Minneapolis Wine Club Does Bordeaux

What a great night of Bordeaux with the Minneapolis Wine Club Group. A few older vintages mixed in with some newer ones to showcase the 4 main communes along with Pessac. One last wine to add to the notes was the excellent value wine Chateau de Sales. For $26 a bottle an approachable Pomerol that should drink well for years.

• 2000 Les Gartieux de Pichon Lalande 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  (1/23/2010)

  I have sampled this wine on several occasions and it showed the best tonight. No funk as previous bottlings. Pencil lead, raspberries, spice and minerals dominate the wine. It is at a drinking window and I would start consuming this wine. It was not decanted and did not need to tonight. Nice medium finish.

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• 1998 Château Smith Haut Lafitte 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  (1/22/2010)

  Medium purple. Aromas of cedar, cherry, pencil lead, violets, Beautiful on the palate with a mix of spices, cherry, violets, and cedar. Medium finish and the wine is really balanced. This wine is drinking really well right now and I see a bright future for it.

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• 2005 Château Olivier 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  (1/23/2010)

  Dark purple. Nose was a little tight and I arerated the wine. Nose showed gravel and a bit of leather. Palate was gravel and earth tones. Shorter finish then most 05s. This wine might never blossom and I would pass at the $22 price point as there is too many better choices from 05.

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• 2000 Château Léoville Poyferré 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  (1/23/2010)

  Dark purple. This wine was not decanted and I highly recommend against it. It is a really delicate wine that will show its best in the first hours. Sampled 3 other times. Tonight Wow! Nose revealed impressive aromas of leather, gravel, charcoal, spice and raspberry. The palate was really interesting with a ton going on. A medium finish with perfect balance. No flaws on this wine tonight. I would highly recommend consuming this wine young as a sample 2 hours later did not reveal the pleasure of earlier in the night.

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• 2004 Château Léoville Barton 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  (1/23/2010)

  Medium purple. Nose of pencil lead, leather, cherry, and minerals. This was a concentrated wine with nice alot going on the palate. Good acidity and a concentrated finish make for an excellent 04 value. I will be seeking out more of this wine.

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• 2004 Château Montrose 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  (1/23/2010)

  The fourth time sampling this wine. A little funk on the nose that blew off. Mostly showing gravel, cassis, and some vegetal qualities. The palate was not as impressive with previous bottlings. Medium finish and overall a really 04 value at $44 a bottle. I would encourage cellaring this one for 2 to 5 years.

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• 2005 Château Lascombes 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  (1/23/2010)

  Sampled at 2 times during the tasting. At first a nice wine but not great. I decanted this wine for 3 hours and it needed another 2 at least. Dark color and a nose of mineral, cassis, coffee and spices. Palate is intense and really features a nice balance of fruit and earth components. This wine shows a massive finish and as many have noted not Margaux style but it is a great wine. Certainly a cellar for 10 plus years wine.

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• 2005 Château de Sales 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  (1/22/2010)

  Medium purple. Nose of bacon, menthol, cassis, Palate shows a complexity with meat, menthol, cassis, coffee and spices. Medium and intense finish. This is a day one review and will see what day 2 holds for this wine. What a steal at $26 a bottle. 93 points.
  
  Agree with Matt on the low tracker average!

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My wine of the night was the 2000 Leoville Poyferre. Wonderful showing tonight and my last bottle. The value wine of the night was the 2004 Leoville Barton which can still be had for $45 a bottle. I was a little disappointed with the 04 Montrose but the 05 Lascombes is a steal at $60 and I will be seaking this one out.