TNs: 89`-96` De Fieuzal, Pichon, Cheval Blanc, Cos, Montrose, Le Gay, Lafon Rochet ++

[Blake Brown]

Our monthly lunch group met at a local restaurant`s private dinning room and with a wine theme of 89`-96` Bordeaux, we enjoyed the following wines with the 4 courses served:

1999 CHARLES ELLNER BRUT SELECTION- surprisingly, the only flawed wine of the day was the youngest, this one; heavily oxidized, it tasted of nutty honeyed caramel and butterscotch.

1989 CHATEAU OLIVIER PESSAC-LEOGNAN- this was a futures purchase based upon RP`s low 90`s score and remarks which seemed to be in line with my preferred profile; having had about 10 bottles over time, this one showed less of its quality fruit and more of its tannic backbone; it did express some wild cherry, cedar and tobacco after plum and prune on the nose; this bottle was not the QPR star of past ones.

1990 CHATEAU DE FIEUZAL PESSAC-LEOGNAN- earthy, mushroom, forest floor nose leading into almost sweet black and blue fruit; it seemed a little out of sorts and searching for an identity at first, but started to evolve in the glass; would have been better decanted for some time.

1995 CHATEAU PICHON LALANDE PAUILLAC- class in the glass; it gave some chocolate, cedar, coffee, black currant and especially fresh black cherry with great depth and nice balance; beautifully integrated and ready to please now with promises to enhance one`s experience many years down the road; hands down, my WOTD.

1989 CHATEAU LAFON-ROCHET SAINT
ESTEPHE- unusual to have a dup of any wines with this theme, but we managed to do so here; this one had some coffee, chocolate, and black fruit, all on the light side of expression in a medium body and a dry finish.

1989 CHATEAU LAFON-ROCHET SAINT ESTEPHE- not the same animal as #1; this had more fruit to offer in the nose and on the palate and was overall a better experience.

1990 CHATEAU LAFON-ROCHET SAINT ESTEPHE- another that would have benefitted from longer decanting, it was muted in the nose and on the palate and never did open up to reveal its treasures, but I got a sense there was some to be had; with so many wines and just 3 stems, I just moved on.

1996 CHATEAU CALON-SEGUR SAINT ESTEPHE- notes of cedar, minerals and black fruit, this is decent juice and easy on the palate.

1988 CHATEAU CHEVAL BLANC SAINT EMILION- this wine sneaked up on me; it was certainly not a big, in your face thing, it just amazed with its layers of nuances and soft, gentle texture; somehow, I saw a deeper quality just below the surface and it was impressive; there`s nice black fruit amidst some chocolate and leather with integrated tannins; all about finesse here; my #2 WOTD.

1994 CHATEAU COS D`ESTOURNEL SAINT ESTEPHE- for a tough vintage, this shined with some anise laced spicy black fruit, was velvety smooth and had a long fruit forward finish; very good.

1989 CHATEAU LEOVILLE-LAS CASES GRAND VIN DE LEOVILLE, DU MARQUIS DE LAS CASES SAINT JULIEN- pleasant at the outset, the nose had a touch of coconut and tart wild cherries with the fruit carrying on into the mid palate joining in with black and blue fruit, all which
extended through the nice finish.

1994 CHATEAU MONTROSE SAINT ESTEPHE- storage issues or just another representative of a difficult vintage? Browning color, light weight, dissipating fruit, certainly on the way out if it has not already arrived there.

1995 CHATEAU BRANAIRE-DUCRU SAINT JULIEN- I liked this with its ripe red and black fruit throughout, roundness and soft tannins.

1995 CHATEAU CLOS L`EGLISE POMEROL- an OK wine with all characteristics on the mild side; I got some raspberry/ cherry with a little chocolate; probably its most ingratiating feature was its softness.

1989 CHATEAU LE GAY POMEROL- I`m suspecting my palate may be fatigued at this point as this one also just expressed what it had to give in a medium way; I get the Merlot nuances with its softness and chocolate berry flavors; I just wanted more of it.

All in all, another fine luncheon with a fine group of folks. I could do this once a month, easy.

Cheers

[M Albert Bouffard]

Nice notes Blake! For what it's worth, my '94 Montrose showed a similar way. Definitely not impressed. While I hold the '97s in much higher regard than most others, I hold the '94's in much, much lower regard...

[Jeff Leve]

Blake... I'm with you on the 1995 Pichon Lalande. It's one of the better Bordeaux wines from that vintage.

[Blake Brown]

Nice notes Blake! For what it's worth, my '94 Montrose showed a similar way. Definitely not impressed. While I hold the '97s in much higher regard than most others, I hold the '94's in much, much lower regard...

Albert, I agree with you on both accounts.

[Blake Brown]

Blake... I'm with you on the 1995 Pichon Lalande. It's one of the better Bordeaux wines from that vintage.

Jeff, the pre release hype raved about this wine and I bought a case of it on futures along with a case of Latour which for my money is the best of the vintage.