Dinner with Charles M - 06 CdC, 86 Mouton, 86 Lafite and etc.

Three of us got together to drink a few nice bottles. It was fun to compare the 86 Mouton VS Lafite.

I really love the 06 CdC.

• 2006 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 97 Points

  France, Champagne

  Another excellent showing. Energetic nose displaying decadent yet fresh white and yellow fruit, lemon curd, fresh apple juice, pear, a hint of smoke, saline, candied ginger and limestone. Excellent concentration, very fine mousse, energetic and polished, sweet white fruit, bright acidity and a long clean mineral driven finish. Though youthful, drinking beautifully.
  
  I remember how enthusiastic I was about the 02 Dom upon release. I also remember there were so many naysayers. The great wines can often seem elegant and harmonious without boasting/emphasizing excellent concentration. If this develops anything like the 96 or 02, it will need another ten years minimum to reach the youthful peak. I am loving it!

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The 14 l'Enfer was richer and more coiled expected. The 09 Beaucastel VV was singing.

• 2014 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu Les Chaillées de l'Enfer 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

  Surprisingly subtle nose displaying lychee, lilac, pineapple, honey, sweet spices, almond paste and mineral. Excellent concentration, dense and oily without being cloying due to the bright acidity, strong mineral presence and a long honey and lychee driven finish. The nose expression is a bit deeper than expected. Will go well with scallop or snapper in butter/cream based sauce.

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• 2009 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes 97 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Intense ripe tropical fruit driven nose, papaya, guava, pineapple, yellow peach, candied orange peel, sweet spices, honey and mineral. Excellent concentration, sweet yellow fruit driven palate impression, medium acidity, good mineral presence and a long sweet spices and papaya driven finish. This has come together beautifully. I think this will age gracefully gaining lanoline and perhaps cremes brulee.

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Both showed well.

• 1986 Château Mouton Rothschild 98 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Unbelievably intense youthful nose displaying cremes de cassis, blueberry concentrate, ink, liquid smoke, incense, lavender, bitter chocolate, caramel, lead pencil and cedar. There is a hint of old barrel smell that makes the nose from being perfect. Once again, incredible concentration, unctuous, yet unbelievably layered polished fruit gives exceptional silkiness, intense cassis and caramel driven palate impression, bright acidity, tannins are completed masked by opulent fruit and a long intense cassis and liquid smoke driven finish. A slight hint of the old barrel/dirty smell prevents from perfectly pure hence my rating. Another incredible showing. For my palate, this has been showing beautifully for the past few years. It is fascinating exercise to compare with the 86 Mouton. Although both wines are incredible concentrated and formidably structured, the 86 Mouton shows incredible opulence where the 86 Lafite displays sheer elegance and sophistication.

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• 1986 Château Lafite Rothschild 97 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Slightly more mature nose than usual showing more red fruit, red currant and cherry, and less crème de cassis. Also cedar, lead pencil, a hint of leather, tobacco and caramel. Beautifully integrated palate, exquisite balance, silky and polished, red fruit and cedar driven palate impression, nicely integrated tannins and a seamless long finish. Drinking beautifully but slightly lacking the intensity that I am used to. It is fascinating exercise to drink with the 86 Mouton. Although both wines are incredible concentrated and formidably structured, the 86 Mouton shows incredible opulence where the 86 Lafite displays sheer elegance and sophistication.

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A great time was had by all.