TN: 95 Croix du Casse [Pomerol]
Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2015 6:08 am
95 Croix du Casse [Pomerol] This was the first bottle from a case I purchased at auction (I think it was $400/cs before hammer fees?) shortly after release. As my wife noticed -- unusually -- there are no importer labels, nor French tax stamps, on the bottles. So I'm not sure how exactly this made its way into the US. This was stored in an awkward location for years, so despite the various moves we've made, it didn't get accessed til this year. But wow, the wait was worth it. Jean Michel Arcaute was the winemaker here during this era (as well as at Clinet) and some great wines were made in that 1990-2000 era before he died in an accident. I might have the precise dates incorrect there, but in general, the wines were out of the ball park great in that time frame, much more so than the times before or after. The label states 12.5% abv on it which seems almost quaint now, but it feels just right. It's medium bodied, mature at the edges, and shows a complex, captivating nose. We went to a French bakery that does a dinner service (the kind of place that offers linen napkins, but no tablecloth's) and had a platter of charcuterie, a bowl of bisque, a gruyere tarte, and mussels & frites to go with it. A good choice by the SO, since I'd forgotten all about this place. (Les Baux in East Sacramento would be good for a casual offline if anyone wanted to give it a whirl) The 95 CdC's bouquet showed red fruit, smoke, and spice. A great finish, maybe 40 seconds in length, and a fine example of a mature Pomerol to be enjoyed now. Plush texture -- only near the end of dinner did I pick up any tannins at all. The bottle was consumed effortlessly, with a glass sent back to the chef, with the wonderment of "where did that wine go? how did we drink it so fast?" I have a bunch of this, yet still googled it after coming back. Those who are interested can find some at Hart Davis in Chicago (a vendor I love) for $45, which is only a few bucks more than what I paid back in the 90s. Link is below. I'd give it an A-. Served at 60F but no decanting. Great example of why patience is rewarded for Bordeaux enthusiasts.
http://www.hdhwine.com/retail-wine-detail/oto-lot/622
http://www.hdhwine.com/retail-wine-detail/oto-lot/622