Birthday Weekend

Chicagoland
Tasted Thursday, July 23, 2009 - Saturday, July 25, 2009 by psmith with 959 views

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

Quiet Thursday dinner at a couple of locations. Happened to run into a friend who hooked us up with some Marcassin.

Flight 2 (8 Notes)

Friday dinner at Bristol in Chicago.

  • 2005 Peter Michael Chardonnay La Carrière

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

    (7/24/2009)

    Citrus and waxy mineral notes. Far more subdued and elegant than I'm used to from PM - a bit clichéd but almost Burgundian in a Meursault sort of way. Well structured. Very nice.

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

  • 2005 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

    (7/24/2009)

    Light color. Like liquid sulfur - full of matchbook notes that overwhelm what seems to be a more subtle wine; even for BdM. Hard to judge.

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

  • 1979 Château Ausone

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    (7/24/2009)

    Lighter-bodied red fruits and tobacco leaf notes. Elegant, feminine styling. Really streamlined profile - no hard edges here. Fine, soft strucure. Fully mature. Really good.

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

  • 1961 Château Lynch-Bages

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/24/2009)

    Still big, but in a superposition of young/old at the moment. Some tomato juice notes, with cassis and dark fruits. Tobacco. Toned down structure that leaves things a bit angular; still, a very enjoyable wine.

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

  • 2001 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    (7/24/2009)

    Big wine - a mistake to open this now. All dark fruits, plum and tobacco, but very firmly held in check by lots of tannins. Despite its size, gives an elegant impression. Very promising, but needs time.

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

  • 1971 Pétrus

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    (7/24/2009)

    Just super - even better than my last bottle. Dark, plummy fruits and tobacco notes. Voluptuous and restrained at the same time. Pretty, soft mouthfeel. Great balance. Delicious.

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

  • 1995 Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

    (7/24/2009)

    Heady dark fruits. More masculine styling than I'm used to with Gaja. Fine structure; streamlined profile. Some tarry notes. Very good.

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

  • 2005 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

    (7/24/2009)

    Big wine misplaced in a rather elegant lineup, which didn't give this the respect it probably deserves. Dark red fruits. Tart, big structure. Cassis notes. Fine.

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

Flight 3 (22 Notes)

Main event, Saturday wine group.

  • 2004 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

    (7/25/2009)

    Surprisingly light on its feet for Coche, and very '04 in style. Big, firm lemon curd and gooseberry-type notes. Hazelnut. Huge acidity and a great mineral backbone. Intense, mouth puckering. Very young. Super wine, but hard to justify the tariff.

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

  • 1990 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

    France, Champagne

    (7/25/2009)

    From magnum. Very '90 in style - ripe, full bodied baked apple and yeasty notes. Firm but balanced acidity and mousse. Rich for Salon. Really good.

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

  • 1976 Antonin Rodet Chambertin

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

    (7/25/2009)

    Amber color. All sous-bois and slight metalic notes, with some alcoholic warmth and enough backbone left to keep things enjoyable. Medium body, but sufficient weight. Enjoyable; nice surprise.

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

  • 2003 Emmanuel Rouget Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Cros Parantoux

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

    (7/25/2009)

    Almost new world, cutly styling, with a cherry cola nose and floral notes. Full, round palate despite its youth. Not over ripe or at all heavy. Some mineral backbone. Low acidity. Very enjoyable now. Big wine.

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

  • 2003 Christophe Roumier Ruchottes-Chambertin

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru

    (7/25/2009)

    Big time wine. All purple fruits; pretty floral aromatics. Firm but great clarity in more of an '02 style. Round. Well balanced. As good an '03 as I've had.

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

  • 1996 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve

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

    (7/25/2009)

    Light color. Super spicy wine. Mature, with some VA creeping through and sous-bois type notes. Medium body. Soft palate and resolved structure. Very nice.

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

  • 1970 Château Margaux Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    (7/25/2009)

    A bit corked unfortunately, but some tobacco leaf and cedar notes with a blue fruit component I don't often get with Margaux. Resolved and mature.

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

  • 1976 Château Latour Grand Vin

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/25/2009)

    Surprisingly feminine Latour with dark fruits and tobacco leaf. Some underlying power; firm tannins for what remain. Mature. Enjoyable wine.

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

  • 1976 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/25/2009)

    Some merlot influence clearly coming through in a softer, green tobacco leaf profile. Sweet, candied red cherry fruit. Fully mature. Feminine styling and stremlined profile. Very nice '76.

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

  • 1976 Château Mouton Rothschild

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/25/2009)

    Superimposed red/black fruits. Masculine styling. Somewhat of a disconnect in the fruit profile and structure. Firm. Very alive. Enjoyable.

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

  • 1989 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/25/2009)

    From magnum. Dark fruits and tarry notes. Pretty red/black cherry. Very firm, almost closed down. Tannic, big wine. Not particularly accessable, but very good elements.

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

  • 1982 Château Mouton Rothschild

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/25/2009)

    Really pretty nose - black cherry and tobacco. Seamless wine. Really streamlined. Full bodied, but nowhere near the sheer size or power of the '86. Fine tannins. Very good.

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

  • 1989 Château Palmer

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    (7/25/2009)

    As always, a really good wine. Super pretty nose with tobacco leaf overtones. Very feminine styling. Pure, streamlined profile with no edges. Drinking more young with grapey red fruits than I'm used to. Very nice.

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

  • 1990 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/25/2009)

    Delicate, soft, with a significant merlot influence and green tobacco notes. Fine structure. Have never understood the controversy with this wine; I find it consistently very nice.

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

  • 1995 Château Angélus

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    (7/25/2009)

    Soft, ripe, leather and tobacco notes with a spicy dark fruit component and a nice green streak. Some grape bubble gum. Really approachable for a '95. Pretty wine. Round, soft mouthfeel. Very nice.

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

  • 2004 Château Le Pin

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    (7/25/2009)

    Exotic but new world syling. Candy apple and lychee type notes. Forward red cherry notes and spice with vanilla oak undertones. Medium body. Softer palate with nice transparency; clearly Merlot-dominant. Fine tannins. Elegant wine. Needs time, but nice elements.

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

  • 2005 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Bourgogne Blanc

    France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc

    (7/25/2009)

    Hazelnut oil and heavy citrus. Heady, with alcoholic warmth. Enjoyable, but offers nothing to keep me from wondering why they just don't rip these up and plant more Musigny.

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

  • 1961 Château Lynch-Bages

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/25/2009)

    Lucky to try this twice in one weekend. This bottle is more bloody mary type tomato juice notes. Some tea leaf and tobacco. Showing its age a bit. No tannins, but some balancing acidity leaves this a bit top heavy. Enjoyable.

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

  • 1995 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Ermitage Cuvée Cathelin

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (7/25/2009)

    Big time nose. Just super aromatics of well spiced meat and dark fruits. Exotic. Well balanced palate. Full, but elegant lines and very light on its feet. No seams. Great wine; better than my very, very good last bottle of this.

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

  • 1949 Château Cheval Blanc

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    (7/25/2009)

    From half-bottle. Surprisingly alive and fruit forward. Red fruits, dark chocolate, and a tobacco-leaf undercurrent. Great balance; no seams. Enough structure remaining to keep things vibrant and alive. Stellar wine that could pass for 30+ years younger.

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

  • 1989 Château d'Yquem

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    (7/25/2009)

    A bit cidery on the nose. Tropical fruits. Gummy, cotton candy like flavors/texture. Creme brulee notes. Big d'Yquem. Round, firm. Very nice.

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

  • 1994 Avignonesi Vin Santo di Montepulciano

    Italy, Tuscany, Montepulciano, Vin Santo di Montepulciano

    (7/25/2009)

    Dark brown sugar and madeira notes. Teeth-rattling sweetness. Caramel. Super thick and viscous. Intense stuff; very nice.

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

×
×