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CdB BoG
Denver
Tasted January 25, 2024 - January 27, 2024 by Decanting Queen with 100 views
Introduction
A fantastic line-up of wines curated by the Denver CDB. Amazing hosts and a great meeting.
Notes are a little sparse as I lost my notebook:-(
Flight 1 - Thursday Dinner, Hotel Clio (5 notes)
A great start. There was a nice champagne but the server wasn't sure what it was and I forgot to find the bottle.
Also, did not list the 2000 Braniare Ducru because it isn't in CT. Maybe because it isn't very good! I am a big fan of B-D but this one was disappointing, first bottle flawed and the second just seemed past it.
White
2016 Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc
95 points
I would have never thought a Bdx Blanc could be my wine of the night, especially in the company of so many other great wines. But this was fantastic. I lost my notes but it has had a long ‘mental’ finish. As in, I am still thinking about it.
I only just realized I have had this before with similar surprise. This is a buy.
I only just realized I have had this before with similar surprise. This is a buy.
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Red
2000 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
90 points
Lost my detailed notes so going from memory a few weeks later. This was drinking at peak or maybe just past. Mature fruit and lovey smooth tannins. Very nice.
Red
1985 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
93 points
This was in a great place right now, was not decanted so maybe drank over 90 min in the glass? Normally Ducru needs many hours of air to show well for me, so this was exceptional.
Lost my notes, but remember this as classic and still plenty of fruit, great structure still plenty of tannins and acid for a long life.
Lost my notes, but remember this as classic and still plenty of fruit, great structure still plenty of tannins and acid for a long life.
Red
1999 Château Léoville Barton
Lucky to have had this wine twice in one week. Same score (93) although this bottle was not drinking quite as well as the first (perhaps because the first had some air time and a double decant).
This is perfectly in the drinking window for my palate.
This is perfectly in the drinking window for my palate.
Flight 2 - Friday Dinner (Nature & Science Museum) (5 notes)
Great wines, not all listed. With insightful commentary from the incredibly charming Count Stephan Von Niepperg.
White - Sparkling
2013 Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant Extra Brut
94 points
Excellent champagnes all 3 nights of this trip. Sadly I lost my notes and can’t remember night 1.
This was night 2.
Loved this and had several glasses before I sought out the label to find out what I was drinking. Not so experienced with the 2013 vintage but if this is any indication, it is amazing.
No notes but definitely a buy.
This was night 2.
Loved this and had several glasses before I sought out the label to find out what I was drinking. Not so experienced with the 2013 vintage but if this is any indication, it is amazing.
No notes but definitely a buy.
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Red
2019 Clos de l'Oratoire
90 points
Lost my notes but remember that I enjoyed it but felt it was on the young side for me. Would be interested to try an older vintage.
2 people found this helpful
Comments (6)
Red
2003 Château Mouton Rothschild
93 points
I always enjoy a 2003 for sentimental reasons as it is my daughter’s birth year and in this case she was my dinner date.
Lost my notes, but while this wasn’t as powerful as other vintages of Mouton, it is drinking very well and is (not surprisingly) an excellent wine. No complaints from me and while maybe not worth a first growth tariff, being an off vintage it is probably obtainable at a more manageable price than most.
For 2003 though, this was not as good as the LMHB we had a few months ago.
Lost my notes, but while this wasn’t as powerful as other vintages of Mouton, it is drinking very well and is (not surprisingly) an excellent wine. No complaints from me and while maybe not worth a first growth tariff, being an off vintage it is probably obtainable at a more manageable price than most.
For 2003 though, this was not as good as the LMHB we had a few months ago.
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Red
1998 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
91 points
Lost my notes but very favorable memories, great wine and drinking well with plenty of life remaining.
Rich dark fruited, good intensity on the nose and palate.
Rich dark fruited, good intensity on the nose and palate.
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White - Sweet/Dessert
2011 Château d'Yquem
95 points
Lost my notes but hard to forget the impressions of this one. Excellent and loved the pineapple notes along with the apricots, plenty of complexity. My daughter’s first d’Yquem and she was smitten.
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Flight 3 - Saturday Lunch, Hotel Clio (6 notes)
Blind tasting lunch. I am not much of a day drinker but this was worth it.
White - Sparkling
2010 Vincent Couche Champagne Brut Millésimé
92 points
Lost my notes but this was one I wanted to remember.
Pre-lunch champagne and I was trying not to drink too much for pacing reasons but ended up having 2 glasses. When I saw the vintage I was surprised as 2010 isn’t usually great for me but this was darn good!!
Pre-lunch champagne and I was trying not to drink too much for pacing reasons but ended up having 2 glasses. When I saw the vintage I was surprised as 2010 isn’t usually great for me but this was darn good!!
Red
1988 Château Margaux
94 points
Blind tasting at lunch. Guessed Chateau Margaux but not the vintage (didn’t try!). Drinking beautifully. The floral notes gave it away. Lost my notes but I remember it as vibrant, rich fruit and velvety smooth.
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Comments (2)
Red
1995 Château Smith Haut Lafitte
95 points
Blind. Guessed Pauillac, oops.
Lost my detailed notes but this was my wine of the lunch—and many at my table in agreement.
From reading past notes we must have been really lucky with having great bottles. Drinking incredibly well. Rich fruited, still has great structure, did not seem anywhere near the decline.
I immediately wanted to purchase more, but looking at the notes it seems like a bit of a gamble.
Lost my detailed notes but this was my wine of the lunch—and many at my table in agreement.
From reading past notes we must have been really lucky with having great bottles. Drinking incredibly well. Rich fruited, still has great structure, did not seem anywhere near the decline.
I immediately wanted to purchase more, but looking at the notes it seems like a bit of a gamble.
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Red
1998 Château Pontet-Canet
91 points
Blind. Lunch. Guessed St Estephe, I think because it was so rustic.
I was surprised at the reveal. Tannins going strong . Lost my notes but for whatever reason this just wasn’t as good as I would have expected or in comparison to the other wines.
I was surprised at the reveal. Tannins going strong . Lost my notes but for whatever reason this just wasn’t as good as I would have expected or in comparison to the other wines.
Red
2006 Château Montrose
94 points
Blind. Lunch. Guessed Pauillac. Had called the Pontet Canet as St Estephe so I guess that’s where I went wrong.
Lost my notes but recall this was really good. Big rich still fruity and structured, a bit of spice and chocolate.
Lost my notes but recall this was really good. Big rich still fruity and structured, a bit of spice and chocolate.
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Red
1990 Château Larcis Ducasse
91 points
Blind. Lunch. Correctly guessed St Emilion
Lost notes but thought this was drinking well.
Unmistakeable right bank CF and Merlot, plummy fruit. delicious right now but I wouldn’t wait.
Lost notes but thought this was drinking well.
Unmistakeable right bank CF and Merlot, plummy fruit. delicious right now but I wouldn’t wait.
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Flight 4 - Saturday Dinner- Denver Country Club (7 notes)
Exceeded all expectations.
White - Sparkling
2012 Claude Cazals Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Clos Cazals
94 points
I have a few bottles of this in the cellar but had never tried. So it was a nice surprise when after drinking a glass and loving it I went to check the label.
Lost my notes but I was impressed how open this was, a nose I could smell all day.
Lost my notes but I was impressed how open this was, a nose I could smell all day.
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White
2018 Château Pape Clément Blanc
90 points
A really unusual Bordeaux Blanc. Very lite and herbal. Almost Viogner -like with hints of tangerine. Not as acidic as I would prefer but I really enjoyed.
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Red
2011 Château du Tertre
90 points
Lost my notes but was surprised by the drinkability of this. I usually shy away from 2011 but this was drinking well. Smooth and velvety, very open. Elegance but substance. Not as complex as the trio of ‘96 wines that accompanied, but a really good wine nonetheless
Red
1996 Château Pontet-Canet
95 points
1996 might be my favorite vintage of Bordeaux for
Drinking now and this bottle was not exception. My second favorite of the 3 ‘96s
No detailed notes but chicken scratch comments on the menu: floral, fruity, graphite, lead pencil on the finish, long finish.
Drinking now and this bottle was not exception. My second favorite of the 3 ‘96s
No detailed notes but chicken scratch comments on the menu: floral, fruity, graphite, lead pencil on the finish, long finish.
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Red
1996 Château Léoville Poyferré
94 points
Loving the 1996 vintage right now. No formal notes but drinking great, full of fruit, smooth but present tannins. Yum.
Red
1996 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron
96 points
From a 15L!!!!
What a stunning wine. I thought there was no way this could be so open with only an hour or so decant before serving. Drinking incredibly well, full of fruit, tobacco, spice. No formal notes but wow and consistent with my assessment that 1996 is a fantastic vintage for drinking now (and not to imply it won’t hold up, because it surely will)
What a stunning wine. I thought there was no way this could be so open with only an hour or so decant before serving. Drinking incredibly well, full of fruit, tobacco, spice. No formal notes but wow and consistent with my assessment that 1996 is a fantastic vintage for drinking now (and not to imply it won’t hold up, because it surely will)
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Comments (12)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2011 Château Nairac
90 points
My first Nairac. Great complexity and very tasty but too sweet for me and was paired with a too sweet dessert. (for me. and I am not a sweet wine connessieur so take with a grain of salt!)
1 person found this helpful
Comments (2)
Closing
So many great wines in such a short time. Highlights for me were the '96's and the Champagnes!!