Xmas Eve with MichaelP and Nalan
Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2021 8:06 pm
MichaelP and Nalan came over on Xmas Eve for some roast goose and we drank some decent stuff.
We started with a NV Hugues Godmé Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs - somewhat disappointing without the fruit or length I'd like but everyone else liked it more.
Michael blinded us on a couple of Bordeaux. He told us that they were from the same year, one Right Bank, one Left Bank.
One of the wines was well-evolved, relatively lean and tannic but with good complexity and moderate length. Felt Left Bank to me, probably from 1966 or 1975.
The other was very young and fresh, lush ripe fruit and explosive. Very long, loads of tannins but well-balanced, complex, and just spectacular. I thought Right Bank, and then if 1975, would fit as Pomerol.
I of course was wrong - they were from 1988. The first wine was a 1988 Margaux, and the second was a 1988 Lafleur.
I usually don't rate Margaux as highly as most, and I continue not to. While very nice and complete, I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as one should enjoy a first growth from a good vintage.
This was my first Lafleur, and it was spectacular. I can see why it is so expensive. Just fantastic, certainly one of the best wines I've tasted this year.
I also opened a 1964 as I tend to do - a Gattinara (northern Piedmont) Antoniolo Piemonte Nebbiolo Spanna del Piemonte Santa Chiara. Never a great wine but in perfect condition, still tannic and lively with round fruit. Not quite a Margaux or Lafleur but it held its own.
A great evening with great company!
SF Ed
We started with a NV Hugues Godmé Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs - somewhat disappointing without the fruit or length I'd like but everyone else liked it more.
Michael blinded us on a couple of Bordeaux. He told us that they were from the same year, one Right Bank, one Left Bank.
One of the wines was well-evolved, relatively lean and tannic but with good complexity and moderate length. Felt Left Bank to me, probably from 1966 or 1975.
The other was very young and fresh, lush ripe fruit and explosive. Very long, loads of tannins but well-balanced, complex, and just spectacular. I thought Right Bank, and then if 1975, would fit as Pomerol.
I of course was wrong - they were from 1988. The first wine was a 1988 Margaux, and the second was a 1988 Lafleur.
I usually don't rate Margaux as highly as most, and I continue not to. While very nice and complete, I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as one should enjoy a first growth from a good vintage.
This was my first Lafleur, and it was spectacular. I can see why it is so expensive. Just fantastic, certainly one of the best wines I've tasted this year.
I also opened a 1964 as I tend to do - a Gattinara (northern Piedmont) Antoniolo Piemonte Nebbiolo Spanna del Piemonte Santa Chiara. Never a great wine but in perfect condition, still tannic and lively with round fruit. Not quite a Margaux or Lafleur but it held its own.
A great evening with great company!
SF Ed