Bordeaux Tasting at Cafe Levain

Tasted Sunday, March 8, 2009 by Mattshank with 816 views

Introduction

Many of us gathered for a wonderful evening of classic Bordeaux wines. We had a good array vintages and appellations. My notes are a little sparse, but given the fast and frenetic pace of the wine pouring I was not able to spend nearly as much time with the wines as preferred. Apparently not all of the wines were decanted which may have also contributed to scores which otherwise might have been higher.

The wines were only rivaled by the tremendous cuisine of Chef Adam at Cafe Levain. The event was a blast and a special thanks to Craig V for putting together another winner event!

Flight 1 - Starter Whites (5 Notes)

Flight 2 - Bordeaux (14 Notes)

  • 1994 Château Montrose 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    Nose: Ink and cigar box with a rustic, old desk drawer aroma (that was unique and enjoyable). Palate: Sour cherry with gravelly mineral hints. This wine has held up well for 14+ years of age.

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  • 1994 Château Angélus 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Nose: Dark fruits with some ink and scorched earth. Palate: Still amazingly youthfull tannins. Dark fruits but tight and closed. I think this wine was not decanted first and could have scored higher with more aeration. I have always liked Angelus.

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  • 1990 Château Lagrange (St. Julien) 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Nose: Not much showing on the nose initially. After some glass air some ink and pencil lead. Palate: Still firm tannins with dark fruits. Softened with air and the ink qualities showed more. A little too subtle for me but certainly one of the better wines of the night.

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  • 1990 Château Brane-Cantenac 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    Nose: Sweet red fruits. Palate: Soft red fruits that were very ripe. Decent wine, but seemed simple in comparison with some of the other star wines of the night. Perhaps if it were earlier in the rotation it might have been more impressive.

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  • 1995 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Nose: Pencil lead aromas. Palate: Soft and accessible now. Dark fruits with a nice finish. Simple but good for 13+ years of age.

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  • 1999 Château Cos d'Estournel 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    Nose: Dark, brooding and a little closed up. Palate: Unlike what the nose promised bright red fruits were evident. Good finish. For me this was showing better than the 2000.

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  • 2001 Château Lynch-Bages 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Nose: Youthfull with pencil lead hints. Palate: A little green and closed but soft tannins and a decent finsh. The 1998 was more to my liking.

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  • 1998 Château Lynch-Bages 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Nose: An almost floral, fresh quality that was unique. Palate: More deep and tannic versus 2001, but the tannins were still soft and accessible. Nice lengthy finish.

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  • 2000 Château Léoville Poyferré 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Nose: Subtle with some inky qualities. Palate: Very soft with the ink qualties showing and dark fruits. Well balanced wine.

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  • 2000 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    Nose: Deep complex aromas of spicy dark fruit and rusted pipe. This was by far the most interesting nose of all the wines. Palate: Deep, dark fruits with perfectly balanced tannins that were refined. Soft, elegant yet persistant finish. Despite the interesting palate the nose was the highlight of this wine. Tied for my WOTN (along with the 2000 Giscours).

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  • 2000 Château Calon-Ségur 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    Nose: Not yielding much. Palate: Very soft and simple and not showing much now. Like some of the wines I went by this one fast given the pace of the tasting.

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  • 2000 Château Giscours 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    Nose: Nice pencil lead and dark fruit aromas with some earth and coffee. Palate: Soft with complex dark fruit, pencil lead, coffee and a very supple and lengthy finish. My WOTN with the 2000 Pavillon Rouge.

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  • 2000 Château Cos d'Estournel 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    Nose: A very pronounced green quality. Palate: Like the nose this showed very green, but the tannins were soft and pleasant. Liked the 1999 much better. Perhaps this is in a closed phase now?

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  • 2000 Château Rauzan-Ségla 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    Nose: Deep pencil lead and earthy aromas. Palate: Soft yet complex with dark fruit, earth components and a fresh, lenghty finish. A very close 2nd for my WOTN.

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Flight 3 - Finisher Wines (3 Notes)

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