Hawksmoor Guildhall
Tasted Monday, December 19, 2022 by NickA with 193 views
Served fully blind, as a nice surprise. I guessed early 2000s Californian Cabernet. Turned out that the green Chilean note one diner spotted was indeed on the right track. 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot. Perfectly mature for my taste, with a nose of soft pipe tobacco, dry cigar, liquorice, something gorsey and spiky (presumably the aforementioned green note) and a touch of vanilla. The palate was quite plummy and very soft, with some pyrazine and chocolate mint towards the finish. Delicious, and a useful counterpoint to one's prejudices.
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Terribly corked!
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Old, plummy nose that nevertheless wasn't at all over the hill. Sweet and juicy on the palate, with clean, refreshing red fruit and a touch of old library. Time to drink up, but very enjoyable tonight.
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Pretty mature and muted, though still alive. Unassuming and pleasant, sweetish with cassis, smooth and felt as though it didn't have much more to give. I think others liked this more than I.
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Absolutely smashing wine, and the start of a tremendous flight (that, happily, was served with the main course of food). Very earthy and refreshing, full of red fruit on the midpalate and then moving to a tangy, darker-toned finish. So well-formed, just lovely. Group #2, just pipping the '98.
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Proper Claret, and an easy match for its flight-mates. Very deep, dark and grown-up in feel, a touch of leather, yet silky and open for business. An underlying cool poise - no trace of heat despite the depth of the wine. Group #3 tonight.
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This is such a good wine. Delicious sweet red fruit, some savour, just a touch of pyrazine for interest. So much ease and class that you almost overlook the vitality. Last year's bottle was slightly more complex, perhaps, but this had a sense of completeness that that one lacked. Gold star as well for providing one of my favourite food matches: it's not innovative, but this plus Hawksmoor steak was absolutely divine. Unanimous group WOTN.
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Lovely bottle, although not quite as exciting as another a couple of years ago (tough to follow the PLL '89, perhaps). Good depth, classic pencil-lead notes, sensual and fairly full-bodied with some grip on the finish.
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Was really looking forward to this, as it was excellent when I last drank it, but alas it was sufficiently corked that the lovely wine underneath couldn't really be enjoyed.
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Some thought this flawed, and while I agree the bottle wasn't completely correct (swimming pool isn't a desired part of the nose of second growth Claret) I did find something to enjoy: it was soft and truffley, with good acidity and some pine needle, and I happily finished my glass.
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Despite (at least) a couple of off bottles, the performance of the others made for a splendid evening - as did the Sazeracs at the bar afterwards
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2008 Taittinger Champagne Brut Millésimé 93 Points
France, Champagne
Really lovely - surprisingly so, in fact - airy and lactic, with white flowers, honeycomb and lemon curd. Quite a bit of fizz despite the flavours being fairly evolved, and grippy on the finish with a note of toffee yoghurt. Mmm!
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