Family Dinner - 2017 Meursault Narvaux, Louis Jadot & 1986 Château Potensac

2017 Meursault Narvaux, Louis Jadot
Christmas dinner with the family (instead of a vertical tasting of Kongsgaard Chardonnay...). I wanted something decent to drink so I opened these two bottles.
The young Meursault leaps out from the glass with a smoky, buttery nose with additional notes of tangerines, fudge and yellow flowers. Intense and very fine.
The taste is deep, broad and refined with notes of sweet oranges, fudge, smoke and a hitn of coconut. A very fine acidity. Long and luscious. 6+ years. Great wine.
From my perennial favourites Pain of Salvation, they released this in 2017.
94p   (tasted 2019/12)

1986 Château Potensac
Another bottle from the recent Potensac buy. This 86 displays a velvety, mature nose with notes of autumn leaves, clean stables, ripe black currants, violets and cold coffee. A very fine maturity.
The taste is mature, dry and structured with notes of red and black currants, undergrowth, pencil shavings and tiles. Medium bodied. Drinking perfect today.
And this catchy tune came out in 1986.
90p   (tasted 2019/12)

1995 Vintage Port, Quinta Do Vesuvio

1995 Vintage Port, Quinta do Vesuvio
A deep, seedy nose with notes of damsons, raisins, dark chocolate, tar, sugared coffe, mahogany and blackberry jam. Deep, tight and complex. Still needs plenty of time.
The taste is intense and structured with notes of toasted almonds, dark chocolate, bonfire, fried nuts and sun warm asphalt. Very, very long. Needs 20+ years.
Two great tracks from 1995 - Blind Guardian & our Swedish At The Gates.
93p   (tasted 2019/12)

2004 Barolo, Josetta Saffirio

2004 Barolo, Josetta Saffirio
The Barolo Boys visited Sara Vezza Saffirio, who is the wine maker, for the first time in 2007 (see a pic from that visit below).
A deep, forest filled nose with mushrooms, undergrowth and freshly sawed wood. Some additional notes of dark licorice, dried tomatoes and asphalt. Still youngish.
The taste is dry and structured with notes of corinthians, dark chocolate, licorice and dark cherries. Some wood tannins at the end, which I´m sure will integrate nicely with another 8+ years in the cellar. Very, very good.
The "figure" on the label is not a Santa (even though he looks like one), but it feels appropriate to drink this bottle during the Christmas holidays. It has appeared on the label since 1985.
Lots of great albums in 2004, here are some highlights - Iced Earth/The Reckoning, The Haunted/All Against All, Motörhead/In The Name Of Tragedy, Behemoth/Demigod (I am in the audicende here!).
89p   (tasted 2019/12)

A Bottle Of Bubbly - Les Aventures Grand Cru Blanc De Blancs, AR Lenoble

Les Aventures Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, AR Lenoble
Christmas Eve tomorrov. All (well almost...) food is prepared and now its time to let the cork pop out of this beauty for something invigorating while making s simple but yummy pasta and mushroom dinner.
I tasted this five years ago, and today I thought it was time to open a bottle. The nose is fresh, chalky and steely with notes of tangerines, matchbox, clay, dry vanilla fudge and oyster shells. Deep and complex. A hint of maturity but this has places to go.
The taste is racy and refined with notes of orange peel, chalk, matchbox and yellow apples. A long finish with a fine acidity. Drinking fine today but really needs another 4+ years in the cellar. Now to open another bottle to go with the pasta...
Fine tunes from 2002 and 2006.
93p   (tasted 2019/12)

1990 Barolo Riserva S. Bernardo, Palladino

1990 Barolo Riserva S. Bernardo, Palladino
I visited Palladino earlier this year, and tasted among other wines, the 23 years younger version of their Riserva, which was a stunner. So is the 1990.
The nose is a beauty, with deep, mature, complex notes of an autumn forest, dried ceps, dried up cherry jam, some rich tobacco and a touch of cinnamon. Just lovely.
The taste is a bit firmer than the nose leads you to believe, with some unresolved tannins, a fine hard cherry candy taste, cranberries, autumn leaves and asphalt. Very long. Fully matured I venture, but bottles like this will go on for 8+ years. Great wine.
More greatness from 1990...
94p   (tasted 2019/12)

Now & Then - 1995 & 2015 La Grola, Allegrini

1995 La Grola
This mostly Corvina based wine (with some Syrah and Oseleta mixed in) has survided well, with a dark, gravelly nose with notes of dry leather, old coffee, dried black cherries and lavender. A tad compressed. Doesn´t open up with air.
The taste is dry and foursquared with notes of  dry red currants, olives, herbs and dry licorice. As with the same, compressed. A long, warm finish. Doesn´t really get better with air.
81p   (tasted 2019/12)

2015 La Grola
Upfront, juicy and broad shouldered, this is another ballgame. The nose displays notes of cherry jam, salt licorice, asphalt, rosemary and charcoal. Rich and very, very good.
The taste is ripe, dark and warm with notes of sweet/sour cherries, chrushed rocks, licorice and warm herbs. Long and luscious. Needs 5+ years to calm down some, but not 20 years...
88p   (tasted 2019/12)

2011 Château Potensac

2011 Château Potensac
Another bottle from my recent foray in the world of Potensac. The nose jumps out of the glass with perky notes of ripe black currants, plums, fried thyme and hints of melted asphalt. New leather. A fine sweetness to the fruit.
The taste is upfront, juicy and sandy with notes of plums, sweet tobacco, bakelite and hints of green leaves, that adds to the complexity. A tad short though. Very, very good. Should be drunk over the next 6 years.
Something else from 2011...
89p   (tasted 2019/12)

A Bottle Of Bubbly - NV Brut Rosé, André Clouet

NV Brut Rosé, André Clouet
A fine, delicate nose with notes of red currants, wild strawberries, red clay and almond paste. Very fresh and lively.
The taste is cool and elegant with notes of dried strawberries, red currants, chalk and a hint of iron. A long finish with a fine acidity. A real bargain at 30 Euro. Tasted before here.
91p   (tasted 2019/12)

A Trio Of 1964´s

Birthday dinner with the family. I opened these three bottles to go with the main course - Coeur de filét Provencale.

1964 Gevrey-Chambertin Etournelles St Jacques, ?
1,5 cm ullage. The cork struggled to come out and didn´t reveal any information about the producer. As you can see on the pic there is no longer any label... The information above comes from the seller.
The nose is deep and dried up sweet with notes of stale Coca-Cola, smoke, Asian spices and old leather. A very fine warmth. Lovely.
The taste is velvety and dry with notes of root vegetables, dried strawberries, undergrowth and dry herbs. A very fine acidity. Long. Drinking perfectly today.
91p   (tasted 2019/12)

1964 Barolo Riserva Cru Bussia di Monforte, Prunotto
A mature, round nose with notes of undergrowth, mushrooms, red beets, compost and a hint of truffle. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and dry with notes of iron, dried cherries, red beets and dry licorice. Still some perky tannins. Structured and long.
88p   (tasted 2019/12)

1964 Barolo, Severino Anselmo Delle Rocche dei Manzone
The bottle looks great, a high level and no sign of seepage. It has the old type of hard plastic around the top. I cut it and I´m ready with the corkscrew.
What?! No cork. And no cork in the wine. They have apparantely bottled this and put on the plastic foil without corking it. Too bad.
The wine is old and without energy, some old chocolate and moist undergrowth. Too old.
The taste is dry and foursquare with dried up red fruit and dry licorice.
64p   (tasted 2019/12)

A Bottle Of Bubbly - 2008 Millésimé Brut, Laurent-Perrier

2008 Millésimé Brut, Laurent-Perrier
A nice nose with notes of toasted bread, oranges, chalk and hand cream. A fine creamy feeling but without depth and real complexity.
The taste is smooth and fine with a good acidity and notes of red currants, blood oranges, minerals and toast. Good enough but lacking charm and individuality. Definitely not worth the 57 Euro tariff.
87p   (tasted 2019/12)

A Château Lanessan Dinner 1961 - 2016

This ancient estate have only have two owners since 1310! When the 1855 classification was to be determined, the then owner Louis Delbos thought it was a "bureaucratic nonsense" and didn´t submit any bottles... A bad decision in hindsight. For example, Robert Parker thinks Lanessan would merit a 5th cru rating, even comparing it to Lynch-Bages in style. But the price nowadays is 10 times lower than Lynch-Bages. A really good wine that ages well, as the bottles below are witness of.

1964 Westhofener Morstein, Weingut Richard Fehlinger
A pure, mature nose with notes of wet asphalt, rubber, dried apricots, yellow apples and furniture polish. A fine mineral note. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and ry woth notes of dried apricots, smoke, dried grass and chrushed rocks. A very fine acidity. Mature but not overly so, bottles like this will keep for 10+ years.
89p   (tasted 2019/12)

1992 Chablis Grand Cru Preuses, La Chablisienne
A deep, glycerin loaded nose with notes of candle grease, almond paste, smoke, mint and grilled lemons. Very fine. Some maturity.
The taste is velvety and aristocratic with a mouth cleansing acidity and notes of almonds, lemon cream, oyster shells and mosquito repellent. Very complex and fine. Will go on for many years. Great wine.
95p   (tasted 2019/12)

Shellfish gratin

2012 Chablis Grand Cru Presuses, La Chablisienne
20 years younger and almost as good as the 92. A deep, tight nose with notes of ripe lemons, hay, matchbox and chalk. Very fine.
The taste is spicy and intense with notes of tangerines, grilled lemons, yellow flowers and butter cookies. A long, distinct finish with a searing acidity. 8+ years.
93p   (tasted 2019/12)

Flight 1
1961 Château Lanessan
From one of the greatest Bordeaux vintages ever, this 58 year old Lanessan display a deep, beautiful, old viney nose with notes of ripe black currants, cedar, autumn leaves and a touch of mint. Dark perfume. Really fine.
The taste is seamless and refined with notes of cranberries, dried black currants, earth and tobacco. A long, velvety finish. On top of its game. A treat to drink.
94p   (tasted 2019/12)

Quail terrine with onion and balsamic sauce

1970 Château Lanessan
A mature, meaty nose with notes of dried up black currant jam, sun warm earth, old chocolate and iron. Very good in a forward, rustic way.
The taste is juicy and upfront with spicy black currant fruit, iron and scorched earth. Long and warm. Very, very good.
89p   (tasted 2019/12)

1975 Château Lanessan
This was a bit controversial. Some thought it was mildly corked. I didn´t. Corked wines get worse and worse with time. This just showed an old, foursquare nose with notes of tomatoe purée, dry leather and some dog fur.
The taste is dry and seedy with notes of iron, drý red berries and those dry 75 tannins. Not in top shape but not corked.
78p   (tasted 2019/12)

Flight 2
1978 Château Lanessan
78 is one of my favourite vintages and Lanessan doesn´t disappoint. The nose is deep, warm and spicy with notes of ripe black currants, fine leather, iron and a hint of dried strawberries. Very, very good.
The taste is long and lingering with notes of dried black currants, tobacco, pencil shavings and iron. A very fine structure. Fully mature but there is no hurry to drink any remaining bottles.
92p   (tasted 2019/12)

Consomme with lamb sausage and mushrooms

1981 Château Lanessan
A fine, delicate nose with notes of forest floor, red currants, dry tobacco and sun warm rocks. Low keyed, fully mature and very nice.
The taste is fine and tight with notes of red and black currants, sand and dry tobacco. Medium long. Very good but lacks some stuffing in the middle.
87p   (tasted 2019/12)

1983 Château Lanessan
A surprisingly fine 83 with a deep, sweet nose with notes of ripe black currants, dried strawberries, undergrowth and pipe tobacco. Rich and very fine.
The taste is warm and spicy with notes of dried up black currant jam, tobacco, iron and scorched earth. Very long. Mature but bottles like this will go on for 8+ years.
92p   (tasted 2019/12)

Flight 3
1990 Château Lanessan
Shared WOTN with the 61. A very deep, lovely nose with notes of ripe black currants, fine tobacco, furniture polish and forest floor. A very fine sweetness to the fruit.
The taste is tight and energetic with notes of plums, black currants, graphite and iron. Very long and refined. I think it has reached its peak but will go on for 10+ years.
94p   (tasted 2019/12)

1996 Château Lanessan
A fine, lightly smoky nose with notes of graphite, black currants, fir wood and tobacco. Firm and structured.
The taste is medium bodied and somewhat mature with inky black fruit, tight tannins and a long, firm finish. Needs time to open up. 6+ years.
89p   (tasted 2019/12)

1998 Château Lanessan
The 98 display a deep, fine nose with notes of red and black currants, shoe polish, forest floor and pipe tobacco. Refined. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and concentrated with silky tannins and a lovely black currant fruit alongside notes of tobacco, coffee and expensive leather. Really fine. 6+ years.
91p   (tasted 2019/12)

Flight 4
2005 Château Lanessan
A high, pure, still young nose with notes of plums, cool black currants, cold coffee and graphite. Very deep, very fine.
The taste is structured and balanced with silky tannins, ripe red and black currants and a long, long seedy finish. This is a future stunner, just needs 8+ years.
93p   (tasted 2019/12)

2008 Château Lanessan
A large scaled nose with notes of smoke, dry licorice, earth and some minty aromas. Black fruit. Deep. Very, very good.
The taste is sandy and dry with notes of licorice, black currants, tobacco and earth. Long and seedy. A tad compact. 5+ years.
89p   (tasted 2019/12)

2016 Château Lanessan
A light, upfront, juicy nose with notes of red currants, iodine, earth and dry tobacco. A tad one dimensional.
The taste is light and earthy with fresh red currants and low keyed tannins. Medium long. Actually got better and fattened up when tasted the day after. 4+ years.
87p   (tasted 2019/12)

1964 Clos de Vougeot, Moillard

1964 Clos de Vougeot, Moillard
A ordinary tuesday, why not drink a 55 year old Burgundy Grand Cru? Well, its not really a ordinary tuesday. Its my 55th birthday, so I have to celebrate with a 1964. More will come this weekend when there will be more celebration with the family. But this was a perfect tuesday drink with a mushroom risotto.
The nose is deep, velvety and just lovely with notes of dried up strawberry jam, dark orange peel, cooked parsnips, asphalt and furniture polish. A beautiful maturity with a complexity that only can come with bottle age.
The taste is soft yet expressive with notes of smoke, dried strawberries, yellow raisins and spices. A long finish with a fine acidity. A very fine dried up sweetness. Lovely. Fully mature but in no hurry to drink up.
93p   (tasted 2019/12)

1993 Château Potensac

1993 Château Potensac
Another bottle from my recently bought stash of Potensac´s. This 93 shows a shy, mature nose with notes of undergrowth, dried red berries, dry tobacco and sand. Low keyed and nice.
The taste is dry and sandy with notes of fir wood, tobacco, autumn leaves and a hint of dog fur. Medium long. A fine luncheon Claret.
86p   (tasted 2019/12)

Tasting Dinner With Winston Churchill, Corton-Charlemagne, Côte-Rôtie, Vintage Port & More!

It was time again for our semi annual tasting dinner in our tasting group.
All wines tasted double blind except for the Côte-Rôtie flight.

2014 Blanc de Blancs Chaillots Hautes Vignes, Lacourte Godbillon
A cool, delicate nose that evolves beautifully over the evening, with notes of lime kaffir leaves, gravel, ginger and hints of iron. Very fine.
The taste is high and racy with notes of lime, Kellogs cornflakes, gravel and iron. A very fine acidity. Long lasting. 5+ years.
93p   (tasted 2019/11)

2008 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
A low keyed nose with notes of smoke, bread, wet stones and freshly washed clothes. Very, very good but doesn´t really sing. A bit of a disappointment when it was uncovered.
The taste is young and tight with notes of Lily of the Valley, grapefruit, minerals and iodine. Long. Will perhaps unfold - like the 02 below - with som years in the cellar.
90p   (tasted 2019/11)

2002 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
A very deep and elegant nose with notes of fried bread, melted vanilla ice cream, expensive soap and an interesting rubbery scent. Very fine. A hint of maturity.
The taste is handsome and refined with notes of dry fudge, oranges, sand and minerals. Aristocratic. Very long with a fine bitterness at the end. Just lovely.
95p   (tasted 2019/11)

1990 Blanc de Blancs, Autréau de Champillon
A round, mature nose with notes of wrinkled red apples, autumn leaves, banana peel and a touch of Sherry. A fine dried up sweetness. Very, very good.
The taste is big and bold with round, fine apple dominated fruit and additional notes of earth and dry dark fudge. Long and fine.
90p   (tasted 2019/11)

2013 Criots-Batard-Montrachet, Fontaine-Gagnard
A deep, finely tuned nose with notes of salted lemon caramel, smoke, tangerines and some grassy notes. Laid back and refined. Very, very good.
The taste is sumptuous and mouth coating with notes of yellow plums, almond paste and grilled lemons. A very long finish with a crisp acidity.
93p   (tasted 2019/11)

2011 Corton-Charlemagne, Pierre Yves Colin Morey
A stunner. The nose is cool and fresh like a mountain river with gorgeous notes of chrushed rocks, dill, ripe lemons and blood oranges. Sooo deep and fresh. Very young.
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of ripe lemons, sweet minerals, matchbox, grass and grape. High, intense and very, very long. Great wine. 5+ years.
96p   (tasted 2019/11)

2005 Corton-Charlemagne, Bonneau de Martray
This was very reductive from the start, so much that it was debated if it was ok. But after 30 minutes it came alive, with a deep, focused nose with notes of cucumber, lemon and lime peel and a hint of mint. Tightly expressive. Need lost of time.
The taste is racy and fresh with notes of tangerines, chalk, grass and a hint of matchbox. Very long and distinct. Needs another 6+ years.
93p   (tasted 2019/11)

2005 Corton-Charlemagne, Bertrand Ambroise
A deep, creamy nose with notes of ripe lemons, lemon candy, flower water and smoke. Very, very fine. Lots of character.
The taste is crisp and concentrated with notes of honey pastilles, lemon cream, almond paste and smoke. A very fine warmth. Very, very long. Lovely now and the coming 8+ years.
94p   (tasted 2019/11)

1999 Côte-Rôtie, Jamet
The Côte-Rôtie´s came from my and Roderick´s cellar so we tasted these non blind. The 99 Jamet sports a semi mature, deep nose with notes of violets, dried up blackberry jam, moist earth and black pepper. Very, very good.
The taste is cool, ripe and fine with notes of ripe blueberries, earth, green raisins and beef stock. Silky tannins. Long and fine. 4+ years.
92p   (tasted 2019/11)

1999 Côte-Rôtie, Saint-Cosme
The Saint-Cosme has a deep, velvety, intense nose with notes of bakelite, ginger bread, scorched earth, meat and loads and loads of ripe blueberries. Outgoing and really fine.
The taste is tight and deep with notes of veal meat, salmiak, dark flowers, earth and pepper. Very fine, salty tannins. A very fine dryness at the end. 6+ years.
94p   (tasted 2019/11)

2001 Côte-Rôtie, Jamet
A very deep, sturdy nose with notes of pimento, asphalt, red beets and scorched earth. A lot of structure. Very deep.
The taste is tight and rich with notes of sweet violets, licorice, meat and pepper. Very long and taut. Ripe tannins. Needs time. 7+ years.
93p   (tasted 2019/11)

2001 Côte-Rôtie, Saint-Cosme
This gorgeous creature displays a fantastic nose with notes of white peppper spiced raw meat, salmiak, scorched earth and some bacon fat. Just lovely. Still young.
The taste is cool, peppery and sandy with notes of ripe blueberries, damsons, iron and white pepper. Length, structure and balance in harmony. Just wait 8+ years.
96p   (tasted 2019/11)

1985 Riversaltes. Gérard Bertrand
I have tasted this several timed before, but then from half bottles. This bottle displays a medium sweet nose with notes of figs, raisins, molass and paint. Very, very good.
The taste is medium dry and rich with notes of damsons, dark fudge, Finnish licorice and burnt sugar. Long. Very, very good.
88p   (tasted 2019/11)

1937 Maury, Domaine et Terrois du Sud
A very deep. multi layered nose - the kind that only comes with age - with notes of dark chocolate, white raisins, flowers marinated in liquor, orange peel and old tobacco. Very fine.
The taste is rich and concentrated with notes of dark dry honey, raspberry chocolate, raisins and dark roses. Very, very long and intense.
93p   (tasted 2019/11)

1985 Vintage Port, Dow
A high, intense, spirited nose with notes of malt, dark raisins, dried raspberries, damsons and hints of Islay whiskey. Very, very good. Still youngish.
The taste is concentrated and fine with notes of salt licorice, sea buckthorn, dark chocolate fudge and malt. Very, very long. A hint of liquor at the end. Wait 10+ years. Very, very good.
91p   (tasted 2019/11)