Commanderie de Bordeaux: Spring Parlement - Pauillac First Growths

Minneapolis Club, Mpls, MN
Tasted Thursday, April 2, 2026 by rocknroller with 44 views

Introduction

This was the Spring Parlement and Induction of new members event. We had a group of 29 at the Minneapolis Club for the evening. The continuing theme for the year of Left Bank. Tonight's appellation is Pauillac, featuring the first growths.

Flight 1 - Reception Champagne (1 Note)

  • 2016 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Extra Brut 92 Points

    France, Champagne

    Light gold color. Drank a glass over 40 minutes. Taut and fairly mineral driven, white fruits, apple, apple peel, chalk, and lemon peel. Needs a little time yet IMO. 91+ to 92pts.

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Flight 2 - White (1 Note)

  • 2020 Château Mouton Rothschild Aile D'Argent Blanc 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux

    Light gold plus color. Drank a glass over 90 minutes. 34% Semillon, 52% Sauvignon Blanc 14% Sauvignon Gris, 50% new french oak. Tangerine, citrus, loads of oak and nuttiness on the nose. The palate is quite rich and opulent, tangerine, tart lemon, grapefruit pith, some bitters, with plenty of dry extract on an oily texture, with nuts and a lot oak showing. Quite a bold wine that really needs to integrate that oak treatment further. While this is good now, my hunch is this will show much better in 2-3 years or so.

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Flight 3 - Mouton Flight (2 Notes)

  • 2001 Château Mouton Rothschild 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Very dark red color. Splash double decanted and slow-O'd for about 2.5 hours. Drank a glass over 3 hours. In a flight of 2001 and 2003 Mouton. One of the highlights of the evening, and arguably the best nose of the night, this was impressive from the outset. The palate was very good as well, but did not resonate quite at the level of the nose. That said, the nose carried this to some impressive heights. Gorgeous perfume of leather, sandalwood, funk, saddle, brooding dark fruits, vinyl, and Asian spices. The palate shows that same brooding dark fruit, cassis, black cherry, oak, leather, and hints of tobacco while the oak and tannins are still showing a little edge. Long and showing good power, this feels like it is just coming into its own. 94+ to 95pts.

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  • 2003 Château Mouton Rothschild 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Very dark red/purple color. Splash double decanted and slow-O'd for about 2.5 hours. Drank a glass over 3 hours. In a flight of 2001 and 2003 Mouton. Eucalyptus, notable Asian spices, cassis, purple flowers on a powerful nose. The palate is full bodied, dense, eucalyptus, creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, black raspberry, oak, with a bit of heat coming through. The tannins are fairly soft here. Later in the evening this shows some baked fruit character. This wasn't as impressive as a bottle we had in February at the Dallas event.

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Flight 4 - Lafite Flight (2 Notes)

  • 2000 Château Lafite Rothschild 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Very dark red/purple color. Splash double decanted and slow-O'd for about 2.5 hours. Drank a glass over 3 hours. In a flight of 2000 and 2012 Lafite. Our bottle was quite good, but not blow you away good - and it was building through the evening. That said, another table felt their bottle was stunning. The consensus at our table was excellent with even more potential, but still quite youthful and in need of more time and/or a very healthy decant presently. What stands out is the purity of the fruit, just gorgeous cassis notes, focused and long, leather, juicy fruits, high toned with raspberries and chocolate raspberry truffle on the nose. The palate is full and decadent, juicy cassis, leather, graphite, dense and primary with plush tannins and good length. Loved it, yet it is barely getting started. Kept getting better. 95 to 96(++)pts.

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  • 2012 Château Lafite Rothschild

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Very dark red/purple color. Splash double decanted and slow-O'd for about 2.5 hours. Drank a glass over 3 hours. In a flight of 2000 and 2012 Lafite. This came off too young for me tonight. The nose was mostly closed and showing a lot of oak. The palate shows nice structure, round tannins, oak, more purple fruits, somewhat astringent, with youthful green streak to it. Judgement reserved tonight.

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Flight 5 - Latour Flight (2 Notes)

  • 1970 Château Latour Grand Vin 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Very dark red color. Splash double decanted and recorked. Drank a glass over 2 hours. In a flight of 1970 and 2001 Latour. Showing so well, smoke, tobacco leaf, dark fruits, cassis, dried spice, damp earth, menthol, and dried tobacco. The tannins are satiny and still rather robust at this point. The finesse is there along with a lot of power too. While the JG window is a bit much, I understand the premise. This comes off much younger than the 56 years it has under its belt already, and it certainly has the stuffing to go for a long time.

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  • 2001 Château Latour Grand Vin 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Very dark red/purple color. Splash double decanted and slow-O'd for about 2.5 hours. Drank a glass over 2 hours. In a flight of 1970 and 2001 Latour. Not even close to as open as the '01 Mouton was tonight. This was more woodsy, powerful, spicy, dark, and firm in its presentation. More iron fist tonight without so much velvet glove.

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Flight 6 - White - Cheese (1 Note)

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