EWG Bordeaux with Flannery and a couple Champers

Tom Altmayer Graciously hosted us for a night of Champagne and Bordeaux with Flannery steaks for the Eastside Wine Group. Tom also cooked us up some great potatoes and terrific green beans(a personal fav) to balance out the meal. Conrad took care of the grilling which he handled excellently giving the fine meats just the perfect amount of heat.

We got together a terrific line up of Bordeauxs. For me the quartet of 1996's stole the show with each one being very good in its own way. The Pierre Peters Champagne was also a personal high light. The Monbousquets were a disappointment to me showing way too modern in style.

Thanks everyone for a terrific night. Looking forward to the next event.

• 1999 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Blatantly Blanc de Blancs showing doughy citrus with a pure rich character. This had a terrific smooth mouth feel. A lovely Champagne with plenty of time ahead of it. Excellent.

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

• NV Duval-Leroy Champagne Brut

  France, Champagne

  Not normally a favorite of mine but this performed below its usual standards. The usual tart apple profile with good balance but very chunky and rough.

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

• 1996 de Venoge Champagne Brut Sélect Cordon Bleu

  France, Champagne

  Very similar in style to a Duval-Leroy this should plenty of tart green apple character. Pretty good depth and purity. A bright fresh styled wine for shorter term drinking.

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

• 1986 Inglenook Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Cask

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Well aged Cab nose that is woodsy and showing signs of oxidation in the way of truffles and caramel later on. Soft palate that is again woodsy in nature with tannins building later on with air. Unfortunately air did not allow this one to become more expressive. Past it's best days but not gone by any stretch.

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

• 1989 Château La Conseillante

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Nose was on the vegetal side for me. Elegant bright palate that gains some thickness with air. Shows notes of green pepper and tobacco with plenty of grip still. This was nicely balanced but it didn't take to me like it did some of my compatriots. The greenness was too far to the vegetal side for me.

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

• 1996 Château Duhart-Milon

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Wee bit of reductive stink and plenty of tobacco that ultimately made for an interesting expressive nose for me. Nice balanced with a lean styled palate and plenty of tobacco. A more classicly styled Bordeaux. Very good and with a ways to go.

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

• 1996 Château Lynch-Bages

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Overall this still seemed tight but with plenty of power simmering. Very nice balance and classic Bordeaux notes. Would love to try this in another 10 years. Very nice.

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

• 1996 Château Montrose

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  The nose shows pencil lead and tobacco initially and becomes very perfumey later on. Tight and young palate with a classicly lovely finish. Excellent.

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

• 1996 Château Cos d'Estournel

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  Cedary nose leading to a thick rich palate full of baby fat still. Plenty of potential here but a ways from its peak. Very good.

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

• 1999 Château de Fieuzal

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Nose of fresh cut steak with teriyaki sauce. Big broad palate with a thick feel,loads of tannin. Needs time.

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

• 2000 Château Léoville Las Cases

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Nose showing some oak. Classic Bordeaux notes on the palate that is a bit sweet and juicy at this point. A clumsy child, check back in 10 years.

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

• 1998 Château Monbousquet

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Interesting to try this next to the 2003 as this seemed to show some oaky heaviness but it was more relaxed and integrated. Touch of heat on the nose. Still thick and broad this is a more hedonistic styled Bordeaux and not for everyone.

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

• 2003 Château Monbousquet

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Decanted about 7 hours prior to consumption. Very primary still with tons of oak. On the ripe side and the finish is a bit rough. Took about a glass home to try the next night which found the greener cedary type notes peaking thorugh and balancing this some from it's soft dessert like oak characters. Needs plenty of time but will never be a classic Bordeaux.....but not really a Cal Cab bomb either.

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

• 2004 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Big fruity juicy Cab showing plenty of ripeness and sweet fruits. Hard pressed to identify this as Cabernet but a crowd pleasing wine.

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

• 2003 Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  The sugar seems to be integrating quickly on these. This is the 2nd time I've had this in a month and both times I noticed that it wasn't painfully fat 'n sweet as it seemed over a year ago. Fat apricot expression and still strong sugar but closer to being balanced now. Very nice.

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