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Eastside Tasting Group End of Year Extravaganza
Newcastle, WA
Tasted December 20, 2019 by Eric with 477 views
Introduction
Jason and Tracy hosted a remarkable end of year dinner and tasting. The attendees were exceedingly generous, and on the whole this was one of the more remarkable tastings I have ever had the joy to attend.
No wines were served blind other than the 1963 Warre.
Flight 1 (3 notes)
As everyone arrived, we nibbled on cheese and sipped these three.
White - Sparkling
1990 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut
Well this is a heck of a way to start an epic tasting. Apart from a paucity of bubbles, there was very little showing the age of this wine. Surprisingly gentle, mineral, the obligatory toasty brioche notes. Quite delicate and subtle.
White
2012 Arnaud Ente Meursault Clos des Ambres
Oh wow, this baby was a beast. Explosively flinty, tightly wound, this just leaps all over your palate. I wish I could have lingered with this for much longer.
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White
1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia
No one seemed to grab this in their pictures. I would have thought this was Rose from the color. Quite oxidative. Someone said it was a proper example and typical. This deserved more mindshare than I could give it.
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Flight 2 (2 notes)
We started off with a humble pair of Washington wines that showed quite well.
Red
1983 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Washington
Leafy, bell pepper, quite edgy. A bit thin but pure Cabernet with veggies, if you like that. (I do!)
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Red
1992 Columbia Winery Cabernet Sauvignon David Lake Signature Series Otis Vineyard
A real step up from the CSM Cab tasted before. Also quite edgy, vinous, some black fruit, cedar, still dusty tannins. This was lovely.
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Flight 3 (1 note)
A little warmup to revv our Bordeaux engine.
Red
1990 Château La Conseillante
Mmm, the leafiness of the Cab Franc shows up. The palate moves to lush black cherry and cocoa. Some sur-maturite and a hint of soy creep into the glass, showing the (over)ripeness of 1990. A lovely way to start off the Bordeaux!
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Flight 4 (3 notes)
With a little beef stew served in puff pastry cups, this flight got us going.
Red
1970 Château Margaux
flawed
There was considerable debate as to whether this was slightly corked. A pretty nose. Palate is dilute and definitely shows a little musty/moldy edge. In the end, after I left it sit, I do indeed think this was a little corked. Shame.
Red
1961 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste
Spiny, tobacco, Pauillac time! Lots of leaf and mint with surprising structure.
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Red
1961 Château L'Eglise-Clinet
From magnum, booyah! Crazily fresh, black fruit, plum and spirit. Loads of chocolate. Really hedonistic.
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Flight 5 (3 notes)
Wow, this flight was epic. I hazarded points for this and the next flight to put them into some relative perspective. In reality, any one of these wines would have been epic and basically perfect.
Partway through the flights we dove into some smoked prime rib and roasted potatoes.
Red
1982 Château Mouton Rothschild
98 points
A terrific example of this wine. Incredible spine and mineral. My notes were thin, but the wine was not.
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Red
1986 Château Mouton Rothschild
96 points
This was decanted for 12 hours and needed it. Dense, powerful, brooding and smoldering with black fruit and intensity. This is remarkable, a freak of a wine.
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Red
1989 Château Haut-Brion
100 points
Holy s**t. I have had this wine a number of times and always been impressed, but this one finally broke through. Just next level. Truffle, red fruit, coffee, mineral. Luscious. Incredible depth and balance. This is a baby.
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Flight 6 (3 notes)
Simply incredible. All were perfect. I took one point off the 1959 Haut Brion, since it crashed a bit in the glass. Wow, wow, wow!!!
Red
1955 Château Haut-Brion
100 points
Graves explosion. Roasty, toasty and smoky. The smell of a hot pine forest with some resin notes. Pure cherry palate. This is really the essence of Graves and everything I hope to find in Haut Brion. Wow!
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Red
1959 Château Haut-Brion
99 points
Wow, the nose is reminiscent of the 55, but the palate is deeper and dustier, heavier. There is maybe a little muddiness or the hint of some salt marsh. Wow what a palate. Deep and plummy with fruitcake. Explosive fruit. Alas, this just wowed on first pour, but it tired just a hint in the glass whereas the 55 gained in intensity.
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Red
1959 Pétrus
100 points
Deep, plummy, cassis. Wowza Merlot. A silky blast of chocolate and black cherry. Perfection.
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Flight 7 (1 note)
Shifting gears is tough. Too tough for me.
Red
1999 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
Lovely. Liqueur of Cabernet. But just way, way too much alcohol and oomph, especially following incredible flights of Bordeaux.
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Flight 8 (2 notes)
And finally some dessert.
Red - Fortified
1963 Warre Porto Vintage
A beautifully aged vintage port, although for me it was marred a bit by intense spirit, overwhelming actually.
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White - Sweet/Dessert
2000 Alois Kracher Chardonnay TBA #7 Nouvelle Vague
Thick and intense with botrytis and apricot. I think I prefer these in their youth.
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Closing
What an epic evening. Thanks to all!