Super Tasting 1 of 6 - Andrew

Langdon Hall, Cambridge, ON
Tasted Saturday, September 15, 2012 by Wine Canuck with 999 views

Introduction

This was an amazing evening. A once in a lifetime opportunity to taste wines together that may I'm sure with never come together in front of me again. It was amazing that all wines showed so well; none corked, only a few that were slight disappointments, but the wines that were supposed to be the best knocked it out of the park tonight which was really important. Such generosity on Andrew's part, thanks again for an unforgettable tasting.

Flight 1 - Champagne in the limo (1 Note)

  • NV Gaston Chiquet Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs d'Aÿ 90 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    I thought this was pretty nice, though ultimately maybe a bit simplistic and overpriced. Not much in the way of formal notes, but nose was pleasant of lemon, cream, biscuit. Palate was a touch short and bitter, but on the plus good crisp acidity that was refreshing.

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Flight 2 - 2 Vintages of Dom (2 Notes)

  • 1988 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 94 Points

    France, Champagne

    This is a lovely vintage of Dom. Nose of caramel, mint, toffee. Palate has impeccable balance with great acidity. the herbal/mint note persists on the palate, but nicely adds to the complexity. Finish has nice length. This is a Dom to seek out and has held up very well at 24 years, with life ahead, though I doubt much improvement.

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  • 1980 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 91 Points

    France, Champagne

    This is showing it's mature, and you certainly have to like mature champagne to appreciate this. Nose somewhat musty, fairly sherried, With slightly browned apples. Palate is nice, but less cut and freshness, with the sherry note taking over a touch which also slightly clipped the finish. This is gracefully sliding downhill.

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Flight 3 - A lone sweet gem (1 Note)

  • 1989 Château d'Yquem 97 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Wow! On first pour huge botrytis and turpentine is evident but both are quite pleasant. This wine earns it's points from it's elegance and huge complexity, not from power. Fruit profile is wild: pineapple, mango, vanilla. What is also remarkable with this wine is the palate; so viscus, but seems to evaporate on the tongue with a great cut of acidity and sugar doesn't dominate whatsoever. Definitely a mushroom and earthy note but I attribute that to the botrytis rather than maturity; this wine is still a baby. Finish is wildly long; still making an appearance minutes after consumption. Best sauternes that has ever graced my lips.

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Flight 4 - Right Bank (3 Notes)

  • 1989 Château La Conseillante 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    Really profound nose that evolved over time. Nicely complex and mature, full of spice. Colour is very light; almost burgundian in appearance. Lovely dark cherry liquor on the nose. Palate still retains some structure with plenty of acid to keep things fresh.

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  • 1989 Château La Fleur de Gay 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    Outclassed when tasted in a flight next to the '89 conseillante and '89 tertre roteboeuf. I found this a bit curious all night. Initially I thought this was the most fruit forward of the flight. Strangely I got a tomato leaf note after an hour. Then it came around to show some coffee and earth which I found more appealing. Nice wine that would stand up nicely on it's own, but was put to shame on this night.

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  • 1989 Tertre Rôteboeuf 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    Very nice wine of real character. So much soy sauce, and beef stock, but really nice and not in an over the hill kind of way at all. Good balanced fruit profile of crushed raspberries. Probably a love it or hate it type of wine, but it works for me. Only drawback in my mind is at age 23 it's not showing the typical aged Bordeaux notes I look for.

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Flight 5 - Graves (5 Notes)

  • 1989 Domaine de Chevalier 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Third time tasted in the last year and it strikes me as a bit different each time. This time: tart red fruit, cranberry, minerally, lean, and a bit tart on the palate, but there's lots to like here. It's honest and great with food. Seemingly less evolved than previous bottles and showing less meat and charcoal.

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  • 1989 Château La Mission Haut-Brion 97 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Wow, this is serious. Just in the early stages of maturity and I'm inclined to think this will improve with time (the structure on the palate supports this assertion). Showing great red currants, graphite, great sense of minerality. Very nicely balanced on the palate with a very long finish. Though a great wine now, I think to my palate I would appreciate it even more in 10 years.

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  • 1989 Château Haut-Brion 99 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Wow! One of the best wines I've ever had. Compared to the 1989 La Mission Haut Brion served next to it this wine is darker; showing more charcoal, and a rustic edge, touches of tobacco, fresh floor, and herbs. Aeromatically this is simply bringing awesome complexity. Palate is dense and plush with plenty of freshness and fruit. Just so unique and complex, really stands apart from the reds of the Medoc.

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  • 1990 Château La Mission Haut-Brion 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Shows a bit more ripeness than the '89 served next to it, also just a bit less complex. Still maintains it's strong sense of crushed rocks and minerals. The lushness is attractive, however, with nice plum notes. This leads to a structured palate leaving more room for development in my opinion. Just starting to poke through and become ready for prime time.

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  • 1990 Château Haut-Brion 100 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    This is the best red wine I've ever had. I love being the contrarian and in a flight with the '89 LMHB, '89HB, '90LMHB I had a preference for this wine. This was probably the most open of the flight. Also undoubtedly the most aromatically complex in this lineup, which always gets me. Just ads a touch of funk to set it apart. Leather, sweat, earth, coffee, meaty. Palate lingers nicely, and is very long. Absolutely love this wine!

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Flight 6 - Left Bank (4 Notes)

  • 1989 Château Palmer 97 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    What a wine! To me, the most classic aged bordeaux nose of the night and the most mature which I love. Nose of tobacco, massive florals, perfumed, red fruit with a nice sweet core. Palate is integrated and fresh with a nice finish. What an awesome profile on this wine. Gorgeous.

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  • 1989 Château Léoville Barton 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    This wine is still relatively primary. Strangely fruit came across as a touch candied initially, but opened up to show blackberry and mushroom which gave it appeal. Definitely outclassed, but would stand alone just fine. Palate retains structure and is a bit drying. Nice overall though.

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  • 1989 Château Montrose 97 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

    What a nose! I could small this all night, so wildly complex. Very exotically spiced with a nice dark cherry fruit profile and some touches of leather. I really love this wine as it send now and I think it was last a long time. I found this not to have too much stink and I think it's on the early side of maturity. So beautiful, so pleasing, I love it.

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  • 1989 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    The bottle we had was, in my opinion, completely closed all night, it was really ungiving. Some crushed rock, oak. Still fully structured and firm on the palate. As per what was tasted it just seemed like this wine is not yet close to ready for prime time, though other notes seem to disagree with this assertion, so I'm uncertain of what is happening here. Based on this bottle I'd guess this could be very nice in 5 - 8 years.

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Closing

In retrospect I have picked up a few insights for my palate; I definitely have a preference for the left bank over the right; graves shows really unique regional style; the best '89s have plenty of life ahead of them; and d'yquem is really remarkable.

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