EASTSIDE TASTING GROUP END OF YEAR EXTRAVAGANZA - Newcastle, WA (12/20/2019)
Jason and Tracy hosted a remarkable end of year dinner and tasting. The attendees were exceedingly generous, and on the whole this was one of the more remarkable tastings I have ever had the joy to attend. (No wines were served blind other than the 1963 Warre.)
As everyone arrived, we nibbled on cheese and sipped these three.
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1990 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut - France, Champagne
Well this is a heck of a way to start an epic tasting. Apart from a paucity of bubbles, there was very little showing the age of this wine. Surprisingly gentle, mineral, the obligatory toasty brioche notes. Quite delicate and subtle. -
2012 Arnaud Ente Meursault Clos des Ambres - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault
Oh wow, this baby was a beast. Explosively flinty, tightly wound, this just leaps all over your palate. I wish I could have lingered with this for much longer. -
1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Tondonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
No one seemed to grab this in their pictures. I would have thought this was Rose from the color. Quite oxidative. Someone said it was a proper example and typical. This deserved more mindshare than I could give it.
We started off with a humble pair of Washington wines that showed quite well.
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1983 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Washington - USA, Washington
Leafy, bell pepper, quite edge. A bit thin but pure Cabernet with veggies, if you like that. (I do!) -
1992 Columbia Winery Cabernet Sauvignon David Lake Signature Series Otis Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
A real step up from the CSM Cab tasted before. Also quite edgy, vinous, some black fruit, cedar, still dusty tannins. This was lovely.
A little warmup to revv our Bordeaux engine.
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1990 Château La Conseillante - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Mmm, the leafiness of the Cab Franc shows up. The palate moves to lush black cherry and cocoa. Some sur-maturite and a hint of soy creep into the glass, showing the (over)ripeness of 1990. A lovely way to start off the Bordeaux!
With a little beef stew served in puff pastry cups, this flight got us going.
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1970 Château Margaux - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
There was considerable debate as to whether this was slightly corked. A pretty nose. Palate is dilute and definitely shows a little musty/moldy edge. In the end, after I left it sit, I do indeed think this was a little corked. Shame. NR (flawed) -
1961 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Spiny, tobacco, Pauillac time! Lots of leaf and mint with surprising structure. -
1961 Château L’Eglise-Clinet - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
From magnum, booyah! Crazily fresh, black fruit, plum and spirit. Loads of chocolate. Really hedonistic.
Wow, this flight was epic. I hazarded points for this and the next flight to put them into some relative perspective. In reality, any one of these wines would have been epic and basically perfect.
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1982 Château Mouton Rothschild - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
A terrific example of this wine. Incredible spine and mineral. My notes were thin, but the wine was not. (98 pts.) -
1986 Château Mouton Rothschild - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
This was decanted for 12 hours and needed it. Dense, powerful, brooding and smoldering with black fruit and intensity. This is remarkable, a freak of a wine. (96 pts.) -
1989 Château Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Holy s**t. I have had this wine a number of times and always been impressed, but this one finally broke through. Just next level. Truffle, red fruit, coffee, mineral. Luscious. Incredible depth and balance. This is a baby. (100 pts.)
Simply incredible. All were perfect. I took one point off the 1959 Haut Brion, since it crashed a bit in the glass. Wow, wow, wow!!!
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1955 Château Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Graves explosion. Roasty, toasty and smoky. The smell of a hot pine forest with some resin notes. Pure cherry palate. This is really the essence of Graves and everything I hope to find in Haut Brion. Wow! (100 pts.) -
1959 Château Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Wow, the nose of reminiscent of the 55, but the palate is deeper and dustier, heavier. There is maybe a little muddiness or the hint of some salt marsh. Wow what a palate. Deep and plummy with fruitcake. Explosive fruit. Alas, this just wowed on first pour, but it tired just a hint in the glass whereas the 55 gained in intensity. (99 pts.) -
1959 Pétrus - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Deep, plummy, cassis. Wowza Merlot. A silky blast of chocolate and black cherry. Perfection. (100 pts.)
Shifting gears is tough. Too tough for me.
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1999 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
Lovely. Liqueur of Cabernet. But just way, way too much alcohol and oomph, especially following incredible flights of Bordeaux.
And finally some dessert.
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1963 Warre Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto
A beautifully aged vintage port, although for me it was marred a bit by intense spirit, overwhelming actually. -
2000 Alois Kracher Chardonnay TBA #7 Nouvelle Vague - Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee
Thick and intense with botrytis and apricot. I think I prefer these in their youth.
What an epic evening. Thanks to all!
Posted from CellarTracker