I usually don’t take the time to post my tasting notes, but after this debauchery tonight… ![[wow.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/7/7d450e9830889c8943b674446a21b7254cad657e.gif "wow"){kind=small}
I was fortunate enough to drink these with a well-known wine veteran who has had many a great Bordeaux in his lifetime and compares this to the 1928-29 back-to-back fantastic vintages, with the 1928 = 2010 and the 1929 = 2009.
All wines were popped 4 hours before serving to get a better taste of what these are young. No decanting. No opening 3 days before (which if you actually wanted to ENJOY the wines, you would do!) No, we just wanted to taste them right out of the bottle with their sheer power and all!
Here is goes… 2009/2010 Bordeaux Comparison
Flight 1: Pontet Canet
2009 is a bit more austere, but yet more approachable. Both ’09 and ’10 have powerful active tannins that have an unbelievable coat-your-mouth-for-almost-a-minute sensation. The nose on the ’09 was amazing, but the fruit on my palate was a little lacking, The ’10 was the opposite. No nose whatsoever, but boy did it feel so good when you put it on your lips (cue Frank the Tank). The ’09 had this raw power that I don’t know where it’s going to go, but I feel in the end, the ’10 will end up being the premier wine of the two. The group leaned towards the ’10.
My pick: 2010
Flight 2: Leoville Poyferre
Again the 2009 is the more elegant of the two, but I love the sheer power of the 2010, with its tannins and mouthfeel. A mix of earth and dark berries with this Saint Julien property. I love the Las Cases, which will need a tremendous amount of time to develop. The Poyferre, however, will be able to drink well in about 10 years for the ’09 and a little sooner for the ’10. The group seemed divided.
My pick: 2009
Flight 3: Palmer
Silky smooth with a hot minidress and cleavage popping out. If you have someone you want to introduce to Bordeaux and want to showcase these vintages, this is the wine with which to do it. Both the 2009 and 2010 were very similar, but the 2009 had the softness I’ve come to love with Margaux wine. Structure-wise, the 2010 had more depth and sheer brilliance, but I guess when it comes to Margaux, I want that delicateness to show. I always say it’s a wine that I can go to sleep with. The group ended up liking the 2010 much more though.
My pick: 2009
Flight 4: Montrose
WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW… that’s what I can say about the 2009. The combination of fruit, dirtiness, sexiness, power, raw beauty is unreal. I think the 2010 is just 2009, but a bit lighter. Many people I know who don’t like Montrose don’t like it because of the “roughness” associated with this Saint Estephe property, but I love it. These two vintages bring a comparison to the 1989 and 1990. (with the 1990 = 2009) I wish I had a chance to try those young, but alas I have to settle for hearsay. I’m going to buy a case of the 2009 and tuck ‘em away for 20 years. If anybody wants to join me then, I’ll take RSVPs.
My pick: 2009
Flight 5: l’Evangile
The 2009 didn’t really wow me. Don’t get me wrong, it was a great wine, and how can there really be a “bad” wine of the night, but it was the 2009 Evangile. Good, not great, and not a 100 pt’er. The 2010, on the other hand, I felt was significantly better. Lots of fruit on the nose and palate, a finish of about 40 seconds, Probably the second-most “feminine” wine of the night. The group was again split, but leaning towards the ’10.
My pick: 2010
Flight 6: La Mission Haut Brion
OK, let’s get the party started. I agreed with those in attendance who stated these were definitely the most closed-down wines of the night. I don’t think either will be ready to drink until at least 2020, or 2025. That being said, the 2010 was off the hook. The slight nose was showing on the 2010 had that earthy, gravel, dirty, slutty, taste to it that I have come to love with LMHB. Don’t get me wrong, the 2009 is a step behind it but just as good. It was hard to get the fruit out in the 2009, but that’s likely a sign that these babies need to relax for 10 years. Group was divided.
My pick: 2010 (WOTN for me)
Flight 7: Haut Brion
Definitely more approachable than the LMHB at this point. Both the 2009 and 2010 with that spiciness and smokiness that is to be expected with this terroir. The 2010 is a but softer with the fruits, but a little more heat is appreciated. These two wines probably had the best finishing quality and the senses on your palate of all the wines, LMHB included. Probably everyone’s favorite flight overall.
My pick: equal 2009/2010
Flight 8: Mouton Rothschild
If you like Starbucks, you’ll love the 2010. The nose was coffee, the palate was coffee, the finish was coffee. I would have thought this was Colombian wine and Shakira was on the label (wouldn’t that be an easy sell!). The 2009 was more of a floral arrangement, Great nose with dark berries throguhout and finish on the short side of the 2010. The 2010, however, is amazing!!! Smooth, yet powerful. Dry, yet full of life. I’m not going to take anything away from the 2009, which is an aamazing wine, but it’s just that the 2010’s are better.
My pick: 2010 (my #2 WOTN)
Flight 9: Lafite Rothschild
I had to rush this one to catch a plane at LAX. The 2009 was very Margaux-esque. Soft and approachable. If I were doing this blind, I would have never guessed 2009 Lafite. The 2010, on the other hand, is very reminiscent what a Lafite should be. I fine balance between the tough tannins, and the elegance of this Pauillac property. I wish I had more time to sit and think about this one, but alas I can’t make up my mind and don’t know if I reeeeeally like any.
My pick: 2010???
Dessert Wine: Random Sauternes (served double-blind)
My buddy buys estates and found a bottle of what appeared to be a Sauternes wine in the basement. Only one problem… no label. Sure I could have cut the capsule and found out what it was but that takes away the fun! Anyway, my buddy doesn’t know Franzia from Schrader, so he just gave me the bottle a year ago. The color was a light gold, and the fill was at the neck. So we opened it, and I the cork read 195_ or 198_, but it was hard to make out. Once we started drinking it, we all assumed it was an 80’s bottle with people assuming ’83 or ’88. Either way it was pretty darn good for who-knows-what-storage-conditions and I’m glad we opened it.
Now after that, Uber’d right now LAX to catch my red-eye to NewarK!
Jusqu’a la prochaine fois!
-Dave