MNB: Old Wines II

Jesper's
Tasted Monday, February 18, 2019 by RajivAyyangar with 187 views

Flight 1 - Non-blind (4 Notes)

  • 1999 Chateau Musar 91 Points

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    Lower-mid-neck fill, cork 2-10mm soaked through.

    Decanted in the morning, 8hrs before. Out of the bottle, it seems mid-weight, with some dried and stewed red and black fruit, and of course pronounced balsamic, light spiced brett, moderate oxidation and light VA/perfumed volatile notes. There’s also a hint of a burnt-wood note like the ‘72 - possible slight reduction.
    On the palate, it tastes great, but missing a core of fruit - the acid is aggressively high (and is reinforced by a prickly balsamic note on the palate), the tannins are soft medium - melted. Alcohol seems medium plus - around 13.5%. Overall it tastes great but I know it can sing more - the core of fruit and expressiveness are missing. Decision: double-decant and leave open in the refrigerator.
    ---
    At dinner:

    Feels a bit warm - 14%. Brett and savory. Has some dark fruit but still reticent. Acid has integrated somewhat. Super funky and long. Slight toast - like peat.

    It's nice, but a bit disjointed and quite bretty. The fruit isn't really singing.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2016 Coquina Pinot Blanc 88 Points

    USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

    Medium straw.
    Aromatic underripe nectarine and watermelon rind. Medium plus acid. Low plus bitterness. Very nice! Melon rind finish. Maybe the best Pinot Blanc I've tasted?

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2014 Barrage Cellars Cabernet Franc Cease And Desist 86 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

    Ripe red cherry. Medium tannins. 14.8%. A bit hot but otherwise nice.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2010 Jean-Pierre Launois Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Millésimé 88 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Slightly bruised apple with acidic green apple and lemon. Very acidic but has some ripeness. Impressive for zero dosage.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 2 - Blind (8 Notes)

  • 1994 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Ygay Reserva Especial Blanco 87 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

    (Blind)
    Deep gold, hints of amber.
    Oxidative white nose. Raw apple core, browned apple core.
    12.5% alcohol, high acid, no phenolic bitterness.
    Maybe slight new oak -10% or less.
    1995 Chablis
    1998 Rioja Reserva (not enough oak).
    1996 puligny. Too high acid.

    Guess: Despite the modest impression of oak, I think this is 1995 LdH.
    Actually: 1994 white Rioja marques reserva especial!

    Analysis: The oak was pretty subdued, but overall I think this wine is in a good place. Maybe a bit dominated by oxidative aromas.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1999 Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (blind)
    Medium plus ruby to a garnet rim. Some sediment. Strong Black currant, varietal merlot plum. juice and some brown olive (pyrazines). Slight Brett hint.
    14% alcohol, elevated acid and high softened tannins, long finish.
    This is deep and integrated. With new oak and ripe fruit.

    The acid is really nice and the pyrazines are quite nicely integrated.

    Final guess: the power and density are taking me to CA. 1990 Napa Cab-Merlot-Cab Franc blend. $100. Mountain?

    Stags’ leap winery (treasury) 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.8%
    13% merlot, 4% cab franc.
    Analysis: The fruit character really suggested Merlot more than Cab, but otherwise I think it was identifiably California, though in a more pyrazinic, savory style. I like it!

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1989 Camille Loye Trousseau Arbois Cuvée Saint Paul 87 Points

    France, Jura, Arbois

    Pale garnet to a tawny rim.
    Old wine nose. Sweet tamari apple. Bottle sweetness - dried honey, werthers butterscotch (bottle age plus oak?).
    Dry, 13.5% alcohol, medium minus tannins totally melted and almost gone. High acid. Super light.

    Laterals
    Burgundy.
    Chianti
    Barolo

    The tannins seem super light. I think it’s slightly oaked.

    Based on the elevated acid and slight grip, I think this is a burgundy from the 70’s.

    Final call: 1978 Burgundy. Good quality.

    Actual: 1989 camille loye arbois trousseau.

    Analysis: At this age, with this much oxidation and tertiary development, it's very hard to identify style. That said, Arbois isn't that far from Burgundy. It was a lot younger than I thought, based on the degree of development - maybe oxidative winemaking?

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1998 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    (Blind)
    Medium plus ruby to garnet rim. Some sediment.
    Dark green bell pepper pyrazines.
    13.5% alcohol. Medium plus acid. Medium plus melted tannins.

    Final call: Left bank Bordeaux, 1996. A pyrazinic producer like sociando mallet. Or a St Julien.

    Although... it is very clean / not Bretty, which suggests New World.

    Actually: 1998 Oakville Robert Mondavi Cabernet 14.5%

    Analysis: Lovely! Quite classic and green. I'm digging this. Only one person guessed California.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1996 Château Maucaillou 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc

    (blind)
    Medium minus ruby with a garnet rim. Slight mushroom. Dusty, musty wood.
    Dry, 14%, medium plus acid, medium plus tannins - slightly melted.
    Indistinct fruit on the nose. Dried fruit, red fruit, slight black fruit.

    Slight dog fur Brett.

    Could be Bordeaux right bank or Southern Rhône.

    Feels like slight tomato pyrazines.

    Final call:

    1994 Right Bank, St Emilion. Pavie-Macquin.

    1996 Chateau Maucaillou Moulis
    Bottle says 12.5% but I think higher.
    Analysis: This is probably Merlot-dominant, so I'm not far off. It's showing really nicely! Though it hasn’t hung onto much dark fruit.

    The vineyard is planted with 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot.

    30-40% new oak.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1993 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 88 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Vino da Tavola

    (blind) medium ruby - slight red core.
    Washed out ripe red bell pepper pyrazines. Slight indistinct red fruit.
    13.5% alcohol, high tannins, elevated acid. A bit austere but overall nice. Slight cedar new oak.

    Guess: A more structured Left Bank. Maybe a 4th-5th growth St Estephe. Lafon-Rochet or Cos Labory?

    Actual: 1993 Sassicaia!

    Analysis: This is pretty good but lacks the depth of fruit and complexity I’d expect for the price. Not noticeably Bretty or volatile - unlike most super-tuscans I’ve had.
    85% cab, 15% cab franc

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1996 Château Gloria Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Corked.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1977 Smith Woodhouse Porto Vintage 91 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (blind)
    Medium ruby to garnet rim.
    VA, alcohol on the nose. Dried red and black fruit. Slightly oxidative. Well-integrated dates with ripe dried and preserved cherries.

    Feels ~22% alcohol, ~80 g/L.
    Medium plus tannins - melted.

    Guess: 1992 vintage port. Lots of sediment - suggests not late bottled vintage.

    Actually: 1977 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port.
    Analysis: This was way older than I expected! Tasting it more closely, it's layered, powerful, and has the stuffing to age even longer. Doesn't seem close to getting tired, and still has much more tertiary development ahead.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

×
×