Ard & David’s 50th birthday dinner

Chez David, Amsterdam, NL.
Tasted Friday, September 27, 2019 by Xavier Auerbach with 290 views

Flight 1 - aperitif (1 Note)

  • NV André Beaufort Champagne Grand Cru Brut Réserve 91 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Tonight is all about the 1969 vintage, and even the aperitif is in theme, because this was the year in which Jacques Beaufort started farming his vineyards organically. A blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay. The house style is ever so slightly oxidative, and this shows in the baked apple fruit, which provides a lovely counterpoint to an otherwise very pure and linear, fresh and mineral Champagne, its tight citrus fruit rounded off by judicious dosage.

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Flight 2 - 1969 burgundy (3 Notes)

  • 1969 Domaine Jaboulet-Vercherre Beaune 1er Cru Clos de l'Ecu 91 Points

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

    Level 3cm below the cork. Fully mature colour; lovely nose, mature and gentle Pinot Noir without any off notes, subtle tertiary aromas provide a lovely complexity, vestiges of sweet fruit; juicy and supple palate, light to medium body, harmonious, slightly old acidity on the finish, hint of sweetness, good length. Attractive.

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  • 1969 Jean Bouchard Vosne-Romanée 90 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée

    Level 5.5cm below the cork. Fully mature colour; remarkably fresh and fragrant nose, strawberries, hint of smoky oak, transparent, good depth, not the complexity of the Clos de l’Ecu which preceded it; light to medium body, structurally completely intact, retains some tannic grip; drying and slightly tough finish. Excellent quality for a 50 year old village from a négociant.

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  • 1969 Maison François Martenot Vosne-Romanée 87 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée

    Dutch bottled by Thiessen, dumpy bottle, level 4cm below the cork. Fully mature colour, completely bricked through; mature but lively nose, vinous, slightly nutty, attractive; juicy attack, sharp and acidic palate and finish.

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Flight 3 - 1969 bordeaux (and one loire) (14 Notes)

  • 1969 Château Chasse-Spleen 84 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc

    Mid-upper shoulder level, very crumbly cork. Fully mature appearance, no red left; light and old nose; light and quite acidic palate; light and dry finish. Not much to it, not very pleasant.

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  • 1969 Château Haut-Batailley 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Upper shoulder. Fully mature but lively appearance; lovely nose, recognisable Pauillac character, smoky and a bit fishy; the palate is light and quite elegant, only slightly green acidity, vestiges of tannic grip; dry but harmonious finish.

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  • 1969 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Level base of neck. Mature but lively appearance; lovely nose, transparent but with nice gravelly warmth, vinous, vestiges of fruit and even some floral lift; light and slightly sweet palate; good length. An excellent 1969.

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  • 1969 Château Duhart-Milon 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Mid shoulder level. Fully mature appearance; attractive nose, smoky, even a hint of coffee (high toast?), transparent and fresh; nice hint of sweetness on the attack, light and fresh palate, still together, cedar; slightly green finish, but good length.

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  • 1969 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Level into neck. Mature but lively appearance; attractive nose, light and not very expressive, but completely intact, fresh and without any off notes; beautifully harmonious and lively palate, retains its sprightly well integrated acidity, lovely hint of natural sweetness; good resonance and length.

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  • 1969 Château Léoville Las Cases 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Very top shoulder level. Mature but lively appearance; lively nose, masculine even, oak and fruit, good depth; quite a structured palate, fully upright, fresh and harmonious, quite tannic still; good resonance and length. Very different style from the Ducru which preceded it, similar quality.

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  • 1969 Château Lynch-Bages 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Top shoulder level. Remarkably lively colour for age; lovely nose, cassis and mint and cedar; juicy and lively palate, light but energetic, nervous acidity; light finish with a slightly sharp edge.

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  • 1969 Château Palmer 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    Level base of neck. Fully mature and completely intact, clean and light, displays a certain gentle elegance, smooth texture, raspberries; very slightly edgy finish, but good length.

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  • 1969 Château Cos d'Estournel 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    Upper shoulder level. Fully mature colour; mature nose, lively but old, cedary warmth; drying and tough palate, very tannic; bright but acidic finish. Deteriorates very quickly.

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  • 1969 Château Mouton Rothschild 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Upper shoulder level. Lovely colour, mature but lively appearance; clean nose, lovely vinous warmth, cassis and cedar and mint, classic Pauillac; lovely and lively palate, cassis flavours, complete for a 1969, lively acidity in check; clean and dry finish, good length. Much better than the bottle from the same cellar tasted ten years ago. Rating applies to the first 15 minutes after opening, loses its definition very quickly after that.

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  • 1969 Château Grand Corbin 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Top shoulder. Fully mature colour, no red left; rounded and supple and juicy, attractive natural sweetness, balanced, soft but fresh, good persistence.

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  • 1969 Château Pavie Macquin 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Very top shoulder. Fully mature colour; nose is not easy to assess, slightly lactic, no off notes; quite full bodied for a 1969, chalky energy, cool style but seems riper than almost all other wines tonight; good length.

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  • 1969 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon Réserve du Fondateur 90 Points

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

    Two bottles. The first bottle slightly deep in colour and a bit oxidative. The second bottle had a lighter colour, and seemed fresher. Off-dry, caramel and honey, linen and chamomile, baked apple, lovely length.

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  • 1969 Château d'Yquem 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Great colour, rich and lively yellow gold; lovely nose, orange zest and oak spice; delicately sweet, gentle bitters, spicy and resinous oak, firm bitters; long and drying finish.

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Flight 4 - wines with dinner (4 Notes)

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