A small sendoff for Salil as he moves to flyover country and a happy birthday to Jay!

Chelsea Wine Storage.
Tasted Saturday, July 2, 2016 by BradKNYC with 384 views

Introduction

A small gathering at Chelsea Wine Storage as we say goodbye to Salil, who is moving to the heartland for a professorship and a celebration for Jay, who's birthday was the day before.

Flight 1 (9 Notes)

  • 1995 Domaine Luneau-Papin Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie "L" d’Or

    France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie

    Showing beautifully. It's mature and has taken on that Chablis-like character, though is in no danger of falling off soon. Lots of mineral, crushed oyster shells, citrus, star fruit and a strong spearmint note on the nose and palate. Vibrant with age-softened edges to the acid structure. Just delightful. A-.

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  • 1989 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile Vendanges Tardives

    France, Alsace

    Fully mature and maybe even a little past peak, it shows plenty of petrol notes with an aged stone fruit character, citrus, mineral and hints of spiciness. Just a little bit of sweetness, but it's balanced nicely by the acids and by a bitter citrus pith note on the finish. A bottle of the regular '89 FE tried within the past six or so months showed fresher. A-.

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  • 2014 A.J. Adam Hofberg Riesling Kabinett

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    Still extremely young and spritzy at this point. I love the energy of this wine. Not particularly sweet and full of lemon drops, stone fruit and mineral. Snappy and full of sheer pleasure. A-.

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  • 1969 Château Clos de la Philberdière Bourgueil

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil

    I apparently tried this a bit too late as those that tried it when first opened reported a better experience than I got about forty or so minutes later. It smells maderized, but on the palate there's a surprising hit of intense roasted red fruit, but it's fleeting and then one's left with some drying tannins and very lemony acidity. An hour or so later and Don reported it had largely given up the ghost. C+/C.

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  • 1985 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Sadly, corked.

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  • 1989 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Always one of my favorite '89s and this bottle is singing! Beautiful aromas of sweet dark fruits, tobacco, earth and herb. On the palate, the tannins have softened and the wine is fully integrated and silky. There's perfect ripeness to the cassis fruit without it being overstated. A bit of cigar box, herb and earth with a graphite streak. The elegance of this wine with the depth and length that it shows is one of its greatest characteristics. Absolutely delicious and at peak, but not leaving that spot for awhile. A.

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  • 1997 Louis Jadot Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Ursules Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

    There's a pleasant core of bright cherry fruit here along with some oak spice, but there's also a bit too much green showing and the wine is a tad rough around the edges and lacks complexity. Finishes with a hit of green astringency. Not bad with food, but I'd drink up as I don't see this getting any better. Low B.

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  • 1997 Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

    A wine for fans of structure. Still quite tough with big tannins leading the way and not quite enough fruit to stand up to them fully at this point. What cherry is present is enjoyable, but there's a lot more forest things going on in the form of earth, mushrooms and tree bark. Give it some more time soften and just hope there's enough fruit remaining to enable it to show better than it does now. B+/B.

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  • 1959 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon

    France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon

    This producer is a bit maligned amongst my local group of Loireheads and, indeed, their wines can be a bit boring and industrial, but I've always enjoyed the '59 and I brought it since it was Jay's birthday the day before and this is his conception year. There was a lot of this around in the late '90s/early aughts, of varying condition and I purchased this bottle in 2004. Good fill, but I maybe waited a little long. This was much more evolved and less fresh than previous bottles I've had. Lots of caramel here with stone fruits, pear compote and walnuts. It lacks some of the acid zip that other bottles have shown and overall, there's a bit of a dullness about it. I believe I liked it more than others, but it's not what it was. Solid B+.

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