Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

A fanciful winter nativity scene provided the setting for our presents this year.

Crèche sporting a Harry & David manger for the baby sheepus:



I opened the Mouton on Christmas Eve to go with Filet Mignon.
Perfect cork

came out in one piece with my ah-so

Dark red color with no thinning at the edge. Subdued nose at first, became more expressive with time.
Nice dark fruits and cigar box. Not especially complex but in a good place right now, and it gave great pleasure accompanying the Filet.
93 points

For dinner on Christmas Day I opened my bottle of 1978 Ch. Palmer.
This bottle had seeped a fair amount into the capsule leaving a thick crust. Level was still at the very top of the shoulder though. The cork was not tight and came out easily with my corkscrew, leaving only the last 1/4" broken off a short distance from the top. Loads of sediment in the bottle, some of which clogged my filter near the end of the decant.
This was better than the Pauillac from the night before. What came to mind with my first whiff was - Umami. This wine is very savory, with plenty of forest floor aroma layered on top of the dark red fruit. Baking spices and lip smacking acidity led to a medium long finish.
Up to now this is my WOTY.
94 points

Nice! What is the vintage of the Mouton?

We must think alike. Yesterday we drank 2001 Mouton and today for lunch at Chez Panisse we'll have 1979 Palmer.

stefan wrote:Nice! What is the vintage of the Mouton?

1988

Good looking set up. Most 88s I've had are relatively restrained. Seems you had a good experience with the Mouton.

Well done Chris!

Nice, Chris! I still have a couple of 88 Mouton - wedding year wine purchased on release.

Merry Christmas and best for the New Year!

Very nice!

Side note...Joyeux Noel is one of my favorite Christmas movies

Joyeux Noël Racer Chris.

Very nice set up and idea with the Mouton. Thank you for the pictures. I don't have the chance to try First Growth often, so enjoy the report you and others are writing about them.

Nic

Nicklasss wrote: Very nice set up and idea with the Mouton.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity - I mean, it was a perfect fit. The bottle was already swaddled.

@ Marc F - I was not familiar with that movie, will have to check it out.

@ Stefan - As was mentioned in your Xmas thread, "I want to be like you when I grow up."

Chris...loved the Mouton presentation...where did u score the Mouton cloth?

robert goulet wrote:Chris...loved the Mouton presentation...where did u score the Mouton cloth?

Afaik it's tissue paper that the bottles were wrapped in from the Chateau.