Early in December 2009, got together with some local Sonoma friends for a special occasion and opened up some amazing wine! The following are some brief observations of wines opened (actually more were opened than listed, but did not take formal notes at the time). It was a marathan lunch for sure, 9 people over a 9 course meal at Estate in Sonoma:
Champagne - Started with a 1975 Deutz Magnum. It was as young and fresh as any Champagne I have had in years. First time having had this wine, it was crisp and nutty. What a great way to open up a meal!
1975 Deutz Brut Vinotheque 1.5L
White Burgundy Flight - The 2004 Laflaive Chevalier Montrachet was the top wine of the flight. It was full bodied, petrol, yeasty, some citrus, an amazing complex wine. Lighter in style but still enjoyable was the Batard Montrachet. Take away the petrol characteristics of the Chevalier Montrachet and some of the richness and you have the Batard Montrachet. The final wine was the lightest of the three, the Les Pucelles, which was good, but in tough company.
2004 Domaine Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet
2001 Domaine Leflaive Batard Montrachet
2001 Domaine Leflaive Pulighy Montrachet Les Pucelles
Sauternes Flight - What else would you have with fra gras? Thought the d’Yquem was too young and sugar driven to fully enjoy at this time. The 1923 La Tour Blanche on the other hand was a lovely aged Sauternes, quite young looking in color and balanced to the palate.
1923 Chateau La Tour Blanche
2003 Chateau d’Yquem
DRC Flight - The first taste of each showed they were incredibly young! The 1996 was the most complex of the group. The 2000 started out with a funky nose, but fortunately blew off in time, and ultimately opened up quicker than the others. Ideally, all will be much better with age and would not rush to open them.
1996 DRC Grands Echezeaux
2000 DRC Grands Echezeaux
2001 DRC Grands Echezeaux
1969 Red Burgundy Flight - Found 2 of the 3 wines in the 1969 Burgundy flight outstanding, the other just ok. Recall some great structure in these wines and was suprised given how old they were, the abundance of earth, minerals and game meats along with resolved tannin and light acidity.
1969 Belin NSG Clos Des Forets Saint Georges, Cuvee Hors Ligne
1969 Forey Malconsorts
1969 La Tour Corton Grancey
Mid-Aged Red Burgundy Flight - Both were outstanding! The wine of the flight was the Jadot Bonnes Mares, which was in a real sweetspot, perfectly balanced, rich fruits, and great structure. Close behind it was the 1988 Leroy. Approaching 25 years old, the wines were ripe, fresh, and great drinking. There was one other wine in this flight.
1985 Jadot Bonnes Mares
1988 Leroy Beaumonts
Bordeaux Flight - The 1952 Calon Segur was the best wine of the flight. Similar to the 1969 Burgundy, a lot of saddle leather, meats, mineral earthy components. Was refreshing to taste no significant signs of oxidation with it or the 1949 Cos d’Estournel. The 1982 Calon Segur showed well as did the 1986 Haut Brion.
1986 Haut Brion
1982 Calon Segur
1986 Latour
1949 Cos d’Estrounel
1952 Calon Segur
Northern Rhone Flight - The wine of the Rhone flight was the 1994 Guigal La Landonne. It was a seductive, rich, dark fruit based wine with an incredibly long finish and awesome mid-palate. The 1989 Jaboulet was better than previous times opened.
1994 Guigal Cote Rotie La Landonne
1991 Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie Blond
1989 Jaboulet La Chappelle
Sweet Ending Flight - The Massandra was nothing short of world class. Probably the best wine tasted in 2009 and found it as rich, gorgeous, complex, and distinct as any end of meal wine you could open!
1929 Massandra, Tokay Ai Danil
Cheers to 2010!
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