20th Annual Lyon 10 Year Retrospective: The Mish Mash

Lyon Den
Tasted Sunday, November 6, 2016 by Grinner with 573 views

Introduction

We have to love the first Sunday of November! Once again we delved into our cellars for 10 year old wines and found no consistent theme like last year's 2005 Bordeaux tasting. Ok fine. We'll do 2 flights of 4 CdP's each with a ringer. Then 4 flights of Bordeaux varietals from all over with some add'l ringers. Everything got a 4 hour plus double decant, then brown bagged for the shell game. Any ringers in the wrong bottle shape for the flight got moved into a slope shouldered bottle for the CdP flights and a high shouldered bottle for the Bordeaux based flights. Otherwise I'd get a clue as I poured them. There was a mix of glasses out there including Riedel, Schott Zwiesel, and Spiegelau. A couple of Riedel Syrah glasses made it fun to compare later.

Flight 1 - The Openers (2 Notes)

We're in a habit of having a sparkler or two while gathering. Any excuse to make duck fat fries!

Flight 2 - First Ice Skater #1 (1 Note)

Unblind taste for perspective.

Flight 3 - Chateauneuf du Pape Round One (5 Notes)

  • 2006 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points

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

    First bagged bottle of the night, this had dark cherries, garrigue, leather, and iron notes. The texture was both elegant and smooth. The black fruit and tannins were holding on day 2, also 92pts. Now-2020

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  • 2006 Terra de Verema Priorat Triumvirat 91 Points

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    Obviously different in this blind tasting: nice depth of black cherry, plum, and minerals/earth/stone. More tannic and tart than others in the flight. 88 on day 2. Drink up.

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  • 2006 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 93 Points

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

    Back to liquid velvet! Kirsch, pepper/spice, iodine, and stone all on a lovely texture. 93 on day 2. Now-2021

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  • 2006 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Croix de Bois 92 Points

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

    Conundrum! This bottle poured as THE lightest wine of the night (32 reds), but still had very significant body and fruit. Red cherry backed by leather, garrigue, and spice. > 15% etoh is notable. 92pts on day two, still both elegant and big. Now-2018, waiting risks "disjointment".

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  • 2006 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape 91 Points

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

    This bottle had a mix of red and black fruit, underbrush, garrigue, pepper, and leather notes. Blind I got the CdP, but didn't recognize it as the wine we had out at dinner the previous night! 92pts on day 2, still deep tannic and long, more like the 11/5/16 bottle. Now-2022.

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Flight 4 - CdP Round Two (5 Notes)

Flight 5 - First Ice Skater #2 (1 Note)

To swing our palates back to Bordeaux varietals.

  • 2006 Château La Fleur de Boüard 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lalande de Pomerol

    This was our "First Ice Skater" served unblinded for perspective for the next 4 flights. It had nice black plum, coffee, spice, and floral notes. Good length. 91 on day 2. Now-2018.

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Flight 6 - Bdx #1 (5 Notes)

  • 2006 Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Obvious Cab fruit profile with nice density. Not terribly complex, but a nice long tannic finish. 90 on day 2. Now-2020

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  • 2006 Château Pavie Macquin 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    I liked this bottle better than 6 years ago. It still has the black cherry and plum thing going with a hint of graphite and earth saying "Bordeaux". Tannins still holding everything up on day 2, 91pts again. Now-2019.

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  • 2006 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

    This bottle divided the room, we liked it in the back row... There's ripe black fruit with spicy oak and floral notes. Nice texture, tannins integrated. 88pts on day 2, a little simple and faded. Drink now-2017.

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  • 2006 Bodega Numanthia Toro Numanthia 94 Points

    Spain, Castilla y León, Toro

    Iron fist in a velvet glove cliché. Great balance and depth. Served blind, all I knew was it wasn't Cal fruit and it wasn't Bordeaux, so I guessed one of the South American ringers. Goes on and on; 94pts on day 2 AND 3 ungassed. Drink 2017-2025, in other words: wait a bit!

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  • 2006 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 90 Points

    Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

    This bottle underperformed a bit... It has nice cassis / cab fruit with some oak and resolved tannins. Fades quickly on the finish. 88pt on day 2. Don't think I'd save this much longer.

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Flight 7 - Bdx #2 (5 Notes)

  • 2006 Montepeloso Eneo Toscana IGT 88 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    You probably have to add 4 points to any of my Italian wine notes. Barely ripe cherry, plum, mineral, and coffee notes. Slightly green acids but nice tannins to finish it off. MAYBE slightly better the next day, 89pts. No one thrilled on day 3. Drinking window: uhhhh, don't listen to me.

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  • 2006 Château Calon-Ségur 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    This bottle came across loud and clear "Left Bank!" Nice cassis fruit with cedar and a hint of tobacco made it a bit obvious. Some stone and florals show up mid way. Coarse tannins 6 years ago have given way a bit, smoothed out and support this excellent wine on the long finish. 90 on day 2. Now-2025.

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  • 2006 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Big black fruit, mocha, spice, and violet with more glycerin than the Calon Segur before it. Moderate tannins remain, fairly remarkable for this blend. 92pts and even better balance on day 2. Very popular on day 3.

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  • 2006 Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    A little more red than black fruit with noticeable Sonoma herbal edge to it. Tannins winning a bit on day 2, 89pts. DOA on day 3. Drink up.

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  • 2006 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Surprisingly soft for the appellation and producer, but it's still a big wine. The glycerin gives it away as New World in this blind tasting. The tannins finally show up mid-palate and then the black fruit, mocha, spice, and stone flavors just go on and on. 93 on day 2. Now-2026.

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Flight 8 - Bdx #3 (5 Notes)

  • 2006 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This bottle was on form (or better!) in this blind tasting. Deep Cal Cab fruit, black currants, dark berries, black plum, some earth / stone, and floral notes, great balance and texture. Some thought Montelena, but for me: no mint, no Montelena. 93+ for the next 2 days. Now-2020.

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  • 2006 Copain Syrah James Berry Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    Big black fruited wine with pepper, anise, and leather notes. More meat and iron on day 2, also 93pts.

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  • 2006 Château Haut-Bailly 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Wow! So much better than our last 6 yrs ago. The graphite and cedar overtone gives it away as to origin while the black and blue fruit caress the tannins that are still obvious. Tannins winning a bit on day 2, 90. 2017-2021.

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  • 2006 Carlisle Syrah Cardiac Hill 94 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

    Who put this Zin in here?? Briary black fruit and the velvety texture are the first things you note, oh, then the meat, leather, pepper and spice show up. Very smooth and deep. 93 on day 2, more bacon/ meat noted. Very popular on day 3, the golfers who came over could relate this to the climb from 13 green to the 14th tee box at Bandon Trails (where some guy DID have a coronary!). Now-2018.

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  • 2006 Château Léoville Barton 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Another great wine in this flight. The classic cigar box, stone, and cassis gave it away as Left Bank. A very yummy, long, and tannic wine. 93 on day 2. Drink 2018-2026.

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Flight 9 - Bdx #4 (5 Notes)

  • 2006 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

    Blackberry, boysenberry, raspberry fruits with earth, stone, mint, and oak overtones. Tannic and long but not as deep as Montelena can be, so some were disappointed when it was unbagged. 91pts and tannic on day 2. I'm going to wait a year, 2017-2022 would be best.

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  • 2006 Clos de l'Oratoire 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    My blind notes this time were very similar to unblinded note of 4/9/16. Black fruit including plum, with graphite, espresso, oak, and earth linger on some still serious tannins. Plummy and 92 on day 2. Now-2026.

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  • 2006 Achával-Ferrer Malbec Finca Mirador 92 Points

    Argentina, Mendoza

    Another big black tannic wine that overlapped a lot with Cab notes. Black and blue berries, stone and oak. Faded slightly on day 2, 90pts. Don't wait too long, now-2018.

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  • 2006 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri 93 Points

    Australia, South Australia

    Again some big deep black fruit but with leather, pepper, and spice. Lots of glycerin made New World the thought in the room. Very nice wine with bolder cheese. Tannic finish became a little unbalanced and tart as well on day 2, 89 pts. Now-2020.

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  • 2006 Château d'Issan 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    My WOTN and certainly the best nose. Every year in this 10 year Retro Tasting, some particular bottle over performs relative to its station. Ten years ago it was the Ch Gloria. Now we knew immediately from the glorious nose that this was the Margaux in the flight. There's tons of sexy black fruit, tobacco, black truffle, damp earth, and graphite. Goes on and on. 94 on day two; sure you could save them bottles but find a special event soon for one. EVERYONE in the room pishawed the WS 89 rating. NOW-2026.

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Flight 10 - Dessert (1 Note)

  • 2006 Joseph Phelps Eisrébe 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Ridiculous way to end a ridiculous tasting. Paired with shortbread type cookies from MoC, this is dripping with ripe stone fruit, citrus, and spice. The acidity doesn't wait like a Baumard QdC, it hits right away and lingers forever. Now-2026

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Closing

Way more approachable than the '05 Bordeaux at ten years old, these wines were fun and challenging in a double blind tasting. We finally killed of most of the bottles on day 3 with a gang of golfers after playing Emerald Valley in ridiculously good November weather in Eugene! Ahhh! Thanks to all, especially Denise. See you next year for the '07 CdP's!

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