Our Bordeaux group decided to do Bordeaux for a change, and gathered at the always welcoming Noreetuh for a look at 2000 claret as a light snow fell. As soon as we had a quorum we ordered the mochiko fried chicken (with pickles and macaroni salad)
2007 Corbon Blanc de Blancs Avize Champagne
Apple pie, Bosc pear, a cashew note, floral. Broad mineral finish with a chalky edge. I liked a lot. A-/B+
2012 Le Brun-Servenay Champagne Exhilarante Vieilles Vignes
I’m told this is also Avize BdB, though I wouldn’t have guessed. Lemon meringue, mango, peach. Tasty in a slightly slutty way. B+
Musubi (galbi, spam,Japanese scallops), followed by wild boar chops with farro and mustard greens
Pomerol Flight
2000 Ch. Trotanoy
Black plum, coffee, eucalyptus,cocoa. Rich and structured, tasty now with a long future. B+/A-
2000 Ch. La Fleur Petrus
Corked, now that’s a shame!
Dry aged NYstrip, bacon fried rice
Pauillac Flight
For a while I thought the Baron was better than Comtesse, but she picked up weight and probably ended as my WOTN by a hair.
2000 Ch. Pichon Baron
Rich and powerful, classic cassis and pencil lead, surprisingly approachable, B+/A-
2000 Ch. Lynch Bages
This was weird and somewhat hard (it was only opened at restaurant), hard tannins and supersoft acids, with a strange herbal nose. B-/C+
2000 Ch.Pichon Lalande
Winner of the most improved category. The green pepper note was a bit prominent at first, but as it settled into itself the fruit seemed to deepen and the simple bell pepper note became chipotle with fragrant herbs. Most fun indeed. A-/B+
St. Julien Flight
2000 Ch. Leoville Las Cases
Very approachable for a big vintage LLC. Black berry and currant, leather, firm but not hard tannins. Not really charming, but impressive. B+
2000 Ch. Leoville Poyferre
Softest and most approachable wine of the night. Black cherry with mocha, some vanillin oak, easiest tannins. Actually pretty ready. B/B+
Fun night. As always service and food at Noreetuh were great.
The group voting:
Pichon Lalande 13 pts
Pichon Baron 11
Leoville Las Cases 9
Leoville Poyferre 4
Trotanoy 2
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.