A small gathering - two perfect wines and questionable 59 Latour

I was invited to a small gathering of four. We really got a chance to spend a lot of time with each wine.

Although this may have not been the best example, I simply can’t justify the current auction price.

• 1979 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Lovely golden color. A hint of oxidative note, caramel, honey, anise, lemon oil and mineral. Excellent concentration, shy fine mousse, bright acidity and mineral. It developed nicely with air gaining weight and freshness but a hint of oxidative note persisted. Considering the current auction price, not a good buy however.

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Always unique and always enjoyable

• 2010 Château d'Yquem Y de Yquem 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux

  Ygrec is always an interesting wine. Although the overall expression is not unlike other dry Sauternes whites, it is always a couple levels above, more complex. Expressive nose of ripe white fruits, apple, pineapple, banana, lanoline, bubble gum, limestone and strong presence of acacia flowers. Big scale wine, chewy palate, a hint of sugar, bright acidity and strong presence of mineral. This is drinking wonderfully in very primary way. Quite big and ripe but remains precise and fresh.

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• 1959 Château Latour Grand Vin 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  My contribution, purchased at auction. Correct appearance but when the capsule was cut, branded star mark at the top of the cork. My heart just dropped but we decided to open. The cork had proper patina. Classic mature Pauillac nose, cassis, cedar, plum, tobacco, leather, mint and eucalyptus. Excellent concentration and freshness, intense dark jammy fruit driven palate impression, still a hint of tannins and lovely long finish. Perhaps the power of suggestion, with about 30 minutes of air, a couple of us are thinking Australian shiraz mixed with mature Bordeaux from less pedigree. Another half hour later, it smells the way it should be, classic mature Pauillac nose with a hint of VA that adds nice complexity. We enjoyed the bottle over three hours and we concluded that the wine is correct. At the end of the night, Paul mentioned that the cork was branded with the correct vintage and chateau. The wine tasted correct, the capsule and the label were also. This is a big mystery and I plan to send a couple pictures to the Chateau. Not the best example but still really exceptional.

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• 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild 100 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Pop and pour, explosive classic Pauillac nose of intense cassis, lead pencil, sweet plum and cedar. With a bit of air, intensely sweet nose of cassis, a hint of licorice, cedar, lead pencil, bell pepper and eucalyptus. Excellent concentration, incredible silky palate, beautifully integrated sweet tannins and lovely seamless long finish. This is a truly sophisticated classic claret with amazingly sweet yet fresh nose and unbelievably sophisticate palate, so intense yet so silky and airy. Perfect harmony and balance. Monumental wine that is still quite young but perfectly enjoyable both intellectually and emotionally. This came from the same source as my last 100 point bottle, reaffirming that a perfectly cellared bottle of the 82 Lafite is as great as Bordeaux can get. Incredible privilege to drink this monumental wine.

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• 1982 Château Lafleur 100 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Pop and pour, the beginning was slightly underwhelming. Incredibly intense jammy black fruit driven nose but seems a bit monolithic with a hint of port. With air, this is one of the kinkiest and most hedonistic Bordeauxs of my life. Intense black fruits, licorice, exotic sweet spices that I have never experienced in Bordeaux, intoxicating wild flowers, truffle and dark chocolate. Unbelievable concentration, unctuous, intense dark fruit driven palate impression, perfectly integrated sweet tannins and the finish that resonates forever. This improved throughout the night, started around 95 pts but in an hour becoming perfect and the last sip being the best! This is one of the kinkiest and most exotic Bordeauxs that you must taste to believe.

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• 1995 Domaine Huet Vouvray Cuvée Constance 93 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  Apricot, honey, raisin and a hint of petrol. Excellent concentration, very dense yellow fruit driven palate impression and medium long finish. I found the overall expression to be a bit too straightforward. Still quite enjoyable.

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Both the 82 Lafite and 82 Lafleur were perfect wines. It was amazing to observe the transformation of the 82 Lafleur. Truly monumental. Truly memorable evening of great wines and great friends.