A double birthday party for a couple of wine friends, with one of the birthday boys hosting, cooking, and supplying almost all the wines.He announced it was Bordeaux night.
2003 Ledru Cuvee de Goulte(mag)
I think Blanc de Noirs. I haven’t had many 2003 Champagnes, but in mag this is lovely. Pit fruits, rye toast, almond, fresh and long. B+/A-
Some incredible gougere-ish sage/proscuitto pinwheels
All the still wines were blind.
Pate de Champagne and salad
First red flight
I guessed Graves, wrong, but then we made to Pomerol
Elegant, ferric, violets, nice understated fruit. Dan got Evangile, after others guessed 1970 and 1978, I got vintage, 1981 Ch. L’Evangile B+/A-
Black plums, tobacco, herbs, bright acids. I don’t remember who got estate, Sasha got vintage. 1979 Ch. Trotanoy B+
Beet gravlax with avocado
White flight
So these showed lots of oxidation (1993 was the first premox vintage in Bdx), but some good stuff underneath.
Almond, oxidative, but peach fruit with a creamy texture. 1993 Domaine de Chevaliere Blanc C+/B- for this bottle
Horribly sherried nose, but palate really wasn’t bad, with fig and hazelnut. 1993 Haut Brion Blanc B-
2013 Suenen “Les Roberts”
Deep, full, and long, white fruits and fresh bread, hint of mint. B+/A-
Rabbit with ravioli (beet/goat cheese, basil/goat cheese)
Second red flight
Great flight, but group was on wrong bank to start, thinking Latour and Lafite. We just needed a VCC to assemble the old estate!
Cassis, walnut,, rich, long. 1982 Ch. Certan-Giraud A-/B+
Black plums, coffee, fennel seed, tangy and long.1982 Ch. Certan de May A-
Lamb with roasted vegetables (potato, zucchini, tomato)
Third red flight
I think initially we were in Pomerol for both
Cassis, black plum, a truffly note, great finish. Dan or Sasha got estate and vintage. 1970 Ch. Latour a Pomerol A-
Black cherry and raspberry, cedar, cigarbox. I guessed Canon, should have remembered whose house I was at! 1970 Ch. Magdelaine B+/A-
Fourth red flight
Similar profiles, quickly in St Julien, Sasha gets #1 is Ducru, after a 1970 guess gets 1971. We are a little stuck on #2 , maybe another vintage of Ducru or a 1970 Beychevelle? Nope
#1) Cassis, candied cherries, tobacco/cigarbox, hint of mushrooms. So long.1971 Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou (from magnum)
#2) Cassis, smoke, tobacco leaf, a bit meaty. John enjoys reveal. Oops, same wine (like literally the same wine!). 1971 Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou (from same magnum). Ouch!
2005 Ch. d’Yquem
Good acids, some vanillin oak, orange marmalade, pineapple, honeycomb, very very young. A-/B+
Very fun night, great group, great food, great (red, sparkling and sweet) wines.
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.