RGB - Really Good Bordeaux!

Peter invited to a RGB dinner. We each brought wines and Peter opened some additional bottles. A great evening with stunning bottles. Thanks all, and especially Peter for planning, inviting, food and fine bottles of wine!

All wines tasted double blind except for the bottle I brought and the 2001 Coutet at the end.

1995 Blanc des Millénaires, Charles Heidsieck
A finely tuned, flinty nose with notes of grilles lemon, sandelwood, cured ham and a hint of fudge. Very complex and refined. Deep. Really, really good.
The taste is elegant, somewhat mature and velvety with notes of blood grape, chalk, wet stones and biscuits. Very long. A fine acidity. Drinking great today but there is no hurry to drink any remaining bottles.
94p   (tasted 2017/04)

2000 Cuvée St Vincent, R. L. Legras
A tight, seedy nose with notes of smoke, steel and gravel. With air some fruity aromas appear in the shape of lemon peel and ripening passionfruit. A fine salty note. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and intense with notes of lemon grass, dry grass and chalk. A high, fine acidity. Still on the young side of things.
91p   (tasted 2017/04)

Flight I
1959 Château Haut-Bailly
The first Bordeaux and the wine of the evening. An absolutely stunning bottle of perfectly mature Bordeaux. The nose is ripe, rich and multi layered with notes of sweet black currants, plums, cigarr smoke, dog fur and a hint of mint. A lovely dried up sweetness. Just brilliant.
The taste is velvety, balanced yet intense with notes of dried plums, red currants, bonfire, cold coffee and a dusty earth. Still packing a punch. Very long with a fine warmth. The texture is magnificent. Perfectly mature. One taster pegged it as a 61 but the rest of us had it as much younger. Bottles like this will hold for 10 years. Great, great wine.
98p   (tasted 2017/04)

1934 Château Latour
83 years old, and still hanging in there. The nose is a tad frail with notes of dried red and black currants, cigarette ashes, old leather and some rust. Good.
The taste is dry and mature with notes of warm sand, dried red currants and pencil shavings. A medium long, delicate finish. It has a classy feeling about it, although full of creases and wrinkles. Still enjoyable, although it surely was better 30-40 years ago.
86p   (tasted 2017/04)

1966 Château Figeac
A beauty! This sports a big, sweet, round nose with notes of ripe plums, a cedar box (which have had cigars in it), bonfire and dark coffee. A high, fine nose with a lovely sweetness. Mature but not overly so. Very, very fine.
The taste is mature and balanced with notes of plums, blueberries, cigar smoke and undergrowth. A long, dry finish with a fine warmth. This is drinking beautifully today.
94p   (tasted 2017/04)

1982 Vieux Château Certan
A deep, restrained, cool nose with notes of red currants, dry tobacco, warm sand and a hint of dry chocolate. Very fine in a withdrawn kind of way.
The taste is dry and seedy with notes of ripe red currants, leather, warm rocks and chocolate biscuits. A long, stern finish. Very, very good but it doesn´t show the exuberance of the vintage.
92p   (tasted 2017/04)

1964 Château Pichon Longueville de Lalande
From magnum, this was my offering (no surprise given the vintage...). The nose is gorgeous with all the traits of a perfectly mature Bordeaux - a stable in the distance, ripe black currants, fine leather, tobacco and a hint of fur. Really fine. This is what mature Bordeaux is all about.
The taste doesn´t reach the level of the nose, but it is very, very good with notes of dried black currants, warm tiles, old tobacco and road dust. Medium long. A fine dryness in the end.
92p   (tasted 2017/04)

Flight II
2002 Château La Mission Haut-Brion
A cool, dark perfumed nose with notes of ripe black currants, veal stock, cigarette ashes and a hint of chocolate. Deep and refined. A bit unrevieled.
The taste is tight and racy with notes of red and black currants, warm tiles, cigarette ashes and herbs. A long lasting finish with still taut tannins. Needs another 5+ years in the cellar.
91p   (tasted 2017/04)

2006 Le Dôme
This St Emilion sports a deep, focused nose with notes of Christmas spices, plums, dark liquorice and a fine perfumed note. Very, very deep. Some bonfire scents appears after a while. Dark violets. This I like.
The taste is tight and refined with notes of dark cherries, black currants, liquorice, dark forest floor and new leather. Rich and structured. Very, very fine. Give this 5+ years.
93p   (tasted 2017/04)

2008 Château La Mission Haut-Brion
The 08 La Mission is a gorgeous creature. The nose is tight and concentrated with notes of cool black currants, blueberries, dark perfume, iron and a touch of coconut cream. Very, very fine.
The taste is tight, focused and pure with notes of ripe red and black currants, bakelite, undergrowth and new, expensive leather. Long, long and distinct. Very handsome. This will turn out even greater in 6+ years.
94p   (tasted 2017/04)

2002 Château Pichon Baron
A wonderful, deep and concentrated nose with notes of balsamic vinegar spiced black currants, model clay, pipe tobacco and dark chocolate. Very fine. This is sooo good!
The taste is tight and intense with notes of polished black currants, leather, cocoa and warm gravel. A very long, structured finish. It ends with a beautiful dry twist. Really fine.
95p   (tasted 2017/04)

2012 Le Dôme
Aaaaah! This lovely wine displays a deep, focused nose with notes of ripe black currants, plums, dark fudge, perfumed flowers and moist earth. Very complex and fine. This is stunning!
The taste is young, tight and concentrated with notes of perfectly ripe black currants, dried raspberries, asphalt, iron, dried flowers and cocoa. The finish goes on and on and on. Absolutely fabolous. Give this 6+ years and you´re looking at perfection.
97p   (tasted 2017/04)

2014 Chassagne-Montrachet, Domaine Michel Niellon
Peter thought that we needed a refreshment before the sweetie, and this bottle did the trick. A young, fresh, smoky nose with notes of melon, grapefruit and assorted flowers.
The taste is young and perky with notes of sweet lime, crushed rocks and flint. A fine acidity. Very, very good. Glad I have a couple of these, I will give them 5+ years.
90p   (tasted 2017/04)

2001 Château Coutet
A deep, luscious, refined nose with notes of fried pinenuts, band aid, apricots and a healthy dose of botrytis. Very, very deep and refined.
The taste is pure and multi layered with notes of candied orange peels, dry honey, ripe melons and warm hay. Long, long and complex. Balanced. This is fine. Will go on for 20+ years.
93p   (tasted 2017/04)