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HDH 95/96 Comparative Tasting
Newberry Library, Chicago IL
Tasted February 1, 2008 by KeithAkers with 1,224 views
Introduction
I made it down to the Newberry Library for Hart Davis Hart's annual comparative Bordeaux tasting. it wasn't as filled as I thought it would be, most likely due to the awful weather that had been going on at the time. What this did though was allow me to hit up almost everything that was there and get some very nice pours, which made me a very happy camper
Flight 1 - table 1 (6 notes)
Red
1995 Château Margaux
94 points
nose: nice nose that has some good depth to it. Filled with cedar, black currants, dark fruit, and a good amount of tobbacco
taste: very nice and silky. Quitnessential Chateau Margaux. Nice helping of black currant, tobbacco, cranberry, and some cedar
overall: this is excellent. wonderful structure and balance on this wine. THe finish doesn't last as long as I'd like, but this is why this wine is a first growth
taste: very nice and silky. Quitnessential Chateau Margaux. Nice helping of black currant, tobbacco, cranberry, and some cedar
overall: this is excellent. wonderful structure and balance on this wine. THe finish doesn't last as long as I'd like, but this is why this wine is a first growth
Red
1996 Château Margaux
96 points
nose: wow, what a deep nose and massive. Black currant, earth, tobbaco, kirsch, and cranberry. Very sumptuous nose
taste: can a wine be explosive and silky at the same time, I would've said no until this one. It's an amazing feeling on the palate. Cedar, tobbacco, earth, cranberry, and smoke notes
overall: this finish just doesn't want to quit. This is powerful and full of finesse at the same time. A tremendous wine
taste: can a wine be explosive and silky at the same time, I would've said no until this one. It's an amazing feeling on the palate. Cedar, tobbacco, earth, cranberry, and smoke notes
overall: this finish just doesn't want to quit. This is powerful and full of finesse at the same time. A tremendous wine
Red
1995 Château Palmer
91 points
nose: very nice and elegant nose. Chalk, red currant, red fruit, and spice notes permeate
taste: nice feel on the palate, red fruit, tobbacco, and cranberry just glide across the palate
overall: this is a very elegant wine. Very subtle and understated, nothing is out of place and it holds itself together very well and leans into a nice polished finish
taste: nice feel on the palate, red fruit, tobbacco, and cranberry just glide across the palate
overall: this is a very elegant wine. Very subtle and understated, nothing is out of place and it holds itself together very well and leans into a nice polished finish
Red
1996 Château Palmer
92 points
nose: very nice rich nose of anise, red and black currants, smoke, and some game notes too
taste: like a finely tuned engine and it fills the palate with smoked game, red and black currants along with hints of anise
overall: I have to say, Palmer's are always so nice and elegant, this one is no different. Just a real pleasure to drink
taste: like a finely tuned engine and it fills the palate with smoked game, red and black currants along with hints of anise
overall: I have to say, Palmer's are always so nice and elegant, this one is no different. Just a real pleasure to drink
Red
1995 Château Cos d'Estournel
94 points
nose: huge and explosive nose. spices, cedar, anise, and smoke notes just hit you and don't want to let you go
taste: Big gamey feel on the mouth. Black currant, anise, cedar, and some mushrooms too. almost tastes like the bordeaux version of a aged Nuits St Georges
overall: huge wine, just massive. Tons of dark aspects to it and it all explodes together like a celebration
taste: Big gamey feel on the mouth. Black currant, anise, cedar, and some mushrooms too. almost tastes like the bordeaux version of a aged Nuits St Georges
overall: huge wine, just massive. Tons of dark aspects to it and it all explodes together like a celebration
Red
1996 Château Cos d'Estournel
93 points
nose: real nice bordeaux nose that is filled with dark fruit, leather, cassis, and mocha
taste: real big grip on the palate. Tobbacco, dark fruit, cassis, and coffee notes just grip you like a tight glove
overall: real good stuff. Big and bold, a bit backwards and it's now starting to come around and strut it's stuff. It's like a tamed bully in a way, but it still wants to bully you around when it gets the chance
taste: real big grip on the palate. Tobbacco, dark fruit, cassis, and coffee notes just grip you like a tight glove
overall: real good stuff. Big and bold, a bit backwards and it's now starting to come around and strut it's stuff. It's like a tamed bully in a way, but it still wants to bully you around when it gets the chance
Flight 2 - table 2 (8 notes)
Red
1995 Château Léoville Las Cases
93 points
nose: very sweet and ripe nose with a bit of brett to it. Mushrooms, saddle leather, red currants, along with rose petals. nose isn't for everyone, but I do enjoy a slightly bretty nose
taste: very sweet, ripe, and elegant. Rose petals and red currant mostly with a bit of saddle leather on the back end just to remind you that this is las cases
overall: still a young wine and is fairly tannic. That said, it has a certain elegance to it that I enjoy a lot and leans into a nice lasting finish. It still needs more time to fully develop
taste: very sweet, ripe, and elegant. Rose petals and red currant mostly with a bit of saddle leather on the back end just to remind you that this is las cases
overall: still a young wine and is fairly tannic. That said, it has a certain elegance to it that I enjoy a lot and leans into a nice lasting finish. It still needs more time to fully develop
Red
1996 Château Léoville Las Cases
95 points
nose: wow, this nose just comes up and punches you in both the face and gut at the same time. This wine is not messing around at all and lets you know where you stand. Tobbacco, dark fruit, black licorice all want for you attention and are working together. This is a massive nose
taste: extremely big and concentrated. Very young on the mouth, this one is wants to break out of it's shell and scream and it's just starting to poke out. Minerals, earth, dark fruit, and anise just jump on the palate
overall: this is a big time Heavyweight boxer of a wine. It just nails all parts of the palate and has an insanely long finish. It's still a baby though as the tannin structure is still very big. This has some serious stuffing to it and hasn't yet come out of its shell. If it's this good now, I can only imagine how it'll be when it breaks out fully
taste: extremely big and concentrated. Very young on the mouth, this one is wants to break out of it's shell and scream and it's just starting to poke out. Minerals, earth, dark fruit, and anise just jump on the palate
overall: this is a big time Heavyweight boxer of a wine. It just nails all parts of the palate and has an insanely long finish. It's still a baby though as the tannin structure is still very big. This has some serious stuffing to it and hasn't yet come out of its shell. If it's this good now, I can only imagine how it'll be when it breaks out fully
Red
1995 Château Léoville Barton
91 points
nose: very interesting nose, a bit vegetal along with vanilla beans, red fruit, floral notes, and bits of spice thrown in
taste: nice mouth feel with vanilla beans, red fruit, and some spice
overall: real nice palate coating tannins that also provides a nice lasting finish
taste: nice mouth feel with vanilla beans, red fruit, and some spice
overall: real nice palate coating tannins that also provides a nice lasting finish
Red
1996 Château Léoville Barton
92 points
nose: big and muscular on the nose(this is really a theme of the 96s). Has some nice sweetness to it with toasted oak, spice box, earth, along with red and black currants
taste: big and tannic. This is filled with dark fruit, black currant, anise, and spices
overall: this is a big boy. It wants to slap you in the face with what it has and it's a slap that you sit there and enjoy. It still has some baby fat to shed too
taste: big and tannic. This is filled with dark fruit, black currant, anise, and spices
overall: this is a big boy. It wants to slap you in the face with what it has and it's a slap that you sit there and enjoy. It still has some baby fat to shed too
Red
1995 Château Léoville Poyferré
90 points
nose: nice classic and soft nose of cedar, red currant, and spices
taste: interesting, very interesting. getting tobbacco and red currants up front, and a interesting green tea flavor on the back palate
overall: very interesting wine. May need some time to fully wake up as it still is a young wine. It has a sweetness to it to
taste: interesting, very interesting. getting tobbacco and red currants up front, and a interesting green tea flavor on the back palate
overall: very interesting wine. May need some time to fully wake up as it still is a young wine. It has a sweetness to it to
Red
1996 Château Léoville Poyferré
92 points
nose: real dark and earthen nose that is also big and jammy. black fruit, smoke, cedar just permeate in teh nostrils
taste: real nice fruit. Black fruit, smoke, and cedar all just jump together
overall: extremely nice wine. I really like the jammyness of this. It's not that ripe type of jammy, but just big and bold
taste: real nice fruit. Black fruit, smoke, and cedar all just jump together
overall: extremely nice wine. I really like the jammyness of this. It's not that ripe type of jammy, but just big and bold
Red
1995 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
94 points
nose: big deep and dense nose. Cedar, tobbacco, earth, minerals, and black currant just work together
taste: huge mouth with tons of grip. Tons of dark fruit, black currant, tobbacco, and cedar. This one wants to take you on a ride
overall: this is a massive wine. big broad structure on this, but also very balanced, this one doesn't mess around
taste: huge mouth with tons of grip. Tons of dark fruit, black currant, tobbacco, and cedar. This one wants to take you on a ride
overall: this is a massive wine. big broad structure on this, but also very balanced, this one doesn't mess around
Red
1996 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
95 points
nose: big and full nose. earth, minerals, licorice, chocolate, and mocha abound
taste: beautiful and balanced. This one is top notch. Dark fruit, plum, earth, minerals, and black licorice coate your palate
overall: this wine has amazing balance for being such a big wine. It's pretty amazing really and along with that we get a really nice and lasting finish
taste: beautiful and balanced. This one is top notch. Dark fruit, plum, earth, minerals, and black licorice coate your palate
overall: this wine has amazing balance for being such a big wine. It's pretty amazing really and along with that we get a really nice and lasting finish
Flight 3 - table 3 (6 notes)
Red
1995 Château Latour Grand Vin
91 points
nose: real nice nose filled with black licorice, vanilla, and cassis while also giving floral notes and bits of woody notes
taste: real nice and sweet with red fruit, vanilla, and cassis dancing on the palate
overall: a bit dissapointing as it dies a bit on the palate. It has everything that needs to be there for a great wine, but then gives up on you. it's still an excellent wine and few wines could still pull off being of high quality with some of the flaws it has. hopefully this one will come around with more time
taste: real nice and sweet with red fruit, vanilla, and cassis dancing on the palate
overall: a bit dissapointing as it dies a bit on the palate. It has everything that needs to be there for a great wine, but then gives up on you. it's still an excellent wine and few wines could still pull off being of high quality with some of the flaws it has. hopefully this one will come around with more time
Red
1996 Château Latour Grand Vin
94 points
nose: a bit tight but then leads into a nice pleasant sweet and effusive nose. Red currants, spice, and earth work away
taste: really nice mouth feel. Nice and supple with cassis, dark fruit, and red currants
overall: very nice and elegant wine. It's still young and needs more time to show what it really has to offer
taste: really nice mouth feel. Nice and supple with cassis, dark fruit, and red currants
overall: very nice and elegant wine. It's still young and needs more time to show what it really has to offer
Red
1995 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
94 points
nose: nice soft and feminine nose that is stereo typical of Lalande. It's filled with floral notes, red licorice, and cedar planks
taste: georgeous mouth. nice and soft with floral notes and some tobbacco
overall: very elegant wine that one would expect of this estate. Lots of polish and the finish is nice and lasting
taste: georgeous mouth. nice and soft with floral notes and some tobbacco
overall: very elegant wine that one would expect of this estate. Lots of polish and the finish is nice and lasting
Red
1996 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
96 points
nose: big and luscious nose that is filled with blueberry, leather, cassis, toasted oak, and earth. it then also gives off some truffle and spice box notes too. extremely deep nose
taste: beautiful amounts of blueberry, black berry, leather, cassis, spicebox, and truffles
overall: just gorgeous, extremely gorgeous. Pure finesse and it leaves you with a beautiful and long finish of bluberry and cassis
taste: beautiful amounts of blueberry, black berry, leather, cassis, spicebox, and truffles
overall: just gorgeous, extremely gorgeous. Pure finesse and it leaves you with a beautiful and long finish of bluberry and cassis
Red
1995 Château Mouton Rothschild
94 points
nose: big jammy nose of toast, smoke, red fruit(cherry being the primary fruit), and mocha
taste: Rich and big, very weighted on the palate. Cranberry, smoke, red fruit, cassis, and a bit of woodyness on the back palate
overall: suprisingly new world in a way. THere are bits that reminds you that you are drinking a bordeaux, but this almost has a aged california cabernet feel to it. It's just so massive, powerful, and weighted and gives off a very long finish
taste: Rich and big, very weighted on the palate. Cranberry, smoke, red fruit, cassis, and a bit of woodyness on the back palate
overall: suprisingly new world in a way. THere are bits that reminds you that you are drinking a bordeaux, but this almost has a aged california cabernet feel to it. It's just so massive, powerful, and weighted and gives off a very long finish
Red
1996 Château Mouton Rothschild
95 points
nose: big heavy and brooding nose that has a ton of power behind it. It's on that verge of being too much, but it's right there in the pocket and filled with tobbacco, cedar, cassis, leather, and a nice jammy red licorice component
taste: big and broad with mocha, cocoa, leather, and earth
overall: there is some serious power behind this and yet, it's firmly balanced. This one still needs time to really come around, but it will be a fun ride when it does
taste: big and broad with mocha, cocoa, leather, and earth
overall: there is some serious power behind this and yet, it's firmly balanced. This one still needs time to really come around, but it will be a fun ride when it does
Flight 4 - table 4 (4 notes)
Red
1995 Château Lafite Rothschild
96 points
nose: elegant yet backwards nose of smoke, minerals, red licorice, and black currant
taste: very smooth and very polished feel with red licorice, minerals, cassis, and a purity of the red fruit that is coming through
overall: extremely elegant and firmly weighted. This is a very beautiful wine that doesn't want to end in your mouth
taste: very smooth and very polished feel with red licorice, minerals, cassis, and a purity of the red fruit that is coming through
overall: extremely elegant and firmly weighted. This is a very beautiful wine that doesn't want to end in your mouth
Red
1996 Château Lafite Rothschild
99 points
nose: extremely deep nose with massive aromatics. Pencil Shavings, Floral notes, Black currant, cedar, spices, and hints of cigar box. This is everything it should be, this nose is just so immensely deep that it's mind boggling
taste: wow, just wow. The flavors are extremely pure and focused with tons of red fruit, pencil shavings, black currant, cigar box, spices, earth, and some floral notes. This is almost overwhelming that's how good this is
overall: this is as close to perfection that I have ever tasted. I have no doubt that this will be a true 100 pt wine once it really comes around in another 15 years. The finish is just amazing, utterly amazing and so complex. Words really can't do this wine justice
taste: wow, just wow. The flavors are extremely pure and focused with tons of red fruit, pencil shavings, black currant, cigar box, spices, earth, and some floral notes. This is almost overwhelming that's how good this is
overall: this is as close to perfection that I have ever tasted. I have no doubt that this will be a true 100 pt wine once it really comes around in another 15 years. The finish is just amazing, utterly amazing and so complex. Words really can't do this wine justice
Red
1995 Château Lynch-Bages
91 points
nose: nice rich nose of dark fruit, tobbacco, black currant, and hints of barnyard
taste: nice balanced nose with dark fruit, black currant, and tobbacco
overall: nice and elegant wine. This is what I expect of lynch-bages and it is very polished at the same time
taste: nice balanced nose with dark fruit, black currant, and tobbacco
overall: nice and elegant wine. This is what I expect of lynch-bages and it is very polished at the same time
Red
1996 Château Lynch-Bages
92 points
nose: nice rich and ripe red fruit nose with tobbacco and cedar
taste: good weight on the palate with some red fruit and tobbacco
overall: nice and polished wine. very classic and enjoyable
taste: good weight on the palate with some red fruit and tobbacco
overall: nice and polished wine. very classic and enjoyable
Flight 5 - table 5 (4 notes)
Red
1995 Château La Mission Haut-Brion
93 points
nose: nice earthy and vegetal nose. pepper, spice, leather, and smoke permeates on the nose. Very nice and rustic nose
taste: spicy feel on the palate with some smoke and mushrooms along with hints of pepper
overall: this is a very nuanced wine that probably still needs time to come out of it's shell. It wants to show you everything it has but is a bit afraid. It has a elegance to it that is very enjoyable
taste: spicy feel on the palate with some smoke and mushrooms along with hints of pepper
overall: this is a very nuanced wine that probably still needs time to come out of it's shell. It wants to show you everything it has but is a bit afraid. It has a elegance to it that is very enjoyable
Red
1996 Château La Mission Haut-Brion
89 points
nose: interesting nose that has a bit of bretty to it with some kirsch, dark plum, and cranberry
taste: there is a good amount of brett on the palate with mushrooms and a lot of barnyard
overall: a very nice wine, but there is some structure that is lacking on this one. Elegant, but just doesn't bring it all to the party
taste: there is a good amount of brett on the palate with mushrooms and a lot of barnyard
overall: a very nice wine, but there is some structure that is lacking on this one. Elegant, but just doesn't bring it all to the party
Red
1995 Château Haut-Brion
96 points
nose: real nice thick and layered nose of smoke, black fruit, spice box, and vanilla bean
taste: real nice long and elegant feel on the palate with chocolate, mocha, dark fruit, and vanilla
overall: just a beautiful wine. Very long and balanced this just takes you to another place and give you a smile from ear to ear
taste: real nice long and elegant feel on the palate with chocolate, mocha, dark fruit, and vanilla
overall: just a beautiful wine. Very long and balanced this just takes you to another place and give you a smile from ear to ear
Red
1996 Château Haut-Brion
91 points
nose: very floral and nuanced nose with mostly red fruit and whisps of smoke
taste: well balanced on the mouth with a lot of floral notes, red fruit, and smoke
overall: a very nice wine but is very atypical from many 96s that I've had. This doesn't have the backwardsness or power behind it that they(the 96s) have had. Nice and polished this is a elegant wine
taste: well balanced on the mouth with a lot of floral notes, red fruit, and smoke
overall: a very nice wine but is very atypical from many 96s that I've had. This doesn't have the backwardsness or power behind it that they(the 96s) have had. Nice and polished this is a elegant wine
Flight 6 - table 6 (2 notes)
Red
1995 Château Cheval Blanc
94 points
nose: beautiful aromatics filled with floral notes, mocha, woodhouse smoke, and rose petals
taste: just gorgeous on the mouth. This is like a field of flowers and is accompanied by some cassis and mocha
overall: a beautiful wine that really shows its pedigree. Such an enjoyable and layered wine
taste: just gorgeous on the mouth. This is like a field of flowers and is accompanied by some cassis and mocha
overall: a beautiful wine that really shows its pedigree. Such an enjoyable and layered wine
Red
1996 Château Cheval Blanc
92 points
nose: interesting dark nose with dark plum, black fruit, smoke, black currant, and hints of cedar. I can definitely tell that more cab franc has been used in the blend on this vintage
taste: full and lush with black currant, floral notes, tobbacco, and cedar
overall: very nice wine that is long and elegant. Very interesting wine but doesn't excite as much as the 95
taste: full and lush with black currant, floral notes, tobbacco, and cedar
overall: very nice wine that is long and elegant. Very interesting wine but doesn't excite as much as the 95
Flight 7 - table 7 (6 notes)
Red
1995 Vieux Château Certan
90 points
nose: very nice amounts of floral notes with some saddle leather and cherry
taste: real nice silky feel with tobbacco, leather, cranberry, and floral notes
overall: a very nice and well made wine. Good and silky this has some real nice class to it
taste: real nice silky feel with tobbacco, leather, cranberry, and floral notes
overall: a very nice and well made wine. Good and silky this has some real nice class to it
Red
1996 Vieux Château Certan
88 points
nose: very ripe nose with cranberry, spice, and dark cherry
taste: good solid flavors of cherry, spice, and earth
overall: still pretty tannic and it probably needs to shed some of that baby fat before it really shows us what it has. Still has that good smooth feeling on the palate, but the flavors are a bit simple and nothing really sticking out to open your eyes
taste: good solid flavors of cherry, spice, and earth
overall: still pretty tannic and it probably needs to shed some of that baby fat before it really shows us what it has. Still has that good smooth feeling on the palate, but the flavors are a bit simple and nothing really sticking out to open your eyes
Red
1995 Château Trotanoy
91 points
nose: big and dense with cherry, cranberry, and spices
taste: very nice silky and smooth feel on the palate with cherry, cranberry, spices, and some smoke aspects
overall: a very nice wine. A lot of what I enjoy from Pomerols. Finish is a bit quick though
taste: very nice silky and smooth feel on the palate with cherry, cranberry, spices, and some smoke aspects
overall: a very nice wine. A lot of what I enjoy from Pomerols. Finish is a bit quick though
Red
1996 Château Trotanoy
88 points
nose: interesting dusty nose with some blueberry, red fruit, and minerals
taste: nice flavors of tobbacco, spices, blueberry, and a bit of leather. flavors are a bit muted though
overall: It's a nice solid wine, but nothing really stands out and it. The flavors are a bit muted on the palate and the nose isn't all that deep
taste: nice flavors of tobbacco, spices, blueberry, and a bit of leather. flavors are a bit muted though
overall: It's a nice solid wine, but nothing really stands out and it. The flavors are a bit muted on the palate and the nose isn't all that deep
Red
1995 Château Gazin Pomerol
91 points
nose: nice ripe nose of red fruit, spice, and red currants
taste: nice and smokey with red fruit, red currant, and spice notes
overall: very nice and elegant. All of the fruit and flavors are working well together
taste: nice and smokey with red fruit, red currant, and spice notes
overall: very nice and elegant. All of the fruit and flavors are working well together
Red
1996 Château Gazin Pomerol
90 points
nose: pure nose of dark fruit, licorice, toasted oak, and hints of mocha
taste: really silky and smooth with dark fruit, black currants, and toasted oak notes
overall: very nice. Good weight on the palate and is enjoyable
taste: really silky and smooth with dark fruit, black currants, and toasted oak notes
overall: very nice. Good weight on the palate and is enjoyable
Closing
This was a night that I'll always remember. The 96 Lafite is just a thing of pure beauty and this was easily one of the most fun tastings I've ever been to. As always with HDH the service was top notch and they always put together a great tasting. I can't wait to see what the comparative tasting will be next year