A dozen aged Bordeaux (plus 2 Champagnes)

[newsguy]

My TNs straight off the page (for better or worse) from a recent offline dinner...

N.V. Domaine Gasnier La Cravantine: ethereal, remarkably light and airy, fine bubbles. tasty. 89 points.

1996 Duval-Leroy: WOW. toast right out of the toaster. remarkable complexity and mouthfeel. very long finish. stunning. 94 points.

1982 Ch. Beychevelle: looks very young (garnet/purple). aromas jump from glass. earth, green pepper, dark fruit, cigar box & cherry. silky mouthfeel yet some power's still there. has to be VERY close to the top of its game. 94 points.

1982 Ch. Legune: medium red. very good/exc. aromas/flavors of buttered corn, black pepper, hint of barnyard. smooth mouthfeel. nowhere to go but down. 91 points.

1982 Ch. Calon Segur: medium reddish purple. elegant. beautiful nose (nose of the night), plus flavors that include plums, cream lead pencil. remarkably layered in the mouth, though the finish not quite as long as the 82 Beychevelle. 93 points.

1983 Beychevelle: medium red going brownish at rim. slightly corked (so no score), but there's plenty of surprisingly youthful tasting fruit there. (The corked aroma blew off a good bit over time. I'd definitly buy this wine, considering the value of the vintage.)

1986 Ch. Leoville Barton: nose of wonderful cabernet sauvignon from bordeaux: lead pencil, creamy cassis & plum, tobacco. 92 points.

1988 Ch. Gruaud Larose: caramel (in a huge way) on top of black pepper, bordeaux fruits, but finish falls of fast. 89 points.

1989 Beychevelle: wonderful. very similar to earlier beychevelles, but younger. very tough not to drink now. 93 points.

1989 Calon Segur: beautiful nose, young & old elements, including a floral note the others didn't have, high-toned red fruits over darker, silk on the palate. 95 points.


1996 Pagodes Les Cos ('second' wine of Cos d'Estournel): medium/darkish purple, red at rim. a little green, but lots of cigar and other stuff. needs 3-5 to peak. 90 points.

1998 Leoville Barton: damn good, open nose that includes a touch of petrol. ripe fruit (dark & red), lots of upside. 91 points.

1995 Pavie Macquin: excellent nose of sweet oak, red & blue fruits. seems a bit new world compared to others. definitely needs more time. 91-93 points.

I did not take notes on the stickies, but must say I really enjoyed the '87 Rieussec.

So you probably surmised: I fell in love with the Duval-Leroy and became a huge fan of Calon Segur (the '89 was my WOTN) and Beychevelle.


[This message has been edited by newsguy (edited 03-03-2009).]