Magnum Man Cellar Depletion
Northfield, IL
Tasted Saturday, September 12, 2015 by Burgundy Al with 505 views
Introduction
Some generous and wise friends opened many older bottles tonight. Some were past their peaks, others shockingly fresh and amazing. Much thanks to Magnum Man and Mrs Magnum. This was not even close to the complete list, but just represents what I either photographed and/or remembered well enough the next morning to write a TN from memory.
1989 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Vintage 88 Points
France, Champagne
From magnum. Mature, ripe orchard fruit with good energy. I slightly preferred over the 1990 which was richer but had less acidity.
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1990 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Vintage 87 Points
France, Champagne
From magnum. Ripe and concentrated apple and pear with some baked apple hints. I preferred the 1989 by a slim margin because of better acidity, despite less fruit.
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1980 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon Rosé 94 Points
France, Champagne
From magnum (I think). Sensational aromatic start with strawberry, roses with background sweet spice and ripe apple. Amazing freshness for its age. Flavors match the aromas. Wow.
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1987 Matanzas Creek Winery Chardonnay Sonoma County 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
From magnum. Lots of apple and spice hints and overall good balance. Very good, shockingly fresh for its age. Not just fresh...really tasty! A well stored bottle, for certain.
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1990 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl 91 Points
France, Alsace
I'm not normally a Gewurtraminer fan, but this combination of ripe, juicy fruit and spice withstood the floral character I often find too extreme. Very good concentration here as well. Double magnum.
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1988 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
From magnum. Lean styled black fruit with anise, mushroom. More elegant than powerful, particularly for Napa Cabernet. Best to drink up. I liked this more than most others.
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1979 Château Margaux 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Leather and lots of cedar with mature black cherry and currant with some liqueur hints. Good textures and balance.
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1980 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon York Creek Flawed
USA, California, North Coast, Napa County
Great underlying fruit, but clearly corked.
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1987 Lytton Springs Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 88 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
Another surprisingly good and fresh wine. Black fruit with some background chocolate and liqueur. Good energy throughout with a bright finish.
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1987 Sterling Vineyards Three Palms Vineyard
USA, California, Napa Valley
Would be drinkable even though somewhat past its peak, but not worth drinking amongst tonight's plethora of better wine. Mostly Cabernet.
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1994 Rosenblum Cellars Holbrook Mitchell Trio
USA, California, Napa Valley
I also found this to be somewhat tired. Others enjoyed it more. Mostly Cabernet with Merlot and Cab Franc.
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1955 Château Trimoulet 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Good color. Great nose with mature black fruit, cedar, licorice, espresso and mature black fruit showing signs of fruit. Less fresh and less fruit on palate, but still tasty.
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1955 Château Canon 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Popped and poured. Sensational start with black fruit, forest floor, dark chocolate, sweet brown spice. Flavor profile continue with a similar profile and good length and persistence, even if not quite as enticing as the aromatic start.
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1925 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 95 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Popped and poured, wow! Aromas of mature black cherry, coffee, leather and subtle Indian curry. While the fruit isn't bright and vibrant, the wine shows so much life that I'd have thought it many decades younger if served blind.
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1988 Château Raymond-Lafon 86 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Slightly musty start, and overall sweet, simple and less nuanced than I'd expect at this age from a good vintage.
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1980 Château Climens 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
Moderated sweetness with intriguing spice. Well supported overall with good energy and textural notes, providing length and nuance. Very good.
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1955 Château Rieussec 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Popped and poured. Also sensational. Lots of dried apricot and baking spice. Rich, syrupy and unctuous, but without any cloying. Another great 1955 tonight.
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1980 Dow Porto Vintage 88 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Black berries and plums that come across as tasty, sweet and fresh, but with the most faint spice hints, giving this a somewhat one-dimensional character. While not very nuanced, it went perfectly with dessert.
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1977 Croft Porto Vintage 90 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Less overtly sweet vs Dow 1980, but also slightly less fruit intensity. Moderately mature dark berries, with better spice highlights and some holiday fruitcake on nose and palate.
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