EBLC Does Bordeaux

Had a lovely dinner with roast Lamb and more. Started with 2 white Bordeaux variety blends from Mendocino, the same wine from about a decade apart which was a lot of fun! 2001 is drinking beautifully, 2003 I worry and 2009 was killer as well.

Was so fun tasting these next to each other! I preferred the '05, but I love old wines, some preferred the freshness of the '14

• 2005 Yorkville Cellars Eleanor of Aquitaine Randle Hill Vineyard

  USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands

  The age on this wine has transformed this into a beauty. Honeysuckle, baked apple, cinnamon, tarte tatin notes on this. Medium acidity still holding on and a medium weight. Slightly soft on the palate with a nice floral aspect showing as it opens up. Absolutely no signs of any "green" tones I often get with SB, the Semillon is what shines through on this. Lovely and delicious, I'd suggest you drink up if you have this, can likely live on a bit longer, but I doubt it will get better.
  
  Was tasted along side the '14 of the same wine

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• 2014 Yorkville Cellars Eleanor of Aquitaine Randle Hill Vineyard

  USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands

  Acidity showed through much clearer on the younger version of this wine M+. Tart green apple slight jasmine nose also a good amount of green notes, slight bell pepper or asparagus. M Body, not obvious signs of oak. Not a bad wine, but did not stand out.
  
  Luckily I tasted this next to an '05 of the same wine, if this ages anything like the '05 did hold onto it. The aged version was beautiful and a wine to remember, where this was forgettable. Not bad, just didn't stand out compared to other wines of the same style.

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Nice very light rose, would be great with food

• 2015 Clos Floridene Le Rosé de Floridene

  France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Rosé

  On the nose there was a slight funk that blew off after the first few minutes, not a bad thing, just there. Mainly Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Interesting on the palate, it was a little bit muted, not in your face, but notes of red apple with strawberry and a slight green edge. Also a hint of blood orange with a cranberry note. Elevated acidity with medium body. Nice crisp rose, closer to a white wine than most of the Southern French rose, light crisp and very good.

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All showed well, but the Pichon was just so pretty

• 2001 Château Lagarette Cuvée Cyrus

  France, Bordeaux

  A 100% Cabernet Franc from a biodynamic producer. I got this for next to nothing from WineBid so I wasn't expecting too much but was pleasantly surprised. Slight green pepper note on the nose, but it was very slight and really just added to the wine. Raspberry, boysenberry and a slightly dried herb, possibly sage note also. Medium acidity and tannins that still hold on nicely. No obvious signs of oak. This was out classes by the Pichon Longueville, but held up very well compared to the others. I actual preferred this to the '03 Duhart-Milon which I also brought. Was obviously Cab Franc heavy, but was less rustic than many Loire valet CF's. Great find

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• 2001 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  This was my WOTN. A lot of black fruit on the nose with obvious signs of Graphite and very mineral. Elevated tannins shows this will likely live on another 20+ years. It just carries itself with a level of grace that was beautiful.

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• 2001 Château Haut Ferrand

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Black fruit driven, but still a touch of earth. Medium Tannin, Medium Acid, Round body. I'm not a huge Pomerol fan, but this was a good example of the wines from there.

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Duhart-Milon was somewhat disappointing, I loved the Larrivet-Haut-Brion though!

• 2003 Château Duhart-Milon

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Was a little bit disappointed with this bottle. Drank the last one about 2 years ago and this seems to be in the decline. Not as fresh and taste a little bit overripe bordering on syrupy. Just didn't have the acid structure to balance it out. This tasted older than any of the 2001s. May have been an off bottle, but no obvious notes of a flaw.

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• 2009 Château La Cardonne

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc

  Tasted very young, I think '09s will live for 40+ years, even from many of the lesser known estates. Tight on the palate, tannins are firm, showed a small amount of vanilla and clove. Black fruit also very apparent, with a hint of thyme. Drinking nice now, but likely will show even better in 10 years..

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• 2009 Château Larrivet-Haut-Brion

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  This showed very well tonight. Firm tannins, more red fruit driven than many of the other wines tonight, oak is still showing, possibly a little too much for me, but nice. Also a very nice mineral edge with the acidity to keep it interesting. If the oak levels out a little bit this will be a beauty. Of the 2 '09s tasted this evening I preferred this, but I like red fruit driven Bordeaux...

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• 2012 Château Fonplégade

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Much softer than expected for such a young Bordeaux. Plush with Black and Blue fruit showing. Reminded me more of a new world wine than I would have liked. Not a bad wine, but not how I like my Bordeaux.

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Also finished with a Sauternes and a 10 year old Scotch, no notes taken on either though.