral, bright acidity and medium finish. At this stage of development, it should still show some white fruits like pear and white peach. Seems a bit too ripe, lacking freshness. The 92 Leflaive Chevy, Batard and BBM are three of my favorite white Burgundies. Caveat Emptor. I am in complete agreement with JONALLEN on this wine.

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2005 Louis Roederer Champagne Vintage Brut 93 Points

France, Champagne

Expressive, clean and fresh nose displaying granny smith, a hint of white flowers, honey and mineral. Fine mousse, generous sweet fruit driven palate impression, mineral and bright acidity. Not terribly complex but very fresh and generous. Really enjoyed this.

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Flight 2 - Rayas and Giacosa (2 Notes)

I just love Rayas and the Asili showed really well.

1998 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 95 Points

France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The wine that Bob initially liked but the last note states that orange and rust at the edge. I love Rayas and like D’Yquem, a couple levels above its peers and quite unique. A signature Rayas nose, red fruit driven nose, strawberry, shy cherry liquor, garrigue, black pepper, allspice and tobacco. Medium concentration, sweet yet fresh red fruit palate impression, silky, nicely integrated tannins and lovely harmonious finish. Although it is not a big scale intense Rayas, it is quite expressive and perfectly harmonious. My educated guess is that the 08 will have similar profile in ten years.

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2007 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva Asili 95 Points

Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

I had the wine twice and thought the wine was too ripe. I don’t get over-ripeness in this bottle. Expressive forward red fruits, intense red fruits, strawberry jam, cherry liquor, dry cherries, a hint of tar and stem. Quite forward and generous red fruit driven palate impression, warm and round, nicely integrated tannins and lovely sweet sappy finish. Still quite youthful yet really enjoyable. I would love to revisit in a couple of years.

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Flight 3 - Right bankers (2 Notes)

Two exceptional wines!

1995 Château L'Eglise-Clinet 95 Points

France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

Intense dark fruits with a hint of red, cassis, crushed blackberries, dark chocolate, lavender, dust and scorched earth. Very good concentration, soft and incredibly silky palate, black fruit driven palate impression, good acidity, a hint of tannins and good length. Great texture but still mostly secondary notes. Also a hint of smoke/scorched earth masks the fruit expression. Nevertheless quite impressive and enjoyable.

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1990 Château Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse) 98 Points

France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

Expressive black fruit driven nose, black truffle, dark chocolate and earth. Incredibly sensual palate, round and silky, lovely sweet dark fruit driven palate impression, fully integrated tannins, perfect balance and lovely silky finish that resonates. The beauty of this particular bottle lies in great balance and incredibly sensual texture. The nose is expressive but not quite explosive, hence my rating.

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Flight 4 - Latour (1 Note)

1995 Château Latour Grand Vin 96 Points

France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

It could easily be the label influence but the nose is very noble and luxurious. Classic expressive pauillac nose, cassis, lead pencil, plum, cedar and a hint of oak via vanilla/milk. Excellent concentration, incredibly silky and polished palate, a hint of tannins and love long finish. Great balance. Really enjoyable but still youthful.

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Flight 5 - Stickies (2 Notes)

The SGN was very tasty as usual. The stone terraces is very special wine.

2011 Graham Porto Vintage The Stone Terraces 97 Points

Portugal, Douro, Porto

Explosive nose of crushed blueberries, blueberry liqueur, baking spices, licorice and dark milk chocolate. Incredible concentration but still quite fresh overall expression, intense blueberry driven palate impression, mineral, bright acidity, no noticeable tannins and extremely long finish. You can actually eat this. I am sure this will shut down but what a hedonistic wine! Highly recommend if you like young port.

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1997 Zind-Humbrecht Tokay Pinot Gris Clos Jebsal Sélection de Grains Nobles 95 Points

France, Alsace

It is interesting and assuring when your TN is almost identical to the previous one. Apricot, orange marmalade, smoke, tea and ginger. Exceptional concentration, bright acidity and long finish. Not as polished as a great Sauternes but great fruit intensity. Very enjoyable. Once again, I prefer SGNs young.

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