Christie's Smith Haut Lafitte Dinner

Christie's dinner with Alice Cathiard from Smith Haute Lafitte.

• 2000 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Lots of apple, lots of lemon custard with a long, persistent and well-styled finish. Wonderful now, prob better in a few more years.

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• 1989 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut Rosé 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Never had this before. Nicely mature and certainly ripe, but with a fascinating combination of red berry and mushroom hints together in big, beautifully textured package.

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• 2010 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  95% SB, 5% Semillon. Intense grass and grapefruit aromas with lots of concentration. Similar flavors with a touch of tropical fruit and vanilla. Very long, very good length. Needs more time in the cellar.

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• 1997 Domaine Ramonet Montrachet 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru

  Two bottles opened, both from the Charlie Trotter cellar sold a few years back. first was golden and advanced, but nicely drinkable, probably 88 points to start. Second was gloriously concentrated and intense with buckets of ripe fruit and just enough acidity. Bottle was popped-and-poured, then kept getting better and better for 30-40 minutes. Less intense or powerful when re-tasted a few hours later.

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• 2008 Bouchard Père et Fils Chevalier-Montrachet La Cabotte 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Also popped and poured, this expanded and opened over the 30 minutes in glass. Ripe apple and baked apple with some lemon zest. Lots of power, with plenty of structure middle to finish. Very good now for a decade+.

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• 1990 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Bonnes Mares

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

  Very ripe from the start, then a clear descent toward stewiness. This bottle was well stored since release, so it's unlikely a heat damaged bottle.

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• 1990 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru

  Ripe and nicely mature black fruit with good enough balance and overall enjoyment, just still not showing anything I wold characterize as "Musigny."

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• 1990 Hubert Lignier Charmes-Chambertin 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Rockstar spice with appropriately mature red and black cherry throughout. Wonderful concentration, impeccable balance.

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• 2012 Château Smith Haut Lafitte 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Decanted 2 hours before serving. Started with lighter styled black fruit for young Bordeaux, seemingly simple and one dimensional. more air brought out greater concentration and nuance. Well done for the vintage. Needs time.

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• 2005 Château Smith Haut Lafitte 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Also decanted for a few hours before serving, this also kept improving with more time in glass. Black cherry, black plum, dark chocolate and a hint of espresso in a concentrated package. Very good length and power, particularly by the final sip.

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• 1998 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Slightly corked.

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• 1991 Joseph Phelps Insignia 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Didn't come across out-of-place with all Old World wines, this was elegant and styled like the best of Cali cabs from the days of old (mostly 1980s). Wonderful spice and overall balance, nicely fresh, vibrant and energetic for 25 yo Cali Cab blend.

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• 1990 Les Forts de Latour 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Very ripe black fruit, cassis and oak spice aromas. Similarly lush, ripe flavors provide lots of pleasure with good concentration, even if just moderately nuanced. Very good now.

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• 2007 Romano Dal Forno Valpolicella Superiore Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta 90 Points

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Valpolicella Superiore

  Opened a day earlier. Black, bold fruit. Massive fruit dominates the front, then firm tannins middle to finish. No fear of this fading any time soon.

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• 1971 Château Suduiraut

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Not quite as good as another bottle from the same source opened a few months ago. same wonderful aromas of dried stone fruit, but the palate was less complete and a bitter note on finish was slightly pronounced tonight.

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