Bromley Wine Circle does RB 98 and LB 96

Neil H's house, Sarf Bromley, London
Tasted Thursday, November 26, 2009 by king-bing with 877 views

Introduction

An excellent evening with great company. Thanks to Neil especially, and to Mrs H for the excellent food. It was gorgeous.

Flight 1 - White (1 Note)

  • 2006 Château Guiraud Le G 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux

    Oaky nose. Slightly stinky/wee too. Some grapefruit. Very grapefruit palate. Clean and fresh. Nice, but probably a wine-lovers wine – perhaps a bit much for the general public?

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Flight 2 - 1998 Right bank (2 Notes)

I thought Merlots were supposed to be easy drinking!

  • 1998 Clos René 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    Touch of greenness on the nose. A little fruit still poking out. The palate is silky on entry but surprisingly tannic on the finish. Highish acidity, but perhaps a little hollow or dilute in the middle? I kind of preferred this to the Grand Mayne but was in a minority of one.

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  • 1998 Château Grand Mayne 85 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    A little darker in colour. Notable and offputting tinned asparagus nose and some slight dustiness in the background. This was notably chunkier and even more tannic. I found this hard to like – even quite austere. It does start to open up later and some of the stink blew off but then returned. Probably the youngest wine of the night. Needs a lot of time, assuming the fruit will match it.

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Flight 3 - 1996 Left bank - Cru Bourgeois (2 Notes)

  • 1996 Château Lanessan 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

    Quite a mature colour. Slightly muted nose. Some greenness. The palate seems a little dilute but it's certainly drinking better than the first two wines right now. Relatively resolved. Narrower than the first two wines. Decent enough.

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  • 1996 Château Coufran 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

    Deeper and younger colour than the Lanessan. Momre classic cedar/tobacco nose. Cleaner palate though some greenness comes in later. A crisp finish that lifts it above the Lanessan. Not a lot of character as such but a vibrant wine.

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Flight 4 - 1996 Left bank - Cru Classé (2 Notes)

Both the Cru Classés showed their stuff tonight. You could see what you were getting for the extra money. They are getting to be pretty expensive these days though and I think struggle for value. This hasn't stopped my declining interest in claret, but it was good to taste some classic examples.

  • 1996 Château Duhart-Milon 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Big step up. Much classier nose - sophisticated, integrated and expensive. More oomph, power than the cru bourgeois, but retains it's balance, poise and freshness. Nice, but perhaps a sloane ranger – simple, a bit dull, but classy?

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  • 1996 Château Lafon-Rochet 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

    Lovely complex nose that contains some coconut and earth. While the Duhart Milon's refinement put this ahead initially, as the Lafon opens out it just has more to say.

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Flight 5 - Dessert (1 Note)

  • 2001 Château Doisy-Védrines 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Lovely and slightly fat crystalline fruit nose and even a touch of herbaceousness that I rather like. A clean and crisp palate with lovely balance. Doesn't try too hard and is he better for it. Perhaps a little monolithic at this stage. Most enjoyable though.

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