West Coast Wine Network
Vineyards & Wineries
Promise Cabernet Sauvignon
Muscadine Wines
Three coins wine
Hooker wine
Another view from Chappellet
The view from Chappellet
Hooker Wines - Wine for Rugby lovers
Garnet Vineyards
Lawer Family Wines - Vineyard Estate Rentals in Calistoga
Chappellet Winery
March
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#336949 - 01-16-2008 08:10:58 Assorted Backlog Notes (Nov-December '07).
Noel Offline
Local

Registered: 01-27-2005 01:56:23
Posts: 1947
Loc: Philippines
Since my blackberry recently and suddenly crashed, I lost the exact dates of when I had many of these bottles. All I recall is that, unless otherwise indicated, they were all during the period of November to December '07.

1999 Grand Cru Charmes Chambertin by Domaine Taupenot-Merme - Sometime in late December 2007. At my acquisition price of just under $90, it would be difficult, in my opinion, to find a better Charmes Chamberin from '99. Though only 8 years from vintage, it is already exhibiting its bouquet of age - a forshadowing of even better things to come, I'd say: deep, darkish pinot noir fruit primaries very discreetly and intricately laced with well integrated oak/vanilla and seductive earthy/truffle notes.

In the mouth, what I recall best is its luxurious texture, a relatively full Burg but lithe, not heavy at all. Superior balance and purity. Focus and length were adequate, could be better; but, over-all (considering its price) I was very happy with it and would recommend it in a trice.

1995 Gruaud Larose - Early December 2007. Bottle from budding collector Santi Araneta during a dinner at my place. This was at least the 6th time I have had this wine in the past 5 months. Very nice, typical Gruaud Larose: warm, earthy, comforting, dark fruit/cassis with touches of pure ripe red fruit, merest hints of licorice. Marginally, yet noticeably softer' less minerality and less bold than the '96 (the vintage of course), superior balance/harmony. "Classy" performance. At its price, again, very difficult to beat for a fine 2nd growth.

1996 de Fieuzal - During the same dinner immediately above-mentioned, my place. A pristine bottle (the last one I opened a month before was musty and tired, though still drinkable). Already a lot of bottle-age sweetness to this medium-bordering-on-full-bodied, ripe, red currant-and-kirsch-laced, cassis/tar/earth dominant wine with finely knit, with a vaguely smoky, sweetish roasted herbs and cedar surfacing mid-mouth and following through on the finish. Edouard particularly favored this wine during said dinner.

Gruaud Larose Dinner: November 8th, 2007 at RED, the continental restaurant of the Shangri-La Hotel, Makati, with the château's representative, David Launay, as a special guest. I misplaced my old notes and came across them only today.

2000 Larose de Gruaud - Not the second wine Sarget, a different one, exactly how is unclear to me. I've seen it available in the US for around $32 more-or-less. Though it is a decent red, charming enough, quaffable, considering you can get the '95/'96 grand vin at around $50 more-or-less if you search properly, I see no reason to purchase this.

1995 Gruaud Larose - Notes consistent with those above. Second best of the evening after the '89.

1989 Gruaud Larose - My favorite wine of the evening. Mature, with hallmark earthiness to its lightly truffled, bottle age-sweetened cassis, fig, minerals, hint of tobacco, mild cedar layers. Understated and elegant. Nothing like the monstrously generous and ripe '90, and, all the better for it in my opinion.

I told David Launay that I liked the '89 much more than the '90 (elegant and refined rather than boisterously hedonistic), opining that it is very easy to see, though, that RP and those with so-called "California palates" would prefer the '90 over the '89.

1998 Gruaud Larose - Not an interesting wine, comparatively diluted, green and disjointed. I took only a few small sips and set it aside. I noticed Edouard, Sevrine, the Doc, the Stockbroker and my wife left a lot in the glass as well. Perhaps it was aerated too long and fell apart? I'll try this again soon to re-validate.

2001 Gruaud Larose - This must have been decanted for at least 2 hours prior to serving as I recall the last few bottles of this I opened from 2006 to early 2007 (just for snapshots) were just too tough and unyielding (though with good ripeness to its fruit) with aggressive tar and licorice and healthy minerality.

Be it as it may, this bottle was much more approachable than my previous ones. I believe it will grow up well and come into its own in around 4-5 more years.

Since they were pouring the '95 and '89 liberally, the Grand Crew's glasses of the '01 also, like the '98, remained barely touched.

1985 Palmer - From my good friend, Franck Alby, whose son-in-law's family are still shareholders in Palmer. I recall that, for a time, Edouard's family were also minority shareholders in this chateau.

A serene wine, wearing its 22 years very well, supple and refined on the palate, medium-bodied silk of seamlessly woven plum, cassis with a bit of red cherry, laced by discreet, earthy dark spice and a whisper of sweet camphor. Very elegant. The 1997 La Mondotte I brought to dinner seemed pedestrian and ham-handed in comparison.

This bottle was all the more memorable since it was the last dinner Franck tendered for us in his Philippine residence (early-to-mid September 2007) before he moved to Dijon beginning October.

Wine dinners in Manila will not be the same without him and his most charming wife, Françoise. They are dearly missed.



1989 Lynch Bages - This was the second bottle of this wine Edouard and I enjoyed that week, and probably the most pristine and youthful '89 Lynch Bages I have ever enjoyed. This bottle was from Pierre Barberis, during the above-mentioned dinner at the Alby's.

A study on how great a well-kept Pauillac can be, this still youthful looking/tasting, sleekly muscular 18-year-old has near perfect balance in its hallmark fine mineral-infused cassis/dark fruit/violets, graphite nuances with alluring hints of earth and fleeting leather. Power and elegance reminiscent, to me, of Latour. Excellent.

1996 Rauzan Ségla - Mid-December 2007, at Elbert's Steak House for dinner with my wife and the Villadolids from San Francisco. What struck me most about this fine Margaux was its mouthfeel: so smooth, seamless, flexible and vibrant mid-palate, I kept holding it there much longer than politely possible, enjoying the layers of well-extracted (yet not over-the-top), well-rounded, sweetish, small red berry/ripe cherry over cassis, dark plum and cedar undertones. I kept thinking of dark violet flowers at its finish. Exceptional balance and harmony, with good depth. A fine wine indeed, one I will definitely buy more of.

Extremely better than when I had it last in mid-to-late 2000, when it was hard, angular and wholly unenjoyable. A little over 7 years did it wonders.


Edited by Noel (01-16-2008 12:25:39)
Edit Reason: Typos.
_________________________
My Wine Blog

Top
#337030 - 01-17-2008 18:17:33 Re: Assorted Backlog Notes (Nov-December '07). [Re: Noel]
Upstate Mark Offline
Regular

Registered: 01-24-2003 08:00:00
Posts: 651
Loc: CNY
Nice notes.

Sounds as if I can still sleep on my G-L 2001 and the Lynch Bages 89...

Best,

Mark

Top
#337096 - 01-18-2008 15:54:10 Re: Assorted Backlog Notes (Nov-December '07). [Re: Upstate Mark]
Noel Offline
Local

Registered: 01-27-2005 01:56:23
Posts: 1947
Loc: Philippines
Thanks, Mark.

Yes and yes. The '01 GL for a lot longer. If you have a few '89 LBs, though, they are already very nice now and are well worth drinking already.

Best,

N
_________________________
My Wine Blog

Top
#337125 - 01-19-2008 06:47:29 Re: Assorted Backlog Notes (Nov-December '07). [Re: Noel]
blil Offline
Crazed Wino

Registered: 12-13-2000 08:00:00
Posts: 6251
Loc: Paola, KS
Do you think the 1996s are approaching a good drinking window? Seems like you've had quite a few over the past year or so.

Just curious as I have a small stash of Ducru, Lynch-Bages and Pichon-Baron. Unfortunately, I don't really have enough to experiment with so I'm looking for suggestions.

Thanks!
_________________________
www.ugawino.blogspot.com

Top
#337134 - 01-19-2008 16:05:11 Re: Assorted Backlog Notes (Nov-December '07). [Re: blil]
Noel Offline
Local

Registered: 01-27-2005 01:56:23
Posts: 1947
Loc: Philippines
Some '96s are already quite enjoyable and can last materially longer, such as: the Léoville Poyferré, Gruaud Larose, Sociando Mallet, Pichon Lalande, Rauzan Ségla, Brane Cantenac, de Fieuzal, Cheval Blanc, La Mondotte and, definitely, the Cos d'Estournel which is already performing beautifully.

The last couple of bottles of the Lynch Bages told me it should start being consumed now. The same goes with the Pichon Baron, Beau Sejour Becot and Canon la Gaffeliere. I, personally drank all my Pichon Barons already in '07 because I didn't think it would improve further; but that's just me. I'd give Haut Bailly a year or two more.

The Montrose still has to be kept for several years, at least 4 more, but I'd test it again after 3. The Mouton Rothschild should wait around 5 more years, I'd say.

I haven't tried the '96 Ducru Beaucaillou so I can't comment on that one.

These are all off the top of my head. I'd have to go through my notes to remember the other '96s I've recently had.


Edited by Noel (01-19-2008 16:17:08)
_________________________
My Wine Blog

Top
#337152 - 01-20-2008 06:44:19 Re: Assorted Backlog Notes (Nov-December '07). [Re: Noel]
blil Offline
Crazed Wino

Registered: 12-13-2000 08:00:00
Posts: 6251
Loc: Paola, KS
Thanks for the input!
_________________________
www.ugawino.blogspot.com

Top
#338392 - 02-16-2008 22:55:32 Re: Assorted Backlog Notes (Nov-December '07). [Re: Noel]
dajapino Offline
Member

Registered: 08-06-2004 07:17:46
Posts: 149
Loc: San Diego
Nice notes Noel...thanks!

Top
#338429 - 02-18-2008 01:46:36 Re: Assorted Backlog Notes (Nov-December '07). [Re: dajapino]
Noel Offline
Local

Registered: 01-27-2005 01:56:23
Posts: 1947
Loc: Philippines
Most welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed reading and hope my notes proved helpful to some extent.
_________________________
My Wine Blog

Top


Misc. Stuff
Muscadine winegrapes
Muscadine wine collection
2010 Garnet Pinot Noir - Rodgers Creek Vineyard
Promise Wine
Dom Perignon
Chappellet Wine
Lawer Family Three Coins Wine
13 Blackbirds
Old Wine
2009 HdR Last Seminar
Newest Members
Jplotty, mws941, Emily, samishra, PippoMura
1693 Registered Users
Top Posters
Brad Harrington 13966
JFO 13065
TomHill 12127
Marshall Manning 10482
Florida Jim 7733
David Andreozzi 7157
blil 6251
Marc Hanes 5639
BEB 5444
Dave Dyroff 4867