Taberna del Alabardero, Washington D.C.
Tasted Wednesday, May 4, 2022 by dcwino with 496 views
Bijan organized a Lafite vertical dinner. Eric Kohler, the technical director of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, was plan to join us but had to cancel. Eight of us got together at Taberna del Alabardero to drink 12 vintages of Chateau Lafite.
As usuasl, we were situated in the classic private room. This has to be one of the top wine services of my life time. It was interesting and educational to taste through six decades of Lafites. It was remarkable that almost all of them expressed “lead pencil” which is the trademark of Lafite. All the wines showed extremely well.
The 96 Comtes was incredible once again.
The Charmes was much better than I anticipated.
Some thought they were tired. I actually liked the tertiary dominating nose.
For the past five years, the 86 Lafite seems more backward than the 86 Mouton. This was frightfully young.
The 90 was drinking the best for most of us, incredibly open and delicious.
Both were incredible but almost too young.
These expressed the vintages perfectly. The 03 was drinking exceptionally well and also showed a great future ahead.
It was like a barrel sample but even more concentrated, simply perfect.
Simple the perfect way to end the evening!
This was truly educational and also so much fun. A great time was had by all.
NV Jacques Selosse Champagne Premier Cru Lieux-dits Extra Brut Mareuil-sur-Ay Sous le Mont 97 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Slight pink/cooper color. Beautiful complex nose displaying subtle sweet red and yellow fruit, raspberry, pomegranate, peach, apricot, apple cider vinegar, caramel, marzipan, yeast, smoke and limestone. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of subtle red and yellow fruit, rich and sweet but also showing a very good balance and harmony, bright acidity and strong mineral, and a seamless long sweet red and yellow fruit driven finish with yeast and apple vinegar at the end. This incredibly complex Champagne has a very “natural wine” impression. Very unique, delicious, and natural expression.
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1996 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 99 Points
France, Champagne
Perfectly mature nose displaying sweet yellow fruit, lemon curd, candied lemon peel, baked apple, candied ginger, burnt sugar, oyster jus, sweet spices, and crushed rocks. I have consistently found a beautiful floral note in the 96 CDC which is fascinating. Beautifully integrated palate, layers upon layers of sweet yellow fruit, very find generous mousse, rich and decadent yet also pure and precise, bright acidity, strong oyster shell mineral, and a seamless long sweet yellow fruit driven finish with oyster jus and burnt sugar at the end. The 96 CDC is drinking incredibly well. I actually prefer the overall balance and decadence of the 96 CDC over the 96 Salon which is more focused.
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1996 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 97 Points
France, Champagne
Beautifully mature yet focused nose displaying perfectly ripe yellow fruit, apple, baked apple, lemon curd, honey, light caramel, brioche, white pepper and crushed rocks. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of decadent yet pure yellow fruit, very fine generous mousse, sweet and generous but also displaying excellent precision and detail, bright acidity, strong limestone mineral, and a long concentrated sweet yellow fruit driven finish with honey at the end. This is drinking beautifully but I seem to prefer the 96 CDC in the past five years.
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