TN: 96 Montrose & Cos d'Estournel [St Estephe]
Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2016 11:36 pm
Dinner with BillP and our wives, starting with an Iberico charcuterie platter. These are the pigs that feed on acorns...very distinctive flavor. Everything other than the Sauternes had been cellared since release.
03 Grand Puy Lacoste [Pauillac] We thought more people were showing up so this was supposed to be a teaser to be served blind. Just popped and poured. I like it, it's ready to drink, doesn't have the great density of 1990. We reminisced about the 82 as well. Not on my list of things to replace as they get drunk down since I think the estate is overpriced nowadays. Anyways I'll let Bill comment more on this one since I wanted to get others views on it. It's a B or better for me.
We decanted the two St Estephe's to give them a little air, and get them off their minimal sediment. Dinner was a terrific rack of smoked meat, Gruyere sweet potato gratin, and green beans
96 Montrose [St Estephe] Takes a little while to open up, but then there's lots of forest, pine, earth here. It's very concentrated, and I found the tannin to be well resolved. It seems to have gotten better from the last time we've had it, although I don't think its yet at the level of the 1989. I doubt it could ever reach that peak anyways. Still its a top notch, superb St Estephe: masculine, a rich core of fruit, and balance. Solid A. No fading over the night, nor any bricking at the edges.
96 Cos d'Estournel [St Estephe] A little more open than the Montrose initially, and sexier. Has an exotic, sandalwood nose. Smooth well resolved palate, tannin and acid all in check, and as it breathes gets more cedar and pipe tobacco in the bouquet. It's not as earthy, not as St Estephey as the Montrose, but is still an excellent wine, with a wonderful palate persistence. Again, another solid A wine, not fading at all over the night, nor on the rims.
One can see how close the above two are to each other
We had a Sauternes for dessert, along with cold mango mochi.
05 Rayne Vigneau [Sauternes] 13% abv, served chilled, medium gold, full bodied, fairly honeyed/glaceed texture, some cardamon on the nose. Like all Sauternes its far more delicious than any rating really captures. Doesn't have the bright verve that some great years/estates can offer. I'm guessing I've had this estate before, but for whatever reasons can't really recall any prior experience. This is more in the honeyed than crisp camp for sweet Bordeaux. It should hold for a long time. A-
03 Grand Puy Lacoste [Pauillac] We thought more people were showing up so this was supposed to be a teaser to be served blind. Just popped and poured. I like it, it's ready to drink, doesn't have the great density of 1990. We reminisced about the 82 as well. Not on my list of things to replace as they get drunk down since I think the estate is overpriced nowadays. Anyways I'll let Bill comment more on this one since I wanted to get others views on it. It's a B or better for me.
We decanted the two St Estephe's to give them a little air, and get them off their minimal sediment. Dinner was a terrific rack of smoked meat, Gruyere sweet potato gratin, and green beans
96 Montrose [St Estephe] Takes a little while to open up, but then there's lots of forest, pine, earth here. It's very concentrated, and I found the tannin to be well resolved. It seems to have gotten better from the last time we've had it, although I don't think its yet at the level of the 1989. I doubt it could ever reach that peak anyways. Still its a top notch, superb St Estephe: masculine, a rich core of fruit, and balance. Solid A. No fading over the night, nor any bricking at the edges.
96 Cos d'Estournel [St Estephe] A little more open than the Montrose initially, and sexier. Has an exotic, sandalwood nose. Smooth well resolved palate, tannin and acid all in check, and as it breathes gets more cedar and pipe tobacco in the bouquet. It's not as earthy, not as St Estephey as the Montrose, but is still an excellent wine, with a wonderful palate persistence. Again, another solid A wine, not fading at all over the night, nor on the rims.
One can see how close the above two are to each other
We had a Sauternes for dessert, along with cold mango mochi.
05 Rayne Vigneau [Sauternes] 13% abv, served chilled, medium gold, full bodied, fairly honeyed/glaceed texture, some cardamon on the nose. Like all Sauternes its far more delicious than any rating really captures. Doesn't have the bright verve that some great years/estates can offer. I'm guessing I've had this estate before, but for whatever reasons can't really recall any prior experience. This is more in the honeyed than crisp camp for sweet Bordeaux. It should hold for a long time. A-