Roderick invited to a Super Second dinner. We only knew that there would be Super Seconds poured. It turned out to be Gruaud Larose and Pichon Baron head to head in several vintages. Really interesting!
But we started with three whites.
2015 Old Stones Chardonnay, Bergström
A fresh, cool nose with notes of chrushed rocks, chives, white peach and flint. Very fine.
The taste is tight and elegant with a fine acidity and notes of lemon peel, minerals and dry lemon fudge. A fine dryness at the end. I had this pegged as a Puligny...
92p (tasted 2020/03)
2009 Puligny-Montrachet Les Referts, Sauzet
This I thought was a Meursault, a guess closer than the first wine...
The nose is dry and concentrated with notes of lemon cream, dried nuts, grey pears and lemon licorice. Very, very good.
The taste is stony and tight with notes of lime, chalk, nuts and dried yellow flowers. Very long and balanced. Really fine.
93p (tasted 2020/03)
2015 Hudson Chardonnay, Hudson
A smoky, open nose with notes of grilled lemons, dry fudge, mango and a hint of detergent. Very, very good.
The taste is steady and concentrated with notes of lemon cream, smoke, dried pine apple and sweet minerals. Long, warm and fine.
90p (tasted 2020/03)
An opening Super Second
1957 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
M brought this as a palate teaser. A old, mushroomy nose with notes of warm tiles, dried black currants and autumn leaves. Very mature but still hanging in there.
The taste is dry and mature with notes of forest floor, damsons and old leather. The finish is a tad short and the fruit is dry, but again, hanging in there.
85p (tasted 2020/03)
Flight I
1999 Château Gruaud Larose
A wonderful, somewhat mature nose with notes of damsons, orange peel, autumn leaves and dried meat. Complex and fine.
The taste is dry and tight with notes of damsons, dried figs, earth and tobacco. A very fine maturity. A tad dry at the very end of the finish. For drinking now and the coming 5+ years.
92p (tasted 2020/03)
1999 Château Pichon Baron
A very fine, balanced nose with notes of black currants, coffee ground, smoke and expensive leather. Very, very good.
The taste is structured and fine with notes of red and black currants. tobacco, sugared coffee and earth. Still some silky tannins in the finish. 5+ years.
92p (tasted 2020/03)
2000 Château Gruaud Larose
The 2000 Gruaud is a beauty. The nose is deep and refined with notes of graphite, ripe black currants, smoke a hints of dark chocolate. Restrained in a very fine way.
The taste is tight and handsome with notes of dried up black currant jam, fine tobacco, earth and chocolate wafers. Very long and distinct. 7+ years.
95p (tasted 2020/03)
2000 Château Pichon Baron
The 2000 Pichon Baron knocks it out of the park, with a deep, creamy nose with notes of ripe black currants, plums, nougat and dark flowers. Lovely. Very complex and fine.
The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of plums, coffee, warm tiles and smoke. Very energetic, long and beautiful. Hard to resist today but wait 5+ years for an ever greater experience.
97p (tasted 2020/03)
Flight II
1982 Château Pichon Baron
¤#"%&/!!¤#"% Corked!
No rating (tasted 2020/03)
1982 Château Gruaud Larose
I have drunk this gem 20+ times and never been disappointed. But I think that there has come a time when this will continue to offer pleasure, but it will not get any better.
The nose is deep and focused with notes of dried black currants, tobacco, autumn leaves, motor oil and Christmas spices. Very fine. Some 82´s has been more funky than this bottle.
The taste is mature and fine with notes of graphite, plums, undergrowth and blue ski wax. Silly, soft tannins. Very long, velvety and fine. Drinking perfectly tonight.
This bottle was bought at the state monopoly in 1993 för 19 Euro... and kept in my cellar since then.
94p (tasted 2020/03)
1990 Château Gruaud Larose
A deep, fascinating nose with notes of green peppers, ripening black currants, fresh stables and sun warm gravel. High and fine. A very fine maturity.
The taste is dry and intense with notes of old leather, chocolate wafers, herbs and red currants. A very fine warmth. Lovely. Perfectly mature.
95p (tasted 2020/03)
1990 Château Pichon Baron
A deep, compact and energetic nose with notes of creamy black currants, moist earth, sweet tobacco and a hint of dried strawberries. Multi layered and very fine.
The taste is tight and complex with notes of ripe black currants, asphalt, dark flowers and tobacco. Mature but there is no hurry to drink bottles like this. Great wine.
95p (tasted 2020/03)
Flight III
1988 Château Gruaud Larose
Again! %¤#/&%!!% Corked!
No rating (tasted 2020/03)
1995 Château Pichon Baron
A dark, semi mature nose with notes of ripe black currants, pencil shavings, potatoe water and cookie dough. Floral and very fine.
The taste is strong and complex with notes of sweet/sour black currants, balsa wood, earth and leather. Very long and intense. 5+ years.
93p (tasted 2020/03)
1996 Château Pichon Baron
A structured although generous nose with notes of herbs, red and black currants, pipe tobacco and some stables in a distance. Lovely fruit.
The taste is taut and concentrated with notes of old leather, damsons, ink and dark chocolate. A long, long finish with sandy tannins. 7+ years. Great wine.
95p (tasted 2020/03)
2009 Château Gruaud Larose
A young, open, very deep nose with notes of expensive leather, black currants, blueberries and graphite. Ripe, fine fruit.
The taste is young and forceful with notes of blueberries, asphalt, licorice and warm sand. Ripe tannins. Needs time, 10+ years.
92p (tasted 2020/03)
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