First Offline of the Decade

Boca Raton, FL
Tasted Saturday, January 16, 2010 by vinole with 739 views

Introduction

We met at Bistro Provence, many meeting for the first time. A great selection of wines and a really fun crowd to be with.

Flight 1 (11 Notes)

  • 1997 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Lush and rich, the Semillon was dominant here. Medium body and acidity with citrus and melon fruit. Expected this to be over the hill, but it was drinking nicely.

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  • 2005 Olivier Leflaive Chassagne-Montrachet 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet

    An elegant chardonnay with apple and lemon fruit, medium body and acidity and a long (30+ sec) finish. Textbook white Burgundy.

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  • 2007 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel 92 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    The wine has an Old World frame with ample levels of earth and acidity, but its origin kicks in with rich and ripe blackberry fruit that even has a hint of sweetness on the finish.

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  • 2002 Château Vieux Clos St. Émilion 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

    This wine was a big surprise for me, given the vintage and the competition of the evening. A New World styled St Emilion, with little earth, lower in acidity, and lush currant fruit. Drinking at its peak right now and a great value.

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  • 2004 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Currant, plum, and cherry fruit, with higher acidity than most Napa cabs, and still some tannin to resolve, but still was smooth and drank well. Will likely improve in the future.

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  • 2005 L'Aventure Optimus 90 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    Ripe dark fruit and some obvious oak on a full bodied frame. Seemed a little overripe compared to the other wines at the tasting. Had this wine previously, and I preferred it more last time. Also prefer the 04 to this vintage.

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  • 1987 Dominus Estate 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This is not Bordeaux? If drinking blind, I would have immediately guessed that. Lots of earthiness, dark fruit of currants and black cherry, with silky tannins, and plenty of acidity to create the Old World style. Drank fabulous on this night.

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  • 1989 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    A very reserved Bordeaux that features elegance. It is surprisingly light bodied and the finish is shorter than expected. It did pick up some weight about an hour after it was opened (this was not decanted as we ran out of decanters). It displayed a lovely complex and balanced palate, just in a somewhat muted way. An academic wine rather than a hedonistic one.

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  • 1988 Château Cos d'Estournel 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

    A fairly big Bordeaux, medium to full bodied, with just a touch of earth, and the typical somewhat hard dark fruit of St Estephe, with notes of graphite and a mineral edge. A very nice classic Bordeaux that is probably at its peak right now

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  • 2004 Costers del Siurana Priorat Clos de L'Obac 92 Points

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    This tasted better right after opening rather than after 1.5 hours of decanting and then 2 hours in an open bottle (about 90 pts at the tasting). Full bodied dark cherry and currant fruit, and medium to high acidity. There was some heat on the long finish. Had some left over the next day and it was much better at 92-93 points.

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  • 2001 Château Guiraud 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    A nice golden color, showing it has a little age now. Nicely balanced between sweetness and acidity. Apricot, honey, and orange marmalade fruit, a little sweeter than expected, but not cloying with a long finish. A solid Sauternes.

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