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25 Old Bordeaux grand cru classe - vertical (1920->) and horizontal semi blind wine tasting dinner
Copenhagen (Private)
Tasted November 19, 2021 by Kim Gerner with 123 views
Introduction
A half blind tasting off app. 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from before 1990 (1920-1990) and the rest younger. Despite a few surprises we knew which wines to drink but not when. A further 7 wines were tasted.
Flight 1 (3 notes)
White - Sparkling
2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Warming up - typical Dom Perignon. Lots of coffee and also popcorn/toast.
This wine: Warming up - typical Dom Perignon. Lots of coffee and also popcorn/toast.
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Comment
White
1961 Louis Latour Pouilly-Fuissé
50 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Warming up - as expected way beyond "too old". 100% caramel aromas.
This wine: Warming up - as expected way beyond "too old". 100% caramel aromas.
White
1961 Louis Latour Montagny Blanc
75 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Warming up - wow, not a nice sip, but nevertheless extremely impressive that this wine is still drinkable. Never expected that and it was just at village level. How can that happen for a bottle from 1961? Dominated by toffee aromas and flavours.
This wine: Warming up - wow, not a nice sip, but nevertheless extremely impressive that this wine is still drinkable. Never expected that and it was just at village level. How can that happen for a bottle from 1961? Dominated by toffee aromas and flavours.
Flight 2 (3 notes)
Red
1990 Château Figeac
90 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Garnet color. Still lots of green bell pepper. High acidity. Clearly right bank.
This wine: Garnet color. Still lots of green bell pepper. High acidity. Clearly right bank.
Red
1952 Château Cheval Blanc
85 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Pretty rich. High acidity and the alcohol feels a little high too, which disturbs the balance a little. A good bottle but not more than that. Clearly right bank.
This wine: Pretty rich. High acidity and the alcohol feels a little high too, which disturbs the balance a little. A good bottle but not more than that. Clearly right bank.
Red
1975 Château Figeac
80 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Not as good as 1990. Feels very old, too old but still drinkable. A hint of green pepper is left. It is also a little bit corked which is probably the reason for the lower quality level especially taking into account the other much higher ratings of this vintage.
This wine: Not as good as 1990. Feels very old, too old but still drinkable. A hint of green pepper is left. It is also a little bit corked which is probably the reason for the lower quality level especially taking into account the other much higher ratings of this vintage.
Flight 3 (3 notes)
Red
1955 Château Calon-Ségur
80 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Garnet color. still notes of green pepper. medium+ acidity.
This wine: Garnet color. still notes of green pepper. medium+ acidity.
Red
1920 Château Haut-Brion
80 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: No doubt this is a very old wine - 100 years... Deep garnet color and unclear appearance, extremely dusty aromas/flavours, caramel notes but surprisingly also still green bell pepper notes! The wine is till drinkable but has definitely past it's best and balances between "below average" and "good".
This wine: No doubt this is a very old wine - 100 years... Deep garnet color and unclear appearance, extremely dusty aromas/flavours, caramel notes but surprisingly also still green bell pepper notes! The wine is till drinkable but has definitely past it's best and balances between "below average" and "good".
Red
1943 Château Latour-Martillac
50 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Vinegar, Much too old.
This wine: Vinegar, Much too old.
Flight 4 (3 notes)
Red
2008 Château Mouton Rothschild
92 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Ruby color. aromas of black currant, green pepper, toast, cedar. High acidity and tannin. Oak not yest integrated at all. Rating based on performance right now.
This wine: Ruby color. aromas of black currant, green pepper, toast, cedar. High acidity and tannin. Oak not yest integrated at all. Rating based on performance right now.
Red
2008 Château Certan-Marzelle
88 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Ruby color. High acidity and tannin. Clearly Merlot based
->right bank.
This wine: Ruby color. High acidity and tannin. Clearly Merlot based
->right bank.
Red
2008 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
90 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Ruby color. High Tannin. No further notes taken.
This wine: Ruby color. High Tannin. No further notes taken.
Flight 5 (3 notes)
Red
1988 Château Margaux
92 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Ruby color. Still high tannin.
This wine: Ruby color. Still high tannin.
Red
1982 Château Giscours
flawed
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Garnet color. green bell pepper and cedar. Corked, not drinkable. Clearly left bank.
This wine: Garnet color. green bell pepper and cedar. Corked, not drinkable. Clearly left bank.
Red
1978 Château Giscours
92 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: In perfect shape and not corked as 1982. Garnet color. Tertiarý notes including tobacco and lot's of green pepper. High tannin.
This wine: In perfect shape and not corked as 1982. Garnet color. Tertiarý notes including tobacco and lot's of green pepper. High tannin.
Flight 6 (3 notes)
Red
1961 Château Pontet-Canet
90 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Better than 1962 vintage. Almost tawny color. Very tertiary, aromas of mushroom, farmyard, formaldehyde. Still a note of green pepper after so many years: Otherwise "dusty" aromas and almost no fruit.
This wine: Better than 1962 vintage. Almost tawny color. Very tertiary, aromas of mushroom, farmyard, formaldehyde. Still a note of green pepper after so many years: Otherwise "dusty" aromas and almost no fruit.
Red
1962 Château Pontet-Canet
88 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Not as good as 1961. Pale tawny. Tertiary but still green pepper. High tannin.
(later on the evening we also tasted a magnum of same vintage - still blind! It was slightly better. I rated the magnum 89: Pale ruby color but with a light rim. (clearly less developed than the bottle which was tawny). Unfortunately a little corked but still worth 89.)
This wine: Not as good as 1961. Pale tawny. Tertiary but still green pepper. High tannin.
(later on the evening we also tasted a magnum of same vintage - still blind! It was slightly better. I rated the magnum 89: Pale ruby color but with a light rim. (clearly less developed than the bottle which was tawny). Unfortunately a little corked but still worth 89.)
Red
1970 Château Latour à Pomerol
90 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Deep garnet color. Dusty aromas and clearly mint.
This wine: Deep garnet color. Dusty aromas and clearly mint.
Flight 7 (3 notes)
Red
2020 Njord Pinot Noir Précoce
90 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Clearly an outsider of this tasting... Very juicy. As always NJOR is worth drinking.
This wine: Clearly an outsider of this tasting... Very juicy. As always NJOR is worth drinking.
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Comments (2)
Red
1979 Château Lafite Rothschild
91 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Tawny color. Chateau Lafite usually has the lighest color of the five 1.crus in Bordeaux. Compared to Chateau Palmer 1979 the colors are the same. Ruby color. still aromas of green pepper. High tannin but less than Palmer. I scored both wines 91.
This wine: Tawny color. Chateau Lafite usually has the lighest color of the five 1.crus in Bordeaux. Compared to Chateau Palmer 1979 the colors are the same. Ruby color. still aromas of green pepper. High tannin but less than Palmer. I scored both wines 91.
Red
1979 Château Palmer
91 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Among others tasted against Chateau Lafite. Lafite usually has the lighest color of the five 1.crus in Bordeaux. Compared to Chateau Palmer (both 1979) the colors are the same. Ruby color. still aromas of green pepper. High tannin and a little more than Lafite. I scored both wines 91.
This wine: Among others tasted against Chateau Lafite. Lafite usually has the lighest color of the five 1.crus in Bordeaux. Compared to Chateau Palmer (both 1979) the colors are the same. Ruby color. still aromas of green pepper. High tannin and a little more than Lafite. I scored both wines 91.
Flight 8 (3 notes)
Red
2016 Roc de Cambes
90 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Deep purple color. Of course much too young at the moment. Very nice on the nose. Notes of acetone. The palate is still to intense.
This wine: Deep purple color. Of course much too young at the moment. Very nice on the nose. Notes of acetone. The palate is still to intense.
Red
2014 Château Cheval Blanc
89 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Ruby color. Clearly cab note of green pepper. High tannin. Not that interesting at the moment
This wine: Ruby color. Clearly cab note of green pepper. High tannin. Not that interesting at the moment
Red
2016 Château Canon
83 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Medium tannin. This bottle did not live up to the general high ratings. A reason might be that it was bottle no 23 this evening. I did not identify specific faults. No further notes taken.
This wine: Medium tannin. This bottle did not live up to the general high ratings. A reason might be that it was bottle no 23 this evening. I did not identify specific faults. No further notes taken.
1 person found this helpful
Comments (2)
Flight 9 (3 notes)
Red
2012 Château Mouton Rothschild
93 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Deep ruby color. Clearly gren pepper on the nose and palate. High tannin.
This wine: Deep ruby color. Clearly gren pepper on the nose and palate. High tannin.
Red
2006 Château Lynch-Bages
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Deep ruby color. High tannin. No rating noted.
This wine: Deep ruby color. High tannin. No rating noted.
Red
1962 Château Pontet-Canet
89 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Second time we tasted this wine during evening but this time from magnum - still blind! Sligtly better. I rated the magnum 89 and the bottle 88. Pale ruby color but with a light rim. (clearly less developed than the bottle which was tawny). Unfortunately a little corked but still worth 89.
This wine: Second time we tasted this wine during evening but this time from magnum - still blind! Sligtly better. I rated the magnum 89 and the bottle 88. Pale ruby color but with a light rim. (clearly less developed than the bottle which was tawny). Unfortunately a little corked but still worth 89.
Flight 10 (2 notes)
Red
2018 Château Rauzan-Ségla
88 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Deep purple color. Very juicy. Nice aromas but of course too intense on the palate at the moment. Medium+ tannin. This bottle did not live up to the in general high ratings from reviewers. A part of he reason might be that it was bottle no 27 this evening.
This wine: Deep purple color. Very juicy. Nice aromas but of course too intense on the palate at the moment. Medium+ tannin. This bottle did not live up to the in general high ratings from reviewers. A part of he reason might be that it was bottle no 27 this evening.
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Comment
Red
1985 Château Lafite Rothschild
92 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Still green pepper. Tertiary notes (ex. tobacco). Medium tannin. No further notes taken.
This wine: Still green pepper. Tertiary notes (ex. tobacco). Medium tannin. No further notes taken.
Flight 11 (2 notes)
White - Sweet/Dessert
1990 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey
87 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Very concentrated. For my taste it is a little too tertiary. I like it younger. A matter of taste. I have tasted a lot better Sauternes. 1988 is better. I rated that 89
This wine: Very concentrated. For my taste it is a little too tertiary. I like it younger. A matter of taste. I have tasted a lot better Sauternes. 1988 is better. I rated that 89
White - Sweet/Dessert
1998 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey
89 points
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: This vintage is better than 1990 which I rated 87. Pretty concentrated and nice on the nose, but the palate does not live up to the nose. I have tasted a lot better Sauternes.
This wine: This vintage is better than 1990 which I rated 87. Pretty concentrated and nice on the nose, but the palate does not live up to the nose. I have tasted a lot better Sauternes.
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Comment
Flight 12 (1 note)
Red
2018 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir Block 8
A semi blind tasting of 25 right and left bank Grand cru Classé wines ranging from Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Cheval Blanc. 2/3 from 1920-1990 and the rest younger.
This wine: Wine no 31 was an outsider and the last wine of the tasting dinner. Typical style. No rating and further notes.
This wine: Wine no 31 was an outsider and the last wine of the tasting dinner. Typical style. No rating and further notes.