Le Gavroche Welcomes Gildas d’Ollone

The evening opened with two champagnes, which I did not take formal notes on.

Fresh Oysters, Sauternes, Horseradish, Crème Frâiche
Roasted Chestnut & Truffle Soup
Albacore Tuna Tartare, Sesame Seeds, Croutons
Champagne Moutardier Rose

Fresh Lobster-Stuffed Squid, Lobster Brandy Sauce
Champagne Boizel Brut

• 2001 Château Bernadotte

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  This is in a nice stage right now, showing mint, rubber, and sour cherry on the mature bordeaux smelling nose. On the palette, a typical '01, dry, sour cherry and black current.

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• 2005 Château Bernadotte

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  This smelled fantastic and very promising, with strong dark fruit, cassis, strawberry jam, and mint on the nose. I was somewhat disappointed as this tasted quite closed and lacking fruit. Flat, sour, and still very tannic. I'd imagine this will show much better with some time

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• 1983 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  This is drinking beautifully right now, and Gildas himself thought this could drink well for another 20 years if stored in a cold cellar. Dark purple in the glass, with a strong nose of spice, sour cherry, cedar, cassis, and black pepper. On the palette, this showed dark plum, current, and pencil shavings. Balanced and well integrated, this was a fantastic experience

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• 1985 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  At it's peak now. While a real delight, this was slightly forgotten sitting next to the '83. More merlot in this than the '83, with a nose of currant, leather, sour plum with a touch of menthol. Tobacco, dark plum, and cedar on the palette. A touch sweet

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• 1975 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Mystery wine #1. This bottle was a real treat. A subtle nose, featuring dark cherry, dust, sour plum and a touch of raisin. Very dry on the palette, tasting of black current, cedar, plum, spice, and a bit of mint. My personal WOTN

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• 2003 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  One of my favorite's of the night, a big wine, with lot's of fruit coming through. A nose of vanilla oak, cassis, and a bit of strawberry jam. On the palette, sweet vanilla, oak, black current, dark berries. Tannins still quite strong, this wine will be great with some time.

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• 2004 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Fairly soft on the nose, next to the '03, which was expected. Tight, with sour current, mushroom, and barnyard notes on the nose. Very dry on the palette, with raisin, current, oak, and plums showing. This is still quite tight, with lots of tannin and acid

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• 1986 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Mystery wine #2. I blindly pegged this as younger than it was, as it is still showing very tannic and acidic. Tight on the nose, smelling of tart plums, raisin, cedar and rubber. On the palette, lots of tannins, dominated by sour cherry and black current. I wish there was more fruit coming through

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• 2006 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Réserve de la Comtesse

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Seems somewhat closed at this point, which was expected. A smokey nose, with cassis, black cherry, and sour plum. Nice dark fruit on the palette, with oak, raisin, spice, and a small touch of vanilla coming through. Lot's of tannin there, would like to revisit this in a few years

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• 2007 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Very young, not showing much in it's current state. Tight and tart on the nose, with aromas of sour cherry and rubber. On the palette this wine shows cherries, black currents, spice, and oak. The aftertaste was the best part of this wine, showing sweet vanilla, cassis, and lots of fruit, which leads me to believe this will come together very nicely with some bottle age.

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• 2003 Château d'Armajan des Ormes

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  A nice way to cap the evening, this was a beautiful gold/copper colour, and drinking quite nicely right now. A very sweet nose, with aromas of peach and pear. An interesting honey/maple syrup palette, with a tart finish.

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