BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet vertical dinner '68-'76
Azure Restaurant, San Carlos, California
Tasted Thursday, September 6, 2007 by rjonwine@gmail.com with 2,033 views
Introduction
Chris, Jonathan and George:
George pulled another vertical of well-preserved vintage California Cabs, all purchased on release, out of his noted collection of decades old California wine for this special tasting. And Christopher Larson, who flew in from Minneapolis for the Grace Family Vertical that George did a few months ago, joined us again. This time we dined at Azure Restaurant in San Carlos. We had a long, roomy table in the center of the restaurant. An hour or so into the dinner, we were the only diners at the restaurant. Despite the absence of other patrons (who may have been warned about us), however, the food was quite excellent. Definitely worth a return trip.
George organized our tasting of the Georges de Latours in single blind flights of three, beginning with the youngest trio: '74 - '76. All the wines were decanted between 5:15 and 6:15 pm that evening (the dinner started at 7:45 pm). George told us that the winemaker for the '68 through '70 vintages was the legendary André Tchelistcheff, and Tom Selfredge served as winemaker for the '71 through '76 vintages. George had left the original price stickers on many of the wines, so you'll see them in some of the pictures. George also told us he originally bought a case of the '68s, and that they were only the 2nd case of wine he ever bought, for $72 a case. George also told us that small cooperage American oak was used for all of these wines, as that was the winery's practice until 1989. We started off with a couple of older California Chards from George's collection. Toward the end of the evening, Jonathan Dinh shared another treat with us: the '87 Vega Sicilia Unico.
Flight 1 - Old Chard Flight (2 Notes)
Flight 2 - 1st Trio of Georges de Latour - '74-'76 (3 Notes)
Enjoyed with a chicken and foie gras ravioli, with white truffle and brown chicken broth emulsion.
Flight 3 - 2nd Trio of Georges de Latour -'71-'73 (3 Notes)
Each bottle received 3 votes for WOTF, with people indicating a preference for the wines of the prior flight. My course for this flight was a roasted tomato and goat cheese tart, with onion jam balsamic reduction, caramelized pear, mixed green salad with lemon grand mustard vinaigrette.
Flight 4 - 3rd Trio of Georges de Latour -'68-'70 (3 Notes)
My entrée for this flight was the wrapped pancetta pan seared angus filet mignon, with homemade gnocchi, lobster mushroom, potato cake, parmesan crisp and black truffle foie gras sauce.
Flight 5 - Cheese Course flight (2 Notes)
Closing
George, Jonathan and Richard:
1979 Kenwood Chardonnay Beltane Ranch 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
Medium golden color; light sherried and very nutty, cashew and lemon rind nose; palate of tart and sweet dried citrus, lemon and lemon rind, with nice balance; medium-plus finish 90+ pts.
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1978 Grgich Hills Chardonnay 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Amber orange color; sherried, walnut nose; rich, sherried, mulled orange and mineral palate; medium finish
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