Mini Offline with Bordeaux and Napa Wines featuring 1996 Poyferre & Mondavi
John's House
Tasted Wednesday, August 10, 2011 by rocknroller with 654 views
Introduction
This offline started with the idea of some nice wines in the $50+ range and the bar was raised as each wine was added to the roster. The highlight for me was the comparison of the 1996 Leoville Poyferre and the 1996 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. Neither wine disappointed!
Flight 1 - Flight 1 (3 Notes)
Flight 2 - Flight 2 (3 Notes)
Flight 3 - Bonus Dessert Wine (1 Note)
Closing
There was certainly a clear distinction between the old world style of both '96 wines and the '03 SHL compared to the younger riper Napa wines. All were very good, but the mature wines were outstanding. It will be great fun to revisit the Napa wines in 10 years to see how they evolve.
My and group WOTN was the Leoville Poyferre, my #2 was the Mondavi Reserve and third was the Altamura.
1996 Château Léoville Poyferré 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien
Very dark red color. This bottle was decanted briefly and then evolved beautifully over several hours. This was a thing of beauty. The nose was wonderfully perfumed, starting off with earth, a bit of funk, creme de cassis, a bit of smoke, and graphite. Soft and plush in the mouth, medium weight, lovely fruit, nice acid, long finish. This was elegant, a wine to just hold in your glass and savor. Clearly hitting its stride now, and showing plenty of future. This just kept getting better. My WOTN by a hair, group WOTN also by a hair. 94+pts.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
1996 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Very dark red color. Pop and pour only, evolvede dramatically over the first 30-60 minutes. Nose starts with earth and also some subtle funk, cassis, mulberry, hints of cedar, later develops some spices and clove, vilet and graphite. The nose is remarkably similar to the '96 Poyferre. Medium body on the palate, bright fruits, cassis, and red currants, dusty minerals, fine grained tannins now, very long finish. This is still outstanding, drinks like mature Bordeaux, and would have benfited from an inital decant of an hour plus, but I wanted to be sure not to over do it. My #2 WOTN.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
2003 Château Smith Haut Lafitte 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Very dark red/purple color. This bottle had significant decanting of 2.5 hr and aeration. Nose is quite funky, loads of earth, cigar, creme de cassis, blackberry, smokey, meaty, develops some florals and adds choclate notes as well. The palate is medium body, actually a tad thin in the middle, gravelly, spice, meaty, black fruited, medium finish. Excellent and should get better over the next five years.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No