With Keiichi back in town for a few days, a couple of the Usuals got together for a Friday lunch.
Marguet Pere et Fils Blanc de Noirs Champagne NV - Not too interesting. Curiously hollow but it does have a bit of yeastiness which I like. A rather lightish Champagne.
Chateau Leoville Las Cases 1982 - Keiichi's bottle. The first time we met Keiichi he brought an '89 of this wine for a blind challenge and his wine came in last. He opened another bottle sometime last year which also didn't do too well. Fortunately, this bottle performed quite well. Sweet nose. A bit of camphor. Rich. Refreshing acidity and still rather prominent tannins. The fruit has faded into the background. Just a little more time is required to soften it further but it is a very good wine now.
Chateau Lascombes 2005 - Very dark. New Worldy, cola nose. Sweet nose. Very tannic, dense, monolithic. This needs major aging. Stay away for 5 years at least.
Chateau Lafon Rochet 2004 - Sweet nose. A little candy, menthol, Medium-bodied. Still tight. Another wine that needs more time.
Chateau Coutet 2003 - It's been a while since I've had this Barsac so I thought a revisit was needed to see how this is getting along. Intensely sweet. Orange marmalade. Creamy. Good balance. Still very primary as it doesn't have much complexity. Needs a couple of more years to get interesting.
Although Keiichi left after the Coutet, the rest of us decided to stay and Greg insisted on opening at least one more red.
Domaine Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape 2003 - Rather pale, almost Pinot Noir-like. Soft, juicy, candied-fruit and dried herbs. Good and likely at peak now.
