Fun tasting. The more I taste 1995 Bordeaux, in most cases, the less I like it. The wines in far too many cases are hard, austere and dry in the finish. For Left Bank wines, I really like 1996. They get better and better.
I had their outrageously huge butterflied veal chop, which it seemed like many on the table had. Probably was 1500-2000 calories right there. It was great, and it killed me not to be able to take leftovers home!
Not having done one of these structured beauty contests in a long long time, my views are similar to Jeff Leve’s, but I’m only generally tasting/drinking these one at a time now. Very cool to see someone pull off one of these, with the better names.
It does seem like from the subtext of the notes that 96 still has the edge, but perhaps not as obviously as it did earlier.
That’s a good summary. I think the 96s will always be prettier on the nose, but that some 95s could be deeper.
Based on this tasting, I’d add that the best of the 95s seem up there with the best 96s, even in the northern Medoc.
OK, let’s put to rest all these discussion about Fabio and his dishes. After all, we were told he was already put to rest. It’ll be nice to keep it as an offline option if somebody good takes over in the kitchen and amps up the food.
Btw, agree with Arv’s and Patrick’s general assessment about the 96s still having an edge over 95s, but the gap looks to have narrowed down.
Its hard to find places that will accommodate groups with a private room and waived corkage on any Fri/Sat night, pretty much anywhere. We’re going somewhere tonight which has now imposed a new rule - only 1 btl per table. This isn’t even a white tablecloth place or anything.
Move to NJ or PA. BYO all you want.
NJ is pretty, NJ people not so much…
Rereading this thread, I’m kicking myself for not sourcing some 95 Cos d’Estournel after this event when it was still comparatively cheap. It now seems to run $200-$250 at the auctions I follow.
I did load up on the 95 and 96 GPL after this though.
We also had the 95 and 96 GPL on Thursday night. The 95 was a beautiful, balanced wine with traditional Bordeaux flavors. It’s not a knock out, but it was so enjoyable with some tenderloin. The 96 was also a beautiful wine, but much more fruit forward and someone mentioned a more New World style. The consensus vote was for the 1995.
I see no similarities with new world in the 1996 GPL. This is a classic Left Bank Bordeaux IMO. And only starting to shine. If you are not brett (horse poop) sensitive.