TN: Killer Bordeaux Tasting

KILLER BORDEAUX TASTING - (5/5/2012)

Wonderful event put on my Kevin. Thank goodness no corked wines. Many of these wines are still quite young and will show better down the road. The 96 Leoville Las Cases was rocking tonight and the 1990 Grand-Puy is still a baby and will evolve down the road. Wines were presented to perfection.

  • 2004 Philippe Colin Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chaumées - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
    Drinking really well. Rich with orange peel, lemon, minerals and honey. This wine is peaking and should be consumed now. (92 pts.)
  • 2002 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut - France, Champagne
    Wonderful Champagne. Medium gold in color with dough, lemon, candied fruits, spice and chalk. Medium to long finish and great acidity. This will be sampled again some day! (94 pts.)
  • 1990 Château Léoville Barton - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
    Showing well but still plenty left in the tank. Firm tannins, gravel, funk, violets and menthol. Medium to long finish and balanced. Wonderful wine and another decade plus of enjoyment on this one. It received 2 hours of decanting prior to consuming. (94 pts.)
  • 1990 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
    My second favorite wine of the night. Black olives, tobacco, black olives, gravel, rapsberries and mushrooms. Showing secondary characters and should have a long life ahead. Very long and concentrated finish. Decanted 2 hours. This will improve over time. 95-97. (95 pts.)
  • 1996 Château Cos d’Estournel - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
    My least favorite of the Bordeaux wines but 93 is still a great score. Just goes to show how great this lineup was. Dark. Bing cherries, gravel, leather, blueberries and graphite. The nose was a little underwhelming but the palate did not disappoint. Medium finish. Drink within the next decade. Decanted 2 hours. (93 pts.)
  • 1996 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
    Decanted 2 plus hours. Coffee, ripe berries, mint, tea leaves and spices. Extremely young wine and tannic. I would not recommend popping one of these til 2018 if you can wait. Medium and concentrated finish. 94-96. (94 pts.)
  • 1996 Château Léoville Las Cases - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
    My wine of the night and groups wine of the night. An amazing effort that is balanced, powerful, graceful, elegant, etc. One of the best wines from Bordeaux I have sampled to date. Intense nose of clay, chocolate, figs, stones and raspberries. Long finish and complex. Drink now- 2040. Wonderful effort!!! (97 pts.)
  • 1986 Château Léoville Las Cases - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
    Great showing. Dark in color. Wood, rose petals, strawberry, cherry spice cake and charcoal. Medium to long finish and fully integrated. Should drink well for a decade. (95 pts.)
  • 1986 Château Rieussec - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
    Past peak. Dried appricots, pinneapple, floral and burnt toast. Lacking acidity and medium finish. (89 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

John,

Sounds like an amazing evening. I’ve tried the '96 Pichon Lalande and found it quite impressive but haven’t opened any '96 LLC or Cos d"Estournel yet. Time for some confirmatory research.

Cheers,
Doug

Doug,

Pop one open and try it over the course of three days. Should be amazing day 3.

I have read conflicting reports about the 1996 LLC. In your tasting it looked great but others, in recent time,s have reported it looking very closed and not enjoyable. It sure has a lot of potential but typically its one of the most backward wines from Bordeaux. I have a case but was not planning to open one for at least 3-4 years.