WTN: 1995 Bordeaux at Balvanera

Our Bordeaux group is trying to do a series of the 5/0 anniversary vintages this year, last night was 1995s at 30. We met at Balvanera, started with Champagnes and whites, with bacalau croquettas, octopus, provaleta, crudo, and salad

2006 Vilmart Grand Cellier Rose Champagne
Jay says this bottling has since been relabeled “Emotion”. Strawberries and cream, a spicy cinnamon note, elegant mousse, good finish. B+/A-

1995 Ch, Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc
Vanillin oak, pears, a honied note, alive but a bit tired. B/B-

2011 Pierre Yves Colin-Morey Champs Gains Chassagne-Montrachet 1er
Young, a bit reductive on nose with a gunflint note, lemon and honeydew, good length. B+/B

With reds we had the usual excellent skirt steak, morcilla, fries, and carrots
St Emilion flight
1995 Ch. Angelus
This was kinda attractive in a lush mocha mode at first, but to me (others liked more) the wood began to poke out and the fruti turned a bit kirschy. B-

1995 Ch. Magdelaine
Most divisive wine, I’m in the pro camp. Dark fruit with lots of mint and herbs and a hint of chipotle, others thought too green. I think just young and needs time. B+

Mixed Flight
1995 Ch. Pichon Lalande
This was so dark and brooding to start, not the elegant Pichon Lalande style I love. Much improved with air, though stays in a muscular style. B+ by end

1995 Ch. Sociando-Mallet Jean Gautreau
I think this was first bottling of this (and only 2nd Jean Gautreau I’ve had). Firm cassis fruit, walnuts, cigarbox, plenty of verve. B+

St. Estephe Flight
1995 Ch. Cos d’Estournel
This was weird, closed in and dank, but not obviously flawed. Hard and uncharming. B-/C+

1995 Ch. Montrose
The best thing about this was it was better than the Cos. Solid, stolid, firm tannins. B-

First Growth Flight
1995 Ch. Mouton-Rothschild
I’m a Mouton detractor but admit when it’s on it’s on. Cassis, espresso, hint of eucalyptus, exotic and plush but with backbone. WOTN. A-

1995 Ch. Haut Brion
This wasn’t best bottle I’ve ever had of this, but still quite good. Dark fruit with tobacco leaf and gravelly soil, powerful but with elegance. A-/B+

We did our usual 3/2/1 voting, Mouton by a landslide.
Mouton 23
Pichon Lalande 9
Sociando-Mallet Jean Gautreau 7
Haut Brion 6
Magdelaine 2
Angelus 1


Fun night, though It didn’t make me want to rush out and buy 1995s

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.

[David M. Bueker]

1995 is such a charmer.

The vintage pops up in my tasting group every once in a while, never to great success. That said, we have not had the Mouton.

Thanks for the Vilmart note. I still have an ‘04, which likely needs drinking.

Interesting notes, thanks. Will be interested in the notes whenever you do the '85 tasting (birthyear, plus trying to source some wines for my birthday celebrations this winter, so more data points will be useful).

95 has been hit or miss for me but I generally like the wines. Agree they're not always charming, but I also liked a number of '75s and '86s that were a little austere and structured. Have a couple of the Magdelaine, glad for the positive note there (I also like that bit of greenness a lot of Magdelaines have).

Shame GPL didn't make an appearance - that's one of my favorite wines from the vintage, have one left and was thinking of opening it soon given CT notes.

Nice report, Dale. Sounds like a lot of uninspiring bottles, alas.

We had hoped to have the GPL, but person couldn't physically locate it though he had in CT.
Coincidentally, the next day someone's FB page brought back a memory from 2015 when basically same group did 1995s. A bigger selection, 12 wines, but many of the same. The Mouton was first then, followed by the GPL. Turns out Cos was my least favorite both nights.
Yes, Jeff, though there was a lot of good wine Mon there were some expensive whiffs.

Interesting tasting. I’m still holding out hope for the best of the 95s to become swans someday, wines like Ducru, Pichon Baron, Lynch Bages, etc.

A couple of more QPR 95s I have had good luck with are the regular Sociando and Lagune.

I’ve had much better luck with the 95 PLL overall, having had it probably 10 times in the last 5-6 years. I am a big fan when it’s on.

I just had the 95 Magdelaine a few days ago and it showed oddly given the house style, very dark still and a little brooding. It wasn’t too green for me but it had a reduction/stewed-like note (perhaps the chipotle in your note) that I am generally not a fan of. It was mild enough to only register modest protest from my taste buds and became subtler over 2 days. FWIW, the bottle looked pristine with a perfect fill and the cork only stained about 20% of its length. I gave it a 91/92, which is roughly a B+ in your rubric, I think.

Another First that is sensational in 95 is the Lafite, which I’ve had twice.

Will be interested in the notes whenever you do the '85 tasting (birthyear, plus trying to source some wines for my birthday celebrations this winter, so more data points will be useful)

I’d be interested in helping organize a big(ger) 85 retrospective in NYC, perhaps in late June. I still have a pretty good stash including a few bottles of the precious 85 Magdelaine, which I would be happy to bring.

We had hoped to have the GPL, but person couldn't physically locate it though he had in CT.
.

Excellent vintage and I'm holding around 10 cases (including a half case of the so far untouched Grand Puy).

With your notes as encouragement, I should start in on the earlier drinking 95s!

Will be interested in the notes whenever you do the '85 tasting (birthyear, plus trying to source some wines for my birthday celebrations this winter, so more data points will be useful)

I’d be interested in helping organize a big(ger) 85 retrospective in NYC, perhaps in late June. I still have a pretty good stash including a few bottles of the precious 85 Magdelaine, which I would be happy to bring.

While my city group is planning a 1985 dinner, I'd be in for another, have several good candidates.