2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post Reply
User avatar
Nicklasss
Posts: 6384
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:25 pm
Contact:

2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by Nicklasss »

BWE 2017 the Saturday wines

I was expecting someone else posting notes before me, but here are my comments about the wines on Saturday, where I think all the wines I had presented themselve in a very good way. Please keep in mind that these are very not precised as different pours quantity, more time with some wines less with others, some wines I had for the first time some for the x times, some expectation for some wines, less for some others... Make that report a non professionnal one.

On Saturday, after two great dinner on Thursday and Friday, I paced myself a bit. Many wines I missed, but no problem as I had a great time with the people.

Jean-Fred and me invired people for a "verre de l'amitié" in our room, before the officiel dinner. I opened two different Bordeaux for that time, the 2010 Chateau Clos Saint- Martin and the 1989 Chateau Chasse Spleen. 2010 Chateau Clos Saint-Martin is a wine I felt in love with in 2016. The smallest Cru Classé (1.33 hectare) in Saint Émilion. While it is young, it is a great integrated mixture of cherries, rasberries, spices, wood, light cinnamon and vanilla. In mouth, packed with fruits, good oaky structure, long, spicy, also with a light calcaire minerality. I still love it and guess it is promising. Tn: 91-92+. At the opposite, the 1989 Chateau Chasse Spleen has a very "Médoc" character. Still dark red, nose is really Cabernet Sauvignon with it light vegetal green pepper notes, integrated in strong very black blackberries, black prunes, light coal and dark violet flowers. In mouth, fully integrated, at it plateau, with still great fruit, very resolved tannins and a very decent long but kinda old leather rustic finish. Mellowed and very good. Tn: 92.

We walk to the restaurant, and were there in 15 minutes. It was fun to find everyone for the big Bordeaux night, in good mood and with a great listing of wines. I started with the 3 very different Champagne. The 1995 Charles Heidseick Blanc des Millénaires was very rich, creamy, yeasty, with light oxydation tones. Lots of yellow fruit too, with a thick texture in mouth and what seem to me lower acidity. An excellent Champagne in a generous way. Tn: 91-92. The 1996 Philiponnat Clos des Goisses has a strong mineral nose, with light white peaches and something earthy. In mouth, still that strong minerality, good acidity, chalk, salty, light lemon and some light oxydative notes. Medium body, good acidity, it reminded me a bit a Riesling, so liked it a lot. Tn: 93. The 2006 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne being the youngest Champagne, was young, with good freshness, lot of yellow fruits (dry pinneapple, pears, confit lemon) was lively in mouth. Full of pleasure, bubble, but with some density too. Tn: 93. The apperitive bouchées with the Champagne were vey nice, with some bake potato stick with salmon, crab cake and another one I forgot about :-(.

Next was the reds, and it will be in any order, as I was talking to everyone while tasting. If I remember well, I started with my 1990 Chateau Rausan Segla to make sure that first bottle was ok. A gorgeous Margaux! Super perfumed nose with strong Margauxberries, redberries, lavander, violet flowers, rasberries, grape, very light touch of spicy wood, aromas blasting out of the glass! Mouth is fitting with the nose, with that thickness mixed with elegance and length. Very very Margaux, light syrupy fruit, etheral. Tn: 95-96. I tasted the Rausan a few times (i was having another bottle I opened for Arv later in the dinner) and still great. Second was probably my red wine of the night, the 1982 Chateau l'Évangile. A perfect wine at the right place, with it's elegant powerful nose of truffle, intense red beries, rasberries, earth, violet flowers. Mouth was perfectly balanced from start to finish and very very long, with still great fruit, light chocolate, truffle, iron earth and that long blackcurrants and violet flowers finish. Resolved tannins. A great showing. Tn: 97-98. Next was the 1964 Chateau Haut-Brion, a extremely elegant Pessac. This was having a nice nose, more fruity but less intense than the 1966 from two nights ago. But the mouth was better. Complex nose of red berries, smoke, gravel and even some grape and leather. In mouth, still very lively, with ripe cranberry jam, blackberries, light vegetal and medium gravelly finish. Excellent for it age. Tn: 92.

To follow, I tried my mystery wine, the 1970 Chateau Latour à Pomerol. This old wine was risky, the cork broke in piece, I needed the help of the pro Stefan to finish the work. I taste it right after Stefan and SdR and understand immediately what they mean when they told me it was a soung wine. Nice nose of spicy caramel, old red berries, light mushrooms and old leather. Medium power nose. In mouth, very good, seems younger (Michael-p thought it was a 1983!), redberries and blackberries, leather, still a touch of oak, nice power and finish is fresh, thick, earth with wood and old cherries and powder cocoa. Well preserved. Tn: 92-93. A nice surprise. Next was Michael-p double magnum mystery wine. A good pour for me. Good color with a nose of wet earth with mineral, redberries, leaf, and some blackcoal. In mouth, crushed rasberries, wet black earth, light grape and mushroom too. Good presence in mouth. It evolved nicely during the evening becoming with more flesh, with a good structure. sound double magnum (size that helps keeping the wine young?) of the 1975 Chateau l'Église-Clinet. Tn: 91-92.

After, I tried the two Chateau Canon, the 1982 and 1983. Both were still dark red. The 1982 seemed to me quite intense but less complex: redberries, plums, minerals. The mouth was rich, low acidity, with plums, rich pomegranate, berries, maybe a touch of something like roasted meat. For the 1983, nose of flowers, redberries, spices good blackberry fruit, very perfumed. Mouth was having a rich fruity and flowery attack, but turned to mineral calcaire touch, very mineral, good acidity, structure, finish on purple berries and some oak. I preferred the 1983 that night with a Tn of 93-94, and a Tn of 92 for the 1982.

It was already incredible for quality wines, but it was not over! I continue with... 1982 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion! But some thought the bottle was not perfect. The nose was very gravelly and smoky cigarbox, with rich austere type blackberries or rasberries, also with some licorice and tobacco, medium power. In mouth, attack was very light, what make me think like some that the bottle was not perfect. But it was growing on the palate to finish strong on blackcurrants, ripe resolved tannins, smoky minerals. Long. Tn: 94. After the Graves, two very nice 1982 in a row: Chateau La Lagune and Chateau Grand-Puy Lacoste. Both of them were very typical from their aoc, the La Lagune being very "Margaux-like", with rich mix of berries, strong perfumed, and that small touch of exotic spicy vanilla oak well integrated. Glorious elegant mouth, complex, perfumed in mouth, almost "Musigny-like". The GPL was broading cassis, cedar, more cassis, light spices. Mouth was structure, blackcurrants, light coal of ashes, graphite, also a decent rich mouth. I thought both deserved a TN of 94.

Next was the 1989 Chateau d'Armailhac, with it still smoky vanilla oak tones, ripe roasted berry fruit, and sweet low tannic structure. Some very nice blackberries at the end, medium length on still roasted oak. Tn: 91. Then the 1986 Chateau Gruaud Larose, a serious Saint-Julien, with blackberries, leather, and the little Cordier funk touch of weird fruits, a bit like in a fresh Pale Ale, but still very structured and also having some serious leather/fruits/noble wood on the final. Tn of 93 that night, decanting would have helped. Than I went for the 1995 Chateau Kirwan, that I thought was excellent, very Margaux-berries, little herbaceous, very integrated oak. The mouth was medium weight, but with very good and clean flavors of fruits, and the nice structure that some 1995 have. Decent long. Tn: 91-92. My second to last red of the night (but not the least), was the 1996 Chateau Montrose in magnum. I brought a bottle of that in 2014 and it was excellent. The magnum was containing a younger wine, but very 1996 but the fresh concentrated cassis, light blue fruits, some very nice tannins, finishing with medium long aftertaste of cassis, light spices and forrest floor flavors. Promising. Tn: 92+. Last red was the 1981 Chateau Léoville Las Cases, mellowed and resolved after all these years, mixture of darkred berries, flowers and still some earthy notes. Time to drink as the mouth is perfectly balanced.tn: 90-91.

Next was the Sauternes, and I only taste two, and the first one was magic. The 1967 Chateau d'Yquem is not a wine you see in every places, as it has a "almost mystical" reputation. The color was darker than the deep gold Sauternes has sometime, but no brownish tea yet. Nose was very "Oh my God", with all that characterize young Yquem and older Sauternes, just too complex for almost any noses! Old syrup peaches, dry apricots, thick honey, some ginger bread, orange tree flowers, roasted character, and more. In mouth, this was very Yquem, being so rich, but nothing heVy at the same time. Sweet, good core of sugary fruits, peaches, honeyed and vanilla spicy dessert, long burned creme brulée crust final, with rich botrytized sweet confit citruses. Long. Tn: 98. What a wine, but I hesitate to give a higher rate as I have a tough time to "imagine" what could be a 100 points Sauternes... Following was the 1997 Chateau de Fargues, a very good rich wine, with younger nose of traditionnal acacia flowers, apricots, roasted wood vanilla, botrytis and light mandarines. In mouth, good richness, still young, with that elegance underneath even if rich, suufered a bit to be after the 1967 Yquem, but an excellent Sauternes now, that will be greater in 10 years. Tn: 92+. For what reason, I thought that 1997 de Fargues was equal to a split of 1997 Yquem we had in Charlotte.

This was it for me, and I know there was many other great wines I did not taste, namely 1967-1970-1978 Chateau Haut-Brion, 1986 Domaine de Chevalier, 1982 Chateau La Dominique, 1982 Chateau Beychevelle, 2002 Chateau Léoville Barton, 1995 Chateau Rauzan Segla, 1967 Chateau Montrose, 1982 Chateau La Louvière, 1982 Chateau Certan de May, 1986 Chateau Lafaurie Peyraguey and 2001 Chateau Myrat. Maybe some more I'm missing. But I thank everyone for the extreme generosity, the fun talks, the great time, and like you all, I'm looking forward the next time.

Nic
User avatar
Winona Chief
Posts: 806
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:11 pm
Contact:

Re: 2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by Winona Chief »

By Saturday night, I fear my brain was a bit wine-addled so I don't have a whole lot to say. My favorites were probably the 1982 L'Evangile followed by the 1982 Certan de May.

I think I must be in a Pomerol state of mind because on Thursday night, my favorites were the 1989 Le Conseillante and 1989 Trotanoy.

Chris Bublitz
User avatar
Blanquito
Posts: 5923
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:24 pm

Re: 2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by Blanquito »

I'm with Chris, the 89 Conseillante was my WOTN Thursday and the 82 l'Evangile was my WOTN Saturday. And my Friday WOTN, the 92 Dominus, was made by the famed Pomerol family of Moueix.
User avatar
JimHow
Posts: 20106
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:49 pm
Location: Lewiston, Maine, United States
Contact:

Re: 2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by JimHow »

I don't recall tasting the 1964 Haut Brion, did anyone else give it a try?
User avatar
stefan
Posts: 6224
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:08 pm
Location: College Station, TX
Contact:

Re: 2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by stefan »

I did, Jim. It was good with typical Graves character and old wine characteristics.

I did not get a taste of the other Haut-Brions.
User avatar
JeanFred
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:39 pm
Contact:

Re: 2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by JeanFred »

I had the chance to taste the 3 Haut-Brion 64-70-78.
By far the 1978 was the best of the group, with mushroom and earthy nose. Long mouth, melted tannin, round, good balance with good freshness – 94.

The H-B 70 was good, earthy Grave taste but to much alcohol in final – 90.

The 1964 was correct, same nose than the 1966, on Tuesday but quite less powerful with smoky and earthy character. However, the 64 taste better and had a better balance than 1966 – 87.

The complete summary is coming

Jean-Fred
User avatar
JeanFred
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:39 pm
Contact:

Re: 2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by JeanFred »

Saturday “Dreamer” Night – The 82 Shine!

All the 1982 shine and was incredible. After the great champagne, I started with the 2 Canon 82-83, those wines was the wines a prefer, with Evangile

Canon 82 Cherry nose, cigar box, earthy, complex and long, same thing in mouth, Round, very long, So charming – 98
Canon 83: Close to the 82, The nose less expressive but more in power. In mouth, more with a tertiary aspect and more define, Incredible – 97
Evangile 82 : Oh my god, The quintessence of finesse! That’s it – 97
Mission Haut-Brion 82 : Some comment wasn’t a great bottle? I Just love it. The more powerful 82, not as complexe and define than the other however – 95
La Lagune 82: Love his “creamy aspect” and his rich mouth, perfect balance - 95
Grand Puy-Lacoste 82 – Spicy and a More classic Pauillac Structure, Great Bordeaux! 93

Also I had the chance to taste the 3 Haut-Brion 64-70-78.
By far the 1978 was the best of the group, with mushroom and earthy nose. Long mouth, melted tannin, round, good balance with good freshness – 94.
The H-B 70 was good, earthy Grave taste but too much alcohol in final – 90. The 1964 was correct, same nose than the 1966, on Tuesday but quite less powerful with smoky and earthy character. However, the 64 taste better and had a better balance than 1966 – 87.

The Montrose 67 had a charming approach but nothing else – 86

The Leoville Las Cases 1981 was impressive. Delicate, finesse, very expressive, Love It – 92-93

After “strugeling” with his wines on Thursday and Friday, good wines but I didn’t have great bottles as he expected. Jean-Nicolas scored for the last dinner:
Latour a Pomerol 1970: Youth for a 70, great fruit, blueberry, freshness, not that long but complex, love it – 93
Rausan Segla 1990: Awesome nose and dense aromas of margaux berries nose. In mouth, a lot of fruit, powerful, very charming, complex and still very youth a lot to give – 95++

Gruaud Larose: As Rausan, very youth, for 1986! Long, still tannic, good acidity, need time – 93++

Some other good wines who suffer from the comparison
Kirwan 1995 – 91
Armailhac – 91
Eglise Clinet 1975 - 90
Montrose 1996 – 90

I finish with 3 wonderful Sauternes, Mirat, Farques and the Amazing Yquem 1967!

A lot of incredible wine I tasted and I know missed also other great wine that I didn’t taste as great 82: Certan, La Dominique, Beychevelle,…

Again, and again, thanks to all for this great night!

Jean-Fred
User avatar
JimHow
Posts: 20106
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:49 pm
Location: Lewiston, Maine, United States
Contact:

Re: 2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by JimHow »

Great stuff Jean-Frederick, hope to do it again soon!
User avatar
JeanFred
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:39 pm
Contact:

Re: 2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by JeanFred »

Thank you Jim

Now

I'm going to read you post to post a picture

Tha't coming...
User avatar
JimHow
Posts: 20106
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:49 pm
Location: Lewiston, Maine, United States
Contact:

Re: 2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by JimHow »

Ok why don't you try one or two first.
Every one of Nic's pictures appears upside down on my computer.
It is fine when I view it from my iPhone.
User avatar
JeanFred
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:39 pm
Contact:

Re: 2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by JeanFred »

3 BWE Legends with the 67 Legend
Attachments
BWE.JPG
BWE.JPG (81.8 KiB) Viewed 981 times
User avatar
JeanFred
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:39 pm
Contact:

Re: 2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by JeanFred »

TIM brings back the Legend...
Attachments
BWETim.jpg
BWETim.jpg (87.29 KiB) Viewed 978 times
User avatar
tim
Posts: 925
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:01 pm
Location: Paris, France
Contact:

Re: 2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by tim »

Twas an amazing wine! And the bottle will be a benchmark against future forgeries of the same!
User avatar
AKR
Posts: 5234
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2015 4:33 am
Contact:

Re: 2017 BWE SF: Saturday

Post by AKR »

I didn't take notes at the big Saturday event, but on the flip side, I didn't overindulge, which I normally would do at such at awesome event.

So amazingly, lots of wines which I'm familiar with, I might have taken a pass on, to make space for others.

Perhaps that makes the wines slightly more memorable.

It was, as always, a thrilling spectrum of wines.

Overall: even though I like aged Bordeaux, on the whole, many of the wines were beyond my usual consumption points.

Between ages 10-20 are when I think these generally drink the best for my usage patterns and preferences.


--Champagne--

I caught 2 out of the three, and enjoyed them, the SO liked them more.

--Bordeaux--
1964 Haut Brion (Ed) - I think I missed this
1967 Montrose (Ed) - I missed this
1967 Haut Brion (CabFan) - was this off?
1970 Haut Brion (Cabfan) - very charry, cigarry to me
1978 Haut Brion (Tim) - basically the same as above
1981 Leoville Las Cases (Tim) - it's been a long time since I've had this, smooth.
1982 GPL (William P) - I don't know which bottle I had, but it was super
1982 GPL #2 (Chris B)
1982 Canon (Stefan & Lucie) - a little taut, muted
1983 Canon - I might have gotten these two Canon's crossed up in the glass. I had thought they would be more radiant.
1982 Certan de May (Chris B) - one of the best wines I've had in the last year. solid A+. I've not had this in 15 years.
1982 Beychevelle (Blanquito & hermano) - on the lighter side
1982 La Lagune (Stefan & Lucie) - I don't know which one I had, very elegant
1982 La Lagune #2 (Chris B)
1982 LMHB - seemed muted
1982 Dominique (BD) - these always keep longer than people think. lots of fruit for its age.
1982 Louviere (Blanquito & hermano) - missed this I think
1986 Gruaud Larose (Nic & ami) - passed on this
1990 Rausan Ségla (Nic & ami) - loved this, both bottles. not seen as much as one would think
1996 Montrose - en magnum (Arv) - pretty open and drinking well
2000 Cos d'Estournel (Danny) - passed on this, I think
1979 Cos - a bit tired
2002 Leoville Barton - en magnum (Arv) - pretty open and drinking well, far fruitier than the older wines here tonite
70 Latour a Pomerol - a rarity and the first time I've ever had this. I liked it.
75 l'Eglise Clinet (dmag) - ditto. I had a very big glass of it. I'd guessed it was a 70's era Medoc.
86 Domaine de Chevalier rouge - tannic to me.
89 d'Armailhac - outclassed by peers tonite
95 Rauzan Segla - pretty good, the 90 was better, but not by as much as one would think.
95 Kirwan (I thought there were multiple vintages?) - was there an 83 here too? I liked this. Kirwan doesn't seem to have much collective representation in our cellars
--Sauternes--
1986 Lafaurie Peyraguey (Blanquito & hermano) - passed but have had a lot of this
1997 de Fargues (Danny) - lovely
2001 Ch. de Myrat (William P) - solid
1967 y'quem - my splash was a little warm, I still remember the first time I had this 15 or 20 years ago.

================

I'm sure I missed some, or confused others, even though I tried to keep my three glasses sorted out, and didn't go crazy with the guzzling.

Events like this do help illustrate for me the sweet spot in consumption points.

Of course their are quality/vintage differences, but in general I think the wines to be drinking now are the 95,96L,98R,00's.

Older ones have had too much fruit loss compared to complexity gains, and the younger ones (outside the petit chateaux) are still on the upswing.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot] and 13 guests