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Mostly FGs Bordeaux dinner - 82 & 86 Mouton, 00 Pavie, 86 & 95 Lafite, 96 Margaux and 95 Latour
The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown
Tasted February 18, 2016 by dcwino with 1,031 views
Introduction
Seven of us got together to drink mostly FGs. Luckily all the wines were showing incredibly well. Chef Ruta did incredible job once again preparing ten course meal. The service was impeccable as usual.
Flight 1 - Champagne (2 notes)
White - Sparkling
1996 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
97 points
Another stunning showing. Great concentration, freshness, structure and balance. Very youthful yet complex nose displaying citrus and apple, really floral, honey and yeast. Excellent concentration, beautifully layered, bright acidity and lovely long finish. This can still improve for another decade or two. I highly recommend.
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White - Sparkling
1969 H. Andre & Cie Champagne Cuvée Royále
89 points
Correct color, rich amber. Slightly over mature nose, toffee, burnt sugar, caramel and cumin. Still decent amount of mousse and good acidity. The complexity is coming from the maturity. Decent and interesting. Love to try another bottle, decant for a few hours and try as a Chardonnay.
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Flight 2 - Ygrec (1 note)
White
2010 Y de Yquem
95 points
Always a unique experience. This has nice settled down, not as expressive and opulent but showing very nice overall balance. The fruit has transformed to grapefruit with a hint of banana, ginger, coconut and lanoline still remains. Unlike the last bottle, not showing much acidity. Once again linear and precise. Really enjoyable.
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Flight 3 - Cali Chardonnay (3 notes)
White
2012 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard
94 points
A very typical example of Aubert. Very cloudy appearance. Despite having a lot of everything, fruit, mineral, acidity, alcohol and etc., it maintains nice balance. At the moment, fresh white fruits, pear and apple, strong peppery note and ginger. A big scale wine with strong mineral presence and bright acidity. Drinking nicely now.
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White
2013 Peter Michael Chardonnay Mon Plaisir
93 points
Another very well balanced young Cali chardonnay. The fruit expression is more tropical than the Aubert, very pina colada, pineapple, coconut, even a hint of rum and butter scotch. Good concentration and acidity. Nice balance in very ripe Cali chardonnay way.
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White
2009 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard
96 points
My name is not Bob but I find a hint of Burgundy in this wine. Beautifully balanced, subtle and nuance driven. Youthful white fruits, a hint of oak, smoke and mineral. Very harmonious, strong presence of mineral, bright acidity and lovely long finish. It is not “in your face” kinda Cali chardonnay. Really nice showing once again. I didn't copy my rating from the last bottle. :-)
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Flight 4 - 1995 Lafite and Latour (2 notes)
Red
1995 Château Lafite Rothschild
95 points
So interesting to compare with the 95 Latour. Very polished youthful nose with strong lead pencil note that I associate with Lafite, cassis, rich light caramel, cedar, wet tobacco and mineral. The palate is also very lafite, linear, precise and balanced. Noticeable but nicely integrated sweet tannins. The structure and ripe fruit nicely reflect the vintage. It will benefit from another ten plus years of cellaring but not too early to enjoy.
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Red
1995 Château Latour Grand Vin
97 points
So interesting to compare with the 95 Lafite. Much broader, richer and opulent than the Lafite, cassis, crushed and concentrated blueberries and blackberries, perfume, lead pencil though not as strong as the Lafite, plum and cedar. Excellent concentration, rich yet silky and polished, nicely layered fruits masking the tannins and very long finish. Drinking perfectly in very youthful way. I prefer this to the Lafite for the current drinking and perhaps for the future as well. Really nice showing.
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Flight 5 - 2000 Pavie (1 note)
Red
2000 Château Pavie
99 points
The first nose makes me to giggle. Absolutely stunning youthful nose displaying intense sweet black fruits, caramel, milk chocolate, dark spices and mineral. Incredibly concentration, unbelievably layered, unctuous, no noticeable tannins due to abundant fruits and lovely long finish. Sort of odd ball amongst the FGs but what a showing. Beautifully cellared example. One of the best showing. This will be a monumental wine one day a la the 61 right bankers. A hedonistic beast.
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Flight 6 - 1982 Mouton and 1970 Palmer (2 notes)
Red
1982 Château Mouton Rothschild
98 points
Fully mature decadent nose displaying cassis, cedar, leather, tobacco, lead pencil and caramel. Excellent concentration, quite silky and polished, nicely integrated tannins and lovely long finish. A great fully mature Mouton. Very good but not the perfect showing which the 82 Mouton is capable of.
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Red
1970 Château Palmer
94 points
Fully mature claret, sweet red fruits, cedar dominates, also mint and eucalyptus. Fully mature palate with lovely balance. Really enjoyable. At this stage, mostly tertiary.
Flight 7 - 1996 Margaux (1 note)
Red
1996 Château Margaux
99 points
For my palate, the 96 Margaux is one of the most classic Bordeauxs. Perfect balance and absolute finesse. Expressive youthful pure nose displaying crushed blackberries, cassis, expensive perfume, flowers, lead pencil and mineral. Very precise and sophisticate palate, nothing out of place. A noble wine. As usual, so consistent and flirting with perfection.
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Flight 8 - 1986 Lafite and Mouton (2 notes)
Red
1986 Château Lafite Rothschild
98 points
So interesting to compare with the 86 Mouton and the 95 Lafite. Uncanny resemblance to the 95 but even more polished, sophisticated and linear. Expressive nose diaplying youthful dark fruits, cassis, licorice, cedar and strong note of lead pencil. Beautiful harmonious palate, unbelievably silky, incredibly layered, nicely integrated tannins and lovely long finish. I slightly prefer the 86 Mouton but what a wine. Drinking nicely in very youthful way. Can improve for another two decades, perhaps a 100 year wine!
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Red
1986 Château Mouton Rothschild
100 points
The best showing of this wine I had. Explosive nose displaying intense cassis, liquid smoke, ink, cedar, perfume, chocolate and lead pencil. Unbelievable concentration and beautifully layered. So think yet so polished and silky. Such a big scale wine. It is just mind bogglingly good.
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Flight 9 - 2001 D'Yquem (1 note)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2001 Château d'Yquem
99 points
As usual, unbelievable intensity yet weightless. Every sip is a sensory overload. So much of everything yet the wine is singular. Always flirting with perfection.
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Closing
Another great evening. The dinner last six plus hours and a great time was had by all!