A Weekend of Excess

Chicago/Northbrook, IL
Tasted Friday, July 24, 2009 - Saturday, July 25, 2009 by MatthewF with 990 views

Flight 1 - Some drinks with friends in the afternoon (4 Notes)

  • 2007 Paul Pernot et ses Fils Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Folatières

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

    (7/24/2009)

    Intense aromatics of lemon and lime peel, wet stone, and smokey fat. Palate was more lime than lemon with a wonderful core of minerality and fantastic acidity. A great note of salinity as well. Showing great, but obviously a bit young.

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  • 2005 Domaine Michel Gros Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées

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

    (7/24/2009)

    Deep garnet color. Aromatics of mostly dark/black fruits (cherry, raspberry), a good deal of wood spice and trace of minerality. Sappy dark fruit on the palate with a lot of muscle. Minerality and acidity are very well balanced. Long finish. Very young, but quite tasty.

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  • 2002 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Bonnes Mares

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

    (7/24/2009)

    Dark cherry with tar and a huge earthy/manure element, with a bit of clove. Lush on the palate with nice acidity. A slight roasted component on the palate as well. Decent length.

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  • 1970 Château Haut-Brion

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    (7/24/2009)

    Very pretty red fruit that was just a bit dried. Cherry, cranberry, and rhubarb. Some black tea notes as well. Soft on the palate with virtually no tannins. A touch over the hill, but still quite enjoyable.

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Flight 2 - Dinner at The Bristol in Chicago (8 Notes)

  • 2005 Peter Michael Chardonnay La Carrière

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

    (7/24/2009)

    Mostly lemon on the nose with a very lush palate of lemon curd with a slight mineral component. Not a overblown as I usually expect from Peter Michael; agree with psmith, Meursault-like. Very nice.

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  • 2005 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne

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

    (7/24/2009)

    Was very psyched to try this, as I've always loved his Corton Charlemagnes, but unfortunately this was completely overwhelmed by sulphur. There was some tightly wound citrus and a nice mineral core underneath, but I just couldn't get past the sulphur which never really faded, even 2.5hrs later.

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  • 1979 Château Ausone

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    (7/24/2009)

    Sweet dark red fruits on the nose with a bit of chocolate and a (nice) vegetal/leafy note on the aromatics. Very elegant and easy to drink. Good acidity as well. Fully mature and ready to drink.

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  • 1961 Château Lynch-Bages

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/24/2009)

    A powerful Pauillac nose with sweet dark fruits and earth. Sweet, lush fruit on the palate with nice acidity. Still just a bit of tannin on the backend. A beautiful wine with nice structure. Had three bottles from the same case in the past 6 weeks and this one was the best.

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  • 1971 Pétrus

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    (7/24/2009)

    Outstanding. Huge expressive nose of chocolate covered cherry with a bit of blackberry and a touch of dusty earth. Sweet dark fruits on the palate with some roasted coffe/cocoa bean. Great mouthfeel. A fantastic wine.

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  • 2001 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    (7/24/2009)

    A big wine. Very dark color with a deep, intense nose of black fruit and cocoa/espresso with some wet rock. Mouthcoating dark fruit with lots of acidity and immense tannins. Should be great someday, but this was just a baby.

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  • 1995 Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

    (7/24/2009)

    A very earthy nose with tarry red/black fruits and leather. Very high acidity and well structured. Nice finish. Very nice wine.

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  • 2005 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

    (7/24/2009)

    Spicy dark currant and berry nose with wet stone and some new leather. Lush palate, great acidity and very tannic. Long finish. Excellent wine and I look forward to seeing it in the future.

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Flight 3 - A friend's birthday celebration at Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe (22 Notes)

  • 1990 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

    France, Champagne

    (7/25/2009)

    From magnum. Fantastic aromatics. Baked lemon and apple with a bit of nuttiness and some yeast. Very rich with great mouthfeel. Absolutely delicious

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  • 2004 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne

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

    (7/25/2009)

    Slight tinge of green color. Intense lemon and gooseberry aromatics. Fantastic acidity with an outstanding core of minerality. Very long length.

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  • 2005 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Bourgogne Blanc

    France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc

    (7/25/2009)

    Citrus nose with a bit of hazelnut and wet stone. Lush palate, primarily lime custard, with a nice mineral core and very nice acidity. A bit of grip on the backend. Always an interesting wine to try.

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  • 1976 Antonin Rodet Chambertin

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

    (7/25/2009)

    Very earthy aromatics with some metallic notes. Still just a bit of sweet red fruit (cranberry, rhubarb) to keep it interesting. Fun to try.

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

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

    (7/25/2009)

    A closed upon opening. Retasted 4 hrs later. Very purple color. Spicy mix of red and black cherries and berries. Some rhubarb and wet rock as well. Sappy fruit coats the palate with a long finish and beautiful minerality. A beautiful wine.

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  • 2003 Michel Bonnefond Ruchottes-Chambertin

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

    (7/25/2009)

    Sweet dark fruits, with some game and spice notes. Very well balanced with beautiful ripe fruit on the palate. Lots of power and a great finish. Very good.

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  • 1996 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve

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

    (7/25/2009)

    Lots of earth and spice here; almost like dried yellow Indian curry. Notes of cranberry and blood orange. Great mouthfeel and acidity. Very nice.

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  • 1961 Château Lynch-Bages

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/25/2009)

    2nd bottle this weekend. Both had low shoulder fills. With this bottle there was a good bit of iron on both the nose and palate along with notes of tomato leaf and juice. Still some sweet dark fruit with a bit of tea flavors. A good bottle of wine, but not near the bottle had last night.

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  • 1970 Château Margaux

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    (7/25/2009)

    Unfortunately corked. A bit of red fruit and tobacco was evident though.

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  • 1976 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/25/2009)

    Pretty red fruits with leafy component. High acid, but enjoyable. Fully mature.

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  • 1976 Château Mouton Rothschild

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/25/2009)

    Red and Black fruits with nice acidity and structure. Still has some power to it. A bit of cigar box. An enjoyable wine.

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  • 1976 Château Latour Grand Vin

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/25/2009)

    Dark red fruits, some plum and cherry, and tobacco. Soft and feminine. Enjoyable.

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  • 1982 Château La Croix Pomerol

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    (7/25/2009)

    Dark roasted fruit with some coffee bean and cocoa. A bit of asian spice. Soft on the palate. A pleasant surprise and enjoyable.

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  • 1982 Château Mouton Rothschild

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/25/2009)

    A lot of dark spice on the nose; amost Rhone like. Sweet dark fruits on the nose and palate. Tobacco, leather, and a nice vegetal note. A lot of power and good grip on the finish. The best bottle yet I have had of this wine, but still has never lived up to the hype.

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  • 1989 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    (7/25/2009)

    From magnum. Firm red and black fruits with sweet cedar and graphite. Asian spice. Perhaps just a bit closed judging from the magnum had a couple months ago. Very youthful and tannic. Outstanding wine.

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  • 1989 Château Palmer

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    (7/25/2009)

    Dark red fruits with a great earthy component, leather, and spice. Great texture on the palate with great acidity and a wonderful finish. Always a fantastic wine.

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  • 1995 Château Angélus

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    (7/25/2009)

    Garnet color with slight fading at the edge. Red fruits, espresso, and earthy barnyard on the nose. Intoxicating cigar box aromatics. Sweet fruit on the palate with bits of roasted cocoa bean. Just a touch of dried fruit. Great acidity and a very nice finish. Great.

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  • 2004 Château Le Pin

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    (7/25/2009)

    Dark color. Somewhat spicy, Rhone like aromatics. Dark red and black fruits with some soy and asian spice. Lean fruit on the palate with bits of biter chocolate and espresso. Great minerality on the finish. A great wine, but unfortunately so young.

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  • 2006 Harris Estate Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Lakeview Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (7/25/2009)

    Deep purple color. A very "culty" nose. Sweet red/black fruits (currant, Berry, rhubarb) with lots of vanilla and sweet oak. A super lush mouthfeel with good acidity and very fine tannins. Nice finish. Very well made wine.

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  • 1995 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Ermitage Cuvée Cathelin

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (7/25/2009)

    Incredible aromatics. Spicy black fruits with roasted meat. Spicy and full bodied on the palate with slightly tart fruit. Tannic with lots of grip and a long finish. A stunning wine. The best bottle yet from the same 6pk.

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  • 1949 Château Cheval Blanc

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    (7/25/2009)

    From half bottle. Sweet fruit on the nose with some tobacco and a bit of tomato leaf. A touch of wood spice. Great structured palate with great fruit. Some dried cherry and cranberry. A great finish. A wonderul wine. Shockingly young; served blind to multiple wine people who initially guessed an '82.

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  • 1989 Château d'Yquem

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    (7/25/2009)

    Golden color. Slightly baked tropical fruit nose with ripe stone fruit as well - ripe yellow peach and apricot. Vanilla bean creme brulee and honeysuckle. Super rich on the palate with baked pineapple and ripe apricot and honeyed lemon custard. Fantastic length with beautiful acidity. Absolutely outstanding.

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Closing

An outstanding two days full of great food and wine. Thanks to all who came, shared, and participated.

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