4th Annual Italian Offline Pre-Game - Champagne and Bordeaux

Sweets & Savories, Chicago, USA
Tasted Friday, April 25, 2008 by futronic with 765 views

Introduction

Vintage Champagne and (Mostly) 1st and 2nd growth Bordeaux to kick off our 4th annual Italian offline.

Flight 1 (13 Notes)

  • 1996 Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Grand Cru Le Mesnil 92 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Light-medium gold colour. Aromas of oatmeal biscuit/yeast, cream, lemon, apple, and toasted brioche. Medium-full bodied, crisp, great texture, with nuts, brioche, apple, lemon, oatmeal, and flowers on the palate. Long finish, ~40+s, with more apple, brioche, and nutty notes.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1995 Henriot Champagne Cuvée des Enchanteleurs Brut 88 Points

    France, Champagne

    No formal notes, but I do recall a nice mousse with good citrus notes throughout. Not overly fond of this Champagne, especially in comparison to the 1996 Feuillatte Le Mesnil that preceded it.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1996 Bollinger Champagne R.D. Extra Brut 92 Points

    France, Champagne

    Medium-gold colour. Aromas of minerals, stone, lemon. Very austere. Medium-bodied, with brioche, lemon and pear. Moderate finish, ~30s, with more lemon notes. This is way, way too young. Try again in 5-10 years. This has plenty of upside potential.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1995 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 93 Points

    France, Champagne

    Aromas of caramel, brioche, pear, and lemon. Full-bodied, with caramel, toast, and lemon notes on the palate. Long finish, ~40s, with replays from nose. Painfully young. Leave this wine in the cellar for a long time!

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1988 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 98 Points

    France, Champagne

    Medium-gold colour. Aromas of caramel, jasmine, sherry (typical of Salon), apple, brioche, ginger, and morning dew. Full-bodied, so nuanced and complex, with replays from the nose joined by pear notes. Plenty of ginger and apple on the palate. Long, long finish, ~50s. This is awesome stuff, and is a fantastic example of why I love Salon. This developed significantly over the 3-4 hours it was in my glass. Drink it like a White Burgundy - warmer in temperature and with plenty of air.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1978 Château Haut-Brion 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Medium-ruby colour. Aromas of mesquite/smoke, minerals, cigar box, and dried fruit. Medium-bodied, with herbs/stems, smoke, leather, dried fruit and minerals. Moderate-long finish, ~40s, with minerals and smoke. Otis called it a "smoked" wine, and that's bang on!

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1988 Château Cos d'Estournel 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    Dark ruby colour, almost opaque. Cedar, cherry, plum, and pencil lead aromas lead into the medium-bodied wine. Layered, with pencil lead, cedar, red fruit notes on the palate. Moderate-length finish, ~30-35s, with more red fruit. Very nice.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1985 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Medium-ruby colour with garnet flecks. Aromas of spice, currant, leather, and cigar box. Medium-bodied, very elegant, with smoke, currant, and herbs on the palate. Moderate finish, ~30-35s, with red fruit and spice.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1986 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Medium-dark ruby colour. Aromas of herbs/stems, spice, cigar box. Very reticent on the nose. Medium-full bodied, with herbs/stems, spice, currant, cherry, and mineral notes. Moderate finish, ~30s, with leather and dried fruit notes. This bottle was quite closed and didn't show nearly as well as my previous experience.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1986 Château Gruaud Larose 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Dark ruby colour. Cigar box, cedar, plum, and leather. Medium-bodied with replays from nose. Solid wine, nice elegance to it.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1990 Château Gruaud Larose 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Medium-ruby colour with aromas of cherry, candied fruits, and lots and lots of herbs. Medium-bodied with replays from nose joined by cigar box. Moderate finish, ~30s, with red fruit and stems. I slightly preferred the 1986 served alongside it.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1989 Château La Mission Haut-Brion 98 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Medium-dark ruby colour. Aromas of red licorice, spice, cigar box, mineral, leather, and red fruit. Full-bodied, so complex and layered. Replays from nose. This wine shows impeccable balance. Long, long finish, ~60+s, with cigar box, mineral, leather, and dried fruit notes. Truly fantastic! Red WOTN.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1967 Château Gilette Crème de Tête 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Gold colour. Aromas of caramel, peach, nectarine, vanilla, mineral, and banana. Full-bodied, with rare foie gras and fleur de sel and honeyed fruit notes. Great finish, ~45s, with peach, foie gras, and fleur de sel notes. I liked this better than several others.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

×
×