TN's: Last Weekend Wines

WINE TALK
1

Here are some short notes on the wines we enjoyed this past weekend:

2011 Chateau Brown Blanc - Pessac-Leognan

Partnered with a deep fried Dover sole fillet - beet, butternut and carrot fries.
A bit young; threw up some savoury and tree fruit aromas; round and possessed an attractive texture; excellent acidity; pear fruit; finished nicely.

2000 Chateau Gloria - Saint Julien

Accompanied with lobster claw soup with a risotto ball, green and white asparagus - in brown sauce.

Super dark with a thin purple rim; primarily black fruits and spice aromas; fairly full bodied; black fruits coat the palate; considerable tannins evident but the fruit stays above; lengthy finish with the fruit riding out.

1989 Chateau Leoville Las Cases - Saint Julien

Accompanied mustard seed crusted venison tenderloin, cauliflower puree, succotash and cippolini onion.

Dark purple red with a noticeable pink rim; aromas of toasty cedar and smoke; lovely fruit coming through on the aromas as well; round and rich with a beautiful texture running over the palate; fine balance; oodles of black and red currant fruit, flowing out to an outstanding finish that lingered on. Plenty of future enjoyment here as this wine will probably show well for another decade or more.

2009 Meursault-Genevrieres - Boyer-Martenot

Accompanied with a variety of appetizers.

Light straw in colour; typical mineral and tree fruit aromas; harmonious entry; round and full on the palate;white peach and pear flavours; attractive finish, long and carries the fruit.

2005 Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Suchots - Gerard Mugneret

While many believe that more time is necessary to achieve maturity in the 2005 Burgundies, I continue to sample the 1er Cru’s to see how they are coming along.

Partnered up this wine with a juicy beef tenderloin cooked over an outdoor grill.

Full dark ruby in colour; attractive mix of floral, cherry fruit and spices in the aromas; glided over the palate with mouth filling fruit; round and rich on a firm structure; tangy fruit - dark cherry and some black plum flavours; nicely balanced; long, long finish where the fruit shines through.

2001 Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguaey - Sauternes

Served with an apricot soufflé, side of roasted apricot and cream cheese ice cream. An outstanding combination and one of the best soufflé’s I have had.

Golden colour, with a slight gilt tone; honey, orange peel and apricot aromas; rich and ripe on the palate; excellent acidity; fruit stone and minerality surrounding the apricot fruit flavours; long fruit driven finish.

1985 Chateau d’Yquem - Sauternes

Served apart from the dessert course as a wine feature. Those in attendance kept asking for refills.

High fill. cork intact on removal; deep golden and copper orange colour; striking aromas - penetrating honeyed apricot and spice; full bodied and richly textured; highlighted by the acidity that prevails on the palate; kind of sweet and dry at the same time; mix of apricot, brown sugar and spicy flavours, running well out to a long, rich finish.

Hank [cheers.gif]

2

Thanks Hank. I just found a bottle of the 00 Gloria in the cellar and wondered if I waited too long on it. Sounds like it is drinking well or maybe even a bit too young.

3

Thanks, Hank. Particularly appreciate the Gloria and LLC notes.

4

It’s Nice having a cellar! [cheers.gif]

I wish Chat. Brown were distributed better; I’ve always liked their white.

5

Great notes.
I’m glad you enjoyed.

Alex R.

6

Loren, my impressions of the 2000 Chateau Gloria suggest another 5 years might move this wine closer to maturity. The bottles we drank were acquired upon release and have been properly cared for in a temperature controlled cellar. This wine displayed considerable character and is generally a “buy” in good vintage years.

Hank [cheers.gif]

7

nice to read your posts!

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Hank, nice notes. I appreciate your choice as to how to spend some part of a weekend.

9

I am always amazed at how well these types of wines age from good years. 2-3 years ago I had a wonderful bottle of 1982 Meyney that was still going strong. I bought a lot of these things in the 80s (esp. 82 when they were unbelievably cheap -had Gloria, Chasse Spleen, Latour du Pin Figeac, Ormes de Pez and maybe one or two others) and wish I had kept some.

10

Well, basketball will soon be upon us, Blake, and at least a portion of some of the weekends will be in attendance at the U of A Wildcat games. [basic-smile.gif]

How do the Jayhawks look for the upcoming season? Arizona is loaded again, even with the loss of Nick Johnson and Aaron Gordon.

Hank [cheers.gif]

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Howard, such wines can offer up some attractive drinking, as opposed to what have become “investments” for many of the Classed Growths. Your mention of the Tour-du-Pin Figeac brought back memories of the 1970 vintage, which we enjoyed for many years. In fact, there could still be a bottle or two sitting somewhere in my cellar.

I have been encouraging the Edmonton chapter of the Commanderie de Bordeaux to buy some of those lesser lights, as they are released, for its cellar, so that these wines can be enjoyed with dinners in years to come. First Growths and Second Growths are prohibited price wise for our group. Even Fifth Growths are challenging for our group budget.

Hank [cheers.gif]

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Im envious of being able to go to any and all of the home games. I do get my Jayhawk hoops fix each season by traveling back for a Saturday/ Monday home game set up, otherwise, its in front of the tube or in person if they have a game on the West Coast. I know the Cats are looking good and the Hawks are in another one of those “re-building” years with a lot of potential, stellar athletes and all of the intangibles that have contributed to a legendary history. Having a point guard is the major current concern.
All the best.

13

Living well Hank.

14

We polished off a split of this over the last two nights. I picked up some cardamom notes as well, along with the honeyed / glacee apricots. I quite liked it and had not had it in many years, but the nice acidity it had its youth didn’t seem as crisp this time around. I’ve owned it since release, and my cork was halfway soaked, which I thought was weird. Maybe it shows better from a full size bottle. Maybe a B+/A- for my palate.