1986Cali Cabs and Bordeaux, 1989 Bollinger Grande Annee

Skinner's Loft, Jersey City, NJ
Tasted Thursday, July 9, 2009 by Cheryl with 596 views

Introduction

What a fun night. French cabs that taste like Cali cabs and vice versa. Nights like this always challenge me to hold my wines for longer and not drink them right away. That said, these wines were 23 years young, not old. Everything had some miles to go! Most were popped and pour. The Insignia was in a decanter for an hour or so before we drank it. Skinner's Loft was better than I remember it. A really nice evening.

Flight 1 (7 Notes)

  • 1989 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année

    France, Champagne

    This was nice. Regarding the age, a nice contrast to the younger grower champagnes I had this week. Fine bubbles. Apple, yeast and even some raisin(?) and toasty notes on the nose. On the palate, great acidity, and some apple and pear notes followed through. Nice.

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  • 1986 Château Beychevelle

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Barnyard on the nose and some green herbal notes. Great tannins, drying in the mouth. Herb and tobacco notes, and maybe some black tea. Dark fruits and balanced. I liked it. Not my expectation of Bordeaux. Enjoyable. The only one I brought home.

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  • 1986 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Wow. This wine completely held its own against a tough crowd. There was more funk of the nose of this than the French wines! The palate, however, was much more pleasant. A big wine with lots of dark fruits. and good tanning. This is great now, but no need to drink up. There are years left here. Toward the latter half of the evening, it became softer, with the tannins evening out, but still a young, structured wine. Nice.

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  • 1986 Château Lynch-Bages

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    This wasn't my favorite of the wine and that was because it was the most "traditional" of the French wines. Austere drying tannins and green notes throughout. I recognize it as a nice wine, but not my style at all. OK-

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  • 1986 Carmenet Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, North Coast, Lake County

    This was an easy drinker. More simple compared to a tough crowd, but held its own. It gained more substance as it got more air. Fruit forward. An obvious Cali nose. But by the end of the evening, it was losing some of its beauty. It gained some green tobacco notes and a bit of cucumber, too. OK.

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  • 1986 Joseph Phelps Insignia

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This was really nice, but too young. Pleasant tannin, still young, powerful, some cocoa on the nose, dark fruit, some mint and black pepper. Nice. I liked it. Still a huge wine with lots of time left.

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  • 1986 Château Mouton Rothschild

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Really nice with many, many years to go. Dry and chalky tannins that felt like black tea in the mouth. This may have been too young too open, but it was pleasurable now. I had the 1996 and 2003 and enjoyed them, but this was the best of the three now. Really glad to have had it.

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