These are short notes from a quickly-planned dinner at Café Loup last week in NYC attended by 6 members of the Bordeaux Wine Enthusiast group. The tasting started with a Burgundy flight, followed by the Bordeaux.
The 1992 Louis Latour Corton Charlemagne with notes of honey, some tropical fruit and very good structure, was one terrific white to start with.
Having the young 2005 F & D Clair St-Aubin Dents de Chien to provide the contrast, in terms of evolution/maturity, was a treat. Citrus, lemon, hints of hard candy and honey, I think that this is a fine wine to stash away and watch develop.
The 2000 Marquis D'Angerville Volnay is quite lovely, which I found to be on the austere side, but with good balance.
The 2005 Marquis D'Angerville Volnay 1er drank very well. It was quite big yet silky, with layers of red fruit. It was the favorite Burgundy of the group.
The 2004 Mugneret-Gibourg Vosne-Romanee was more upfront and quite voluptuous, even when sometimes it tastes relatively a little more closed and tight at his point. Even then as it showed good red fruit, balanced with nice fresh acidity.
Now, on to the Bordeaux:
The 1996 Chateau Lagrange had the stuffings that will provide more drinking pleasure in years to come. Quite big, but with just the appropriate ripeness, tannin and acidity, I'm happy to get good data point on this today.
The 1996 Leoville Las Cases with its power and muscle, is one of the best Left Bank wine that I’ve had from that vintage. It is what I think a good classic Saint Julien is with its subtle ripe fruit, great balance, and complemented by a nice level of austerity. I expect this to be better than it already is with many more bottle years
The 1990 Vieux Chateau Certan is one of the Bordeaux wines that pulled me in into the hobby. Drinking very well, this bottle showed secondary notes of earth, wood leather and cigar. Ripe black fruit, and as noted by a few participants, evolved with addition of red fruit toward the 2nd hour. It provided a nice mature contrast to the relatively youthful 1996s.
The 2004 Clerc Milon is pleasant to drink. Quite austere, young but drinking rather nicely at this point. I'll be looking out for it if the prices are reasonable.
Finally, the 1989 Raymond Lafon Sauternes provided a good finale with its nice, easy drinking, some slight creaminess and not cloying sweetness.
The general feeling was that the wines drank nicely that evening, with both the 1996 Bordeaux bottles continuing to provide beyond satisfactory experience.
Ramon