Keith's Blind Challenge 2015
The Medlar, London
Tasted Friday, September 11, 2015 by SimonG with 647 views
Flight 1 (22 Notes)
Closing
An embarrassment of riches, and one of those evenings where one is pinching oneself to see of it really happened, only to find there are another dozen top wines to come. Huge thanks to Keith for his generosity in hosting this. Special mention to the Medlar team and Clement for their handling of the event, the 200 plus glasses, the service, and the food — one's always well fed, but this was a sustained high (special mention to the cod's cheeks with girolles). Amongst a number of stunning wines, the 42 Ygay stood out for its richness and complexity, but there were wonderful bottles galore. Hail Malcom!
1996 Philipponnat Champagne Brut Clos des Goisses 91 Points
France, Champagne
Blind. Mid to full straw. Quite an oxidative evolved nose with a touch of aldehyde. Good acidity, nice and bracing despite the evolution. Think this is a Pinot-rich 96 starting to creak. The room seems sceptical about 96 putting it older, but Ray volunteers C de G if that is the vintage, and adds the disgorgement date for good measure. ****
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1994 Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs Brut 84 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region
Blind. Magnum. Significantly paler colour. Quite a lifted floral note on the nose. Light and frothy.a bit inconsequential. No idea where it's from, but not Champagne. **. Apparently a special release for Mandela's inauguration.
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2000 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
Blind. Mid straw. Classy white burgundy nose. Nicely struck match nose. Quite dense but nicely mineral and focused through the mid palate. A touch if mint makes me think this might be a repeat of the 06 Rammonet BBM, but no. **** Not as impressive as the same wine six years ago, though still lovely.
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2011 Sandhi Wines Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard 92 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
Slightly deeper colour. Nose a little more lifted. Denser and noticeably more viscous on the palate. A touch of citrus too. Very grippy mineral with a Coche-line feel. Lovely. ****
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1990 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Blind. Deep straw. Very floral nose. Roses. A slightly off-dry feel to the attack. Very floral, almost Muscat or Gewurtztraminer. Possibly a touch of bruised apple that points to Chenin. No, more herbal with air and apricot stone. Northern Rhone. Needs time in the glass to really open and show its class. ****
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2013 Rall White 90 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region
Blind. Another quite rich Gewurtztraminer-like nose and palate. Quite high alcohol. Something floral and exotic. Grippy mineral finish. Ah, of course, the lift comes from Viognier. ***1/2
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2005 Calera Pinot Noir 30th Anniversary Mills Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Mount Harlan
Blind. Dense, very cherry nose. Opens up with a touch of citrus. Quite sweet-fruited. Very leggy in the glass. Quite distinctive. A savoury sweetness and starting to show some breadth. Lacks a bit of poise and focus cf the glass alongside. ***1/2
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1999 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques 95 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Blind. Dense, smokey nose. Lighter on the palate. Younger Pinot. Classy burgundy. This is the real deal. Plush cherry depth with a bright silky texture. Good vintage Rousseau or Dujac. *****
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1942 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 96 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Blind. Fairly dense garnet. Quite a raisined, meaty quality to the nose. Lovely acidity. Old Rioja from a good vintage. Puts on weight in the glass. 64? More weight than Tondo. A touch of balsamic. Gorgeous and complete. *****
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1990 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Bonnes Mares 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
Blind. Quite fine. Dusty feel to the nose. Floral but very mineral . Classic iron fist etc. very mineral and structured. Serious wine but it does need time. Bonnes Mares? 90 apparently. ***(*1/2?)
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1990 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707 91 Points
Australia, South Australia
Blind. Dense, quite leggy, nicely dense and mineral. Cherry confiture. New world Cab Sauv. Alcoholic and leggy. Dense Coonawara. Not to my taste,but a good wine. ***(*)
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1990 Château Haut-Brion 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Blind. Lovely, bretty, slightly smokey nose. A sweetness too. Quite broad. Really surprised to discover what it is — not nearly as focused and together as a previous bottle. Presumably the Brett. Had guessed 85/78 LMHB. Still lovely, but a shade below previous experience. ****
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1986 Château Mouton Rothschild 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Blind. Dense ruby. Herbaceous. Very left bank. A touch of Brett but more heft and surliness than anything else. 86 and Mouton? It does start to relax but still so dense and unyielding. **(**1/2)?
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1996 Dominus Estate Napanook Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Blind. Sweet nose. Superficial sweetness and then a finely chalky base. Two tiered. Not sure about this. ***? A poor shadow of a couple of previous bottles.
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1999 Noël Verset Cornas 95 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
Blind. Very polished and glossy Syrah. A fresh vegetal edge to it. Somehow combines smoothness with a slightly feral quality (in a classy way!). Plush, dense, long, plenty of interest. Really super wine. *****
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2002 Giaconda Shiraz Warner Vineyard 94 Points
Australia, Victoria, North East, Beechworth
Blind. Denser and darker. Very classy Syrah. A touch of sweetness but great poise and line. Keith mentions it did well in a tasting a few years back, so must be 02 Giaconda Warner. Starts to tighten a little wth air. A class act that still needs time. ****1/2
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1997 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Blind. Full garnet. Quite mellow. Very smooth and nuanced. Lots of interest here though not the depth or complexity for top flight. Delicious. Rounded with bright red fruit and some lift. ****
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2010 Lagier Meredith Syrah 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder
Blind. Very dark. Sweet and dense with a minty lift. A touch of wet soil too. A bit too much after the class that's preceded it. Probably well made but not my thing. ***?
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2010 Mullineux Syrah Schist 93 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland
Blind. Dense dark red. A slightly pruney and quite evolved feel to it. Dense. Lots here; plush and classy. A touch tighter and a little less opulent than two years ago. ****
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2005 Le Macchiole Scrio Toscana IGT 86 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Blind. Young. Vibrant vanilla. De trop. (***)?
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1988 Château Climens 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
Blind. Lovely light amber colour. Lovely nose of marmalade and orange blossom. Sweet. Good spine of acidity and nice shape. Classic line. I think this is 88 and probably Climens. ****1/2
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2001 Château Climens 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
Blind. Similar light Amber. Sweet, marmalade, but a touch more exotic with hints of lavender too. More medicinal too. Too exotic? ****
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