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CdBdx Gala Dinner 2016

Pollen

Tasted December 2, 2016 by Derek Darth Taster with 424 views

Flight 1 (8 notes)

White - Sparkling
1998 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Cuvée Creation France, Champagne
93 points
Woah this was good! From magnum bottles. Drank from white wine glasses. Served as an aperitif to start, but this is far from an aperitif. In your face serious.
Appearance is clear, pale yellow-lemon colour. Fine fading fizz. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of nutty toast, brioche, seashell minerality, citrus lemon-lime, some smoke. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium- alcohol, medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of rich citrus lemon-lime, nutty toast, creamy brioche, seashell minerality, and a sensation of sweet floral perfume filling the mouth. Long finish.
Outstanding quality. Tastes developed but fruit still going very strong. Enjoy, why wait anyway.
A specialty cuvee (apparently no longer made) that is fermented and aged in Barrique as well as given five years on the lees.
Blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. From the oldest vines on the estate and represents a mix of old and new for Vilmart - the old of the vineyards and the new of the barrique barrels that it is fermented in.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2006 Château d'Issan Blason d'Issan France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
88 points
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose medium+ intensity, with aromas of vanilla oak, tobacco leaf, blackcurrant, and whiffs of leafy green herbs. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium alcohol (12.5%), mildy grippy fine medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of blackcurrant, vanilla oak, tobacco leaf. Medium finish.
Good quality. Decent wine, but straightforward and boring. Drink up.
2nd wine of Chateau d'Issan.
Red
2011 Château Pedesclaux France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
86 points
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, purplish ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of very green herbs, forest floor, some indistinct reddish-black fruit. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium alcohol (13%), medium tannins, medium body. Medium- flavour intensity, with flavours of green herbs and indistinct reddish-black fruit. Short finish.
Nothing really much to talk about. Reminds of my time at the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux tasting of the 2011 vintage where there were quite a number of thin and weedy wines. With Jancis on this one: "austere and lacking flesh". I don't really see the point of ageing this.
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2004 Château L'Eglise-Clinet France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
92 points
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of milk chocolate, tobacco, black plums, violets, and interestingly some sort of honeyed nectar/incense with more air (Don't think it was due to the Suduiraut at the table!). Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (13.5%), fine high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet black plums, blackcurrant, milk chocolate, tobacco, minty spice. Long finish.
Very good quality. Drinking well now with some air. Will be even better in another 3-4 years.
Red
2000 Château Lynch-Bages France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
94 points
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour with garnet rim. Legs.
Nose medium+ intensity, with an initial blast of barnyard which blew off, showing aromas of earth, graphite, dark chocolate, blackberries, black cherries, sweet spices. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (13%), velvety fine integrated tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet blackberries, black cherries, significant earth, dark chocolate, graphite, tobacco, some cassis. Long finish.
Very good quality. Yet another excellent 2000 vintage Bordeaux. This vintage is really making me attracted to Bordeaux wines.
This feels like it has just entered its drinking window, but still has upside potential for the next 5 years.
5 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2006 Château d'Issan France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
92 points
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of floral perfume, sweet earth, boysenberries. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (13.5%), fine elegant medium+ tannins, medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of savoury earth, sweet spices, boysenberries, black cherries, blackberries, slight sweet tea leaves. Long finish.
Very good quality. Elegance is the word here. Went down well, a pleasure to drink now. The emergence of tea leaves makes me think that it's probably best to drink this up within the next 2+ years for maximum fruit pleasure.
Red
1996 Château d'Issan France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
88 points
From Imperial bottle.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, garnet-ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of green bell peppers, Chinese herbs, tea leaves, leaf-littered earth, perfume. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (12.5%), medium tannins, medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of perfumed soap, sweet tea leaves, dark red cherries, green herbs, earth. Long finish.
Good quality. Elegance here, but to be true to my palate preferences, I have to admit I don't like the under-ripe Cabernet green notes here. I can see why some die-hard classic Bordeaux fans might like this though. Drink up, not for further ageing.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2001 Château Suduiraut France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
95 points
From Imperial bottle!
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, gold colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with a bouquet of honey, botrytis, thick marmalade, sweet orange peel, apricots. Developing.
On the palate, sweet but not lusciously so, medium+ alcohol, full body. Pronounced flavour intensity, with flavours of rich marmalade, honey cream, citrus lemon, apricots, sweet orange peel, petroleum with more air. Long long finish.
Outstanding quality. Excellent mouth-feel. Does not feel heavy on the palate at any point! Drinking well now with some air, and will easily last another 10 years.
3 people found this helpful Comment
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