Medium lemon gold. Starts out almost like a mature austrian riesling with resin, turpentine and hints of diesel and saffron (a little botrytis). Quite full-bodied taste with medium acidity and present alcohol, obviously not a riesling, the balance says mature white bordeaux, the botrytis says dry Sauternes. Ygrec? No real harmony in the beginning, but there's great change and improvement over the following hours, and it becomes much more graceful and shows more of the saffron notes.
Orange golden hue. Lots of saffron on the nose, with dried and fresh apricots, plus hints of lobster, crayfish, sea-spray and dill. Silky smooth and harmonious, rich yet fresh, wide open, not at all heavy or the least bitter. Beautiful wine, and it could only be a dry Sauternes. Ygrec? Probably 80s but what vintage? A few notches better than the '85 in the other glass, this is less alcoholic and shows more harmony and better drinkability. Superb pairing with a creamy crayfish soup.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
Stemmy nose, somewhat herbal, with red currants, red plums and discreet oriental spice. Enjoyable taste with small melted tannins and some red fruit left, which is slighty plump and also slightly green. Old merlot or old pinot? Moderate concentration and length, nice drinkability, not over the hill.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Smoky pyrazines, plump fruit, warmth and green in equal measures, chocolate, cedar and burnt rubber on the nose. Has to be a South-African from the 90s, hasn't it? Luckily it improves with air and finds its way back to Bordeaux, but a great wine it isn't.
A full-bodied cabernet (blend?) with large sweet fruit, big ripe tannins, perfectly integrated oak, and elevated alcohol. Obviously not french, it has New World in general and Napa in particular written on its forehead. But which producer? It has freshness and a certain amount of elegance despite its size. A mountain wine? Seems to be approximately ten to twelve years old. Really enjoyable with the tournedos, and easily finished. The label says Pahlmeyer, Napa Valley, cabernet, merlot, petit verdot, cab franc, and malbec. 14.7% ABV.
A healthy lighter brownish red, with brick rim. Fully developed nose, wide open, very left-bank, elegant herbs & spice-tray, cigar-box and potpourri, tomato stems, rust and iodine, you could savour it for days. Medium-bodied and fresh, very elegant and smooth, more Margaux than Pauillac, highly drinkable. Why don't they do Bordeaux like this anymore? Alive and kicking for 45 minutes at least (ullage was medium shoulder).
Still painfully young compared to the wide open '68 Latour in the other glass. Not really a nose wine today - even if its poured in a huge glass - this is more about structure and balance, if not real length. A complete wine, on a medium frame. Fully recognisable from the Mouton-vertical last month, but it was more fun then. Keep/hold.
Compared to the '68 in the other glass, this is less brilliant and shows more of the dark and murky side of port. It has a volatile nose, with typical hints of eucalyptus and lavender. It's a bit heavy on the balance, more rustic, not all clean.
Transparent, golden red hue with a fine-grained sediment in the glass. High-toned nose with beautiful sweet raspberry aromas - not unlike an top banyuls. Equally elegant and youthful on the palate, this harmonious '68 drinks like a charm and will keep for decades.
2002 Pommery Champagne Cuvée Louise Brut 90 Points
France, Champagne
Tasted blind, lots of red apples and chalk, appeared to be pinot-dominated, equally broad and structured, good if not great.
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2004 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année 93 Points
France, Champagne
Light gold, rich nose, youthful mousse, abundant flavour, great balance.
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1985 Lur-Saluces "Y" 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur
Medium lemon gold. Starts out almost like a mature austrian riesling with resin, turpentine and hints of diesel and saffron (a little botrytis). Quite full-bodied taste with medium acidity and present alcohol, obviously not a riesling, the balance says mature white bordeaux, the botrytis says dry Sauternes. Ygrec? No real harmony in the beginning, but there's great change and improvement over the following hours, and it becomes much more graceful and shows more of the saffron notes.
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1979 Lur-Saluces "Y" 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur
Orange golden hue. Lots of saffron on the nose, with dried and fresh apricots, plus hints of lobster, crayfish, sea-spray and dill. Silky smooth and harmonious, rich yet fresh, wide open, not at all heavy or the least bitter. Beautiful wine, and it could only be a dry Sauternes. Ygrec? Probably 80s but what vintage? A few notches better than the '85 in the other glass, this is less alcoholic and shows more harmony and better drinkability. Superb pairing with a creamy crayfish soup.
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1978 Misserey Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Cailles 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
Stemmy nose, somewhat herbal, with red currants, red plums and discreet oriental spice. Enjoyable taste with small melted tannins and some red fruit left, which is slighty plump and also slightly green. Old merlot or old pinot? Moderate concentration and length, nice drinkability, not over the hill.
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1990 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière 87 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Smoky pyrazines, plump fruit, warmth and green in equal measures, chocolate, cedar and burnt rubber on the nose. Has to be a South-African from the 90s, hasn't it? Luckily it improves with air and finds its way back to Bordeaux, but a great wine it isn't.
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1997 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
A full-bodied cabernet (blend?) with large sweet fruit, big ripe tannins, perfectly integrated oak, and elevated alcohol. Obviously not french, it has New World in general and Napa in particular written on its forehead. But which producer? It has freshness and a certain amount of elegance despite its size. A mountain wine? Seems to be approximately ten to twelve years old. Really enjoyable with the tournedos, and easily finished. The label says Pahlmeyer, Napa Valley, cabernet, merlot, petit verdot, cab franc, and malbec. 14.7% ABV.
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1968 Château Latour Grand Vin 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
A healthy lighter brownish red, with brick rim. Fully developed nose, wide open, very left-bank, elegant herbs & spice-tray, cigar-box and potpourri, tomato stems, rust and iodine, you could savour it for days. Medium-bodied and fresh, very elegant and smooth, more Margaux than Pauillac, highly drinkable. Why don't they do Bordeaux like this anymore? Alive and kicking for 45 minutes at least (ullage was medium shoulder).
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1998 Château Mouton Rothschild 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Still painfully young compared to the wide open '68 Latour in the other glass. Not really a nose wine today - even if its poured in a huge glass - this is more about structure and balance, if not real length. A complete wine, on a medium frame. Fully recognisable from the Mouton-vertical last month, but it was more fun then. Keep/hold.
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1961 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage Quinta de Vargellas 88 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Compared to the '68 in the other glass, this is less brilliant and shows more of the dark and murky side of port. It has a volatile nose, with typical hints of eucalyptus and lavender. It's a bit heavy on the balance, more rustic, not all clean.
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1968 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage Quinta de Vargellas 95 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Transparent, golden red hue with a fine-grained sediment in the glass. High-toned nose with beautiful sweet raspberry aromas - not unlike an top banyuls. Equally elegant and youthful on the palate, this harmonious '68 drinks like a charm and will keep for decades.
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