CdB BoG

A fantastic line-up of wines curated by the Denver CDB. Amazing hosts and a great meeting.
Notes are a little sparse as I lost my notebook:-(

A great start. There was a nice champagne but the server wasn't sure what it was and I forgot to find the bottle.
Also, did not list the 2000 Braniare Ducru because it isn't in CT. Maybe because it isn't very good! I am a big fan of B-D but this one was disappointing, first bottle flawed and the second just seemed past it.

• 2016 Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  (1/25/2024)

  I would have never thought a Bdx Blanc could be my wine of the night, especially in the company of so many other great wines. But this was fantastic. I lost my notes but it has had a long ‘mental’ finish. As in, I am still thinking about it.
  I only just realized I have had this before with similar surprise. This is a buy.

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• 2000 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (1/25/2024)

  Lost my detailed notes so going from memory a few weeks later. This was drinking at peak or maybe just past. Mature fruit and lovey smooth tannins. Very nice.

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• 1985 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  (1/25/2024)

  This was in a great place right now, was not decanted so maybe drank over 90 min in the glass? Normally Ducru needs many hours of air to show well for me, so this was exceptional.
  Lost my notes, but remember this as classic and still plenty of fruit, great structure still plenty of tannins and acid for a long life.

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• 1999 Château Léoville Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  (1/25/2024)

  Lucky to have had this wine twice in one week. Same score (93) although this bottle was not drinking quite as well as the first (perhaps because the first had some air time and a double decant).
  This is perfectly in the drinking window for my palate.

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• 2005 Château Suduiraut

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  (1/25/2024)

  Lost my notes but this was lovely and drinking well.

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Great wines, not all listed. With insightful commentary from the incredibly charming Count Stephan Von Niepperg.

• 2013 Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant Extra Brut 94 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  (1/26/2024)

  Excellent champagnes all 3 nights of this trip. Sadly I lost my notes and can’t remember night 1.
  This was night 2.
  Loved this and had several glasses before I sought out the label to find out what I was drinking. Not so experienced with the 2013 vintage but if this is any indication, it is amazing.
  No notes but definitely a buy.

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• 2019 Clos de l'Oratoire 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (1/26/2024)

  Lost my notes but remember that I enjoyed it but felt it was on the young side for me. Would be interested to try an older vintage.

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• 2003 Château Mouton Rothschild 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  (1/26/2024)

  I always enjoy a 2003 for sentimental reasons as it is my daughter’s birth year and in this case she was my dinner date.
  Lost my notes, but while this wasn’t as powerful as other vintages of Mouton, it is drinking very well and is (not surprisingly) an excellent wine. No complaints from me and while maybe not worth a first growth tariff, being an off vintage it is probably obtainable at a more manageable price than most.
  For 2003 though, this was not as good as the LMHB we had a few months ago.

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• 1998 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (1/26/2024)

  Lost my notes but very favorable memories, great wine and drinking well with plenty of life remaining.
  Rich dark fruited, good intensity on the nose and palate.

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• 2011 Château d'Yquem 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  (1/26/2024)

  Lost my notes but hard to forget the impressions of this one. Excellent and loved the pineapple notes along with the apricots, plenty of complexity. My daughter’s first d’Yquem and she was smitten.

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Blind tasting lunch. I am not much of a day drinker but this was worth it.

• 2010 Vincent Couche Champagne Brut Millésimé 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  (1/27/2024)

  Lost my notes but this was one I wanted to remember.
  Pre-lunch champagne and I was trying not to drink too much for pacing reasons but ended up having 2 glasses. When I saw the vintage I was surprised as 2010 isn’t usually great for me but this was darn good!!

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• 1988 Château Margaux 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  (1/27/2024)

  Blind tasting at lunch. Guessed Chateau Margaux but not the vintage (didn’t try!). Drinking beautifully. The floral notes gave it away. Lost my notes but I remember it as vibrant, rich fruit and velvety smooth.

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• 1995 Château Smith Haut Lafitte 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  (1/27/2024)

  Blind. Guessed Pauillac, oops.
  Lost my detailed notes but this was my wine of the lunch—and many at my table in agreement.
  From reading past notes we must have been really lucky with having great bottles. Drinking incredibly well. Rich fruited, still has great structure, did not seem anywhere near the decline.
  I immediately wanted to purchase more, but looking at the notes it seems like a bit of a gamble.

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• 1998 Château Pontet-Canet 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  (1/27/2024)

  Blind. Lunch. Guessed St Estephe, I think because it was so rustic.
  I was surprised at the reveal. Tannins going strong . Lost my notes but for whatever reason this just wasn’t as good as I would have expected or in comparison to the other wines.

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• 2006 Château Montrose 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  (1/27/2024)

  Blind. Lunch. Guessed Pauillac. Had called the Pontet Canet as St Estephe so I guess that’s where I went wrong.
  Lost my notes but recall this was really good. Big rich still fruity and structured, a bit of spice and chocolate.

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• 1990 Château Larcis Ducasse 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (1/27/2024)

  Blind. Lunch. Correctly guessed St Emilion
  Lost notes but thought this was drinking well.
  Unmistakeable right bank CF and Merlot, plummy fruit. delicious right now but I wouldn’t wait.

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Exceeded all expectations.

• 2012 Claude Cazals Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Clos Cazals 94 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  (1/27/2024)

  I have a few bottles of this in the cellar but had never tried. So it was a nice surprise when after drinking a glass and loving it I went to check the label.
  Lost my notes but I was impressed how open this was, a nose I could smell all day.

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• 2018 Château Pape Clément Blanc 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  (1/27/2024)

  A really unusual Bordeaux Blanc. Very lite and herbal. Almost Viogner -like with hints of tangerine. Not as acidic as I would prefer but I really enjoyed.

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• 2011 Château du Tertre 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  (1/27/2024)

  Lost my notes but was surprised by the drinkability of this. I usually shy away from 2011 but this was drinking well. Smooth and velvety, very open. Elegance but substance. Not as complex as the trio of ‘96 wines that accompanied, but a really good wine nonetheless

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• 1996 Château Pontet-Canet 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  (1/27/2024)

  1996 might be my favorite vintage of Bordeaux for
  Drinking now and this bottle was not exception. My second favorite of the 3 ‘96s
  No detailed notes but chicken scratch comments on the menu: floral, fruity, graphite, lead pencil on the finish, long finish.

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• 1996 Château Léoville Poyferré 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  (1/27/2024)

  Loving the 1996 vintage right now. No formal notes but drinking great, full of fruit, smooth but present tannins. Yum.

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• 1996 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  (1/27/2024)

  From a 15L!!!!
  What a stunning wine. I thought there was no way this could be so open with only an hour or so decant before serving. Drinking incredibly well, full of fruit, tobacco, spice. No formal notes but wow and consistent with my assessment that 1996 is a fantastic vintage for drinking now (and not to imply it won’t hold up, because it surely will)

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• 2011 Château Nairac 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  (1/27/2024)

  My first Nairac. Great complexity and very tasty but too sweet for me and was paired with a too sweet dessert. (for me. and I am not a sweet wine connessieur so take with a grain of salt!)

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So many great wines in such a short time. Highlights for me were the '96's and the Champagnes!!