San Antonio Wine Geeks do Bordeaux for Veterans Day

Two veterans, one active duty and friends and family. Again, generously hosted by Mike O, who can seemingly be everywhere in the kitchen and still keep up with the wines. Bravo!

• 2007 Larkmead Vineyards LMV Salon 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This was opened a couple days prior and slightly oxidized, but still drinking well. Liquor-like nose with bright red fruits and a little vanilla. Opulent vanilla spice palate with good length adding some toasty oak. Strong depth and complexity, balanced, forward styled Napa cab. 91-93

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• 2000 Abreu Cabernet Sauvignon Madrona Ranch 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Served blind by Ted. Napa straight up with a nose showing a little roasted nuts, bright red fruits (still mostly primary characteristics). Pure red driven fruit on the palate, with some currants adding depth, soft mouth feel with little tannin and lengthy finish adding a mineral/minty edge. Fantastic purity of fruit and soft lush mouthfeel that really coats the palate. At peak now. I really thought this was a valley floor wine, guessed ’04 Mondavi reserve. Oh well. This held it’s own against the big bdx names and was a contender for WOTN. 93-95

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• 1995 Château Haut-Brion 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Served blind and decanted about 6hrs prior to serving. Flamboyant nose initially, complex, with leather, mocha, currants and later with flint and mint. Pipe tobacco, almonds, dried fruit, and mint on the palate. Still rather closed, refined, and a touch austere--as this wine still doesn't quite want to break out of its shell. Still with great poise, complexity and polish, and a fantastic dry tannic finish adding a touch of mocha and leather. Initially guess right bank '95, but later guessed Pauillac after having the true right bank to compare. Even after revealing, this tasted like a Pauillac to me. Needs 10yrs to reach a drinking plateau. 94-96

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• 1995 Château La Conseillante 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Noted as right bank almost immediately, but couldn’t guess the producer. Very round, soft and mature wine showing plenty of leather, dried fruit, and tobacco quality. Really coats the mouth, quite soft and caressing, but enough structure to hold things together. Fantastic texture. A step below the ’90 in depth and complexity. Feminine and elegant. 92-94

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• 1996 Château Léoville Barton Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Lightly corked! Enough to see a great wine underneath but too corked to enjoy....

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• 2001 Château Pavie 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  2hr decant prior. Shy nose, showing a little dust and plum. Very dark fruit profile on the palate—the darkest of the night—showing black currants and plum. Really coats the mouth but plenty of energy and verve and fine polished tannins hanging on the palate for a very long finish. Even a hint of mint/pepper mixed in the complexity. A complete wine, bigger in style, though perfectly balanced. A long way to go until peak. 93-95

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• 2003 Château Léoville Barton 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Splash decanted and consumed 3hrs later as a replacement for the corked '96. Flamboyant nose, slutty, with liquor-like quality, showing blackberries, black currants, a little cassis. Palate is forward and loud, full throttle, with lush ripe fruit flavors, creme de cassis and black currants, with a touch of cedar spice. Coats the mouth and showing big bold tannins. Lengthy fruit filled finish adding mocha. Quite tannic. Polished and seamless, really not showing much heat. Flamboyant and forward, a great wine for vintage, though you need to be in the mood for the style. Still retains it's bdx roots.
  Opened up on night 3, showing pipe tobacco, currants and herbs on the nose. Some menthol mixed into the ripe palate and lengthy leafy tobacco and mocha finish. Much more accessible and expressive while being less monolithic. Bumped a point.

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• 1988 Château Lynch-Bages 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Popped and poured. Initially, not very interesting with typical mature elements—some tobacco, leather, and reds fruits. Developed beautify over the next few hours. Very aromatic nose, with flint, leather, spice, and pipe tobacco. Palate was a little austere, but carried great depth and complexity, with mint, red fruits through on a lengthy gravel driven finish. Certainly on par with the Haut-Brion, well proportioned and balanced. In the discussion for WOTN. Fantastic mature Pauillac that won’t fade any time soon. 92-95

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• 1992 Dominus Estate Napanook Vineyard 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Big surprise here. Served blind and initially guessed Chilean given the strong menthol streak, maybe Heitz vineyard, but finally settled on Pauillac. Fantastic flamboyant nose with mint and currants with hints of coffee. Intoxicating nose. Palate is equally as enthralling, with immense layers of menthol, dried almost floral fruit, and earth. Fantastic energy and verve. Very long complex finish. Shows a ripe cab franc influence. Smooth and seamless, with incredible complexity. A wine at its peak and much better than a recent '96 My WOTN. 94-97

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• 2004 Vieux Château Certan 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Decanted a couple hours prior. Shy nose, some mushroom, plum, and lots of creamy vanilla. Soft round lush mouthfeel, with nice dark fruits and plenty of smooth cream oak that carries through on a medium finish. Disappointing given the pedigree, but certainly young. Probably just needs time. Might be showing a lack of complexity that some have noted in the '04 vintage.

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• 2003 Château Sociando-Mallet 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  My blind, guesses all over the map though some astute bdx drinkers guess Haut-Medoc and '03, though not the same person. Shy nose, with very dark fruit and coffee and black pepper. Palate was smooth, lush and vibrant, showing blackberries and chunky tannins. A little funk coming through in a medium fruit styled finish. Still rather monolithic, and lacking complexity compared to the competition, but so delicious. No green this year.

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• 2003 Château Lascombes 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Hard to believe this is Margaux as it could be from anywhere. Amped up in all respects. Big ripe nose with blackberry and vanilla with a touch of alcohol and even VA? Lush mouth coating palate with tannins you feel in the teeth. Very dark roasted profile. Lengthy toast and mocha finish. I can’t think of an ’03 Margaux that I’ve really loved. Solid in a modern flamboyant style. 89-91

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• 1990 Château d'Yquem 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  From 375ml. A real treat. Alluring seductive note with almonds, caramel, and quite floral. Magic palate, with seamless mouth coating feel, though light and nimble, surprising acidity. Hangs on the palate for a long long time adding some spice box. Fantastic experience with a complexity and depth unequaled by the reds. 94-96

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Wow, what a night. Sadly I missed the ’00 Carbonnieux blanc, just ran out of palate. Not a bad wine in the place and huge scores all around.Definitely one the of greatest wine nights ever. Great to have such generous friends. D’Yquem, Lynch, and Haut-Brion certainly made big impressions….and why didn’t I buy all the ’01 Pavie that was sitting in Costco FOREVER…..live and learn. According to my picture we also drank a Turley?!? Really?
Cheers…will certainly miss this group when I leave San Antonio.