After the main event everyone dove into their lockers bringing out treasures for the table to enjoy. It always seems that after a new world tasting the levee breaks and a flood of Bordeaux pours forth…
1996 Chateau Clinet Magnum – This was a great bottle with soft silky tannins and dusty red fruit. There was a pleasant spiciness on the back end with soft milk chocolate finish.
2006 Chateau Pavie – For its youth the Pavie was drinking extremely well. The tannins were surprisingly supple and easy going and the prominent fruit made me think of a great bottle of Harlan.
1975 Pichon Lalande – This is a brilliant little wine that is drinking exceedingly well right now. This bottle embodies everything delicious that we love from Pichon.
1979 Pichon Lalande – The 75and 79 were neck and neck ending with a photo finish for wine of the night. The 79 was darker with more spice but both had delicate tannins and finesse that is hard to find outside of well aged Bordeaux.
1986 Pichon Baron – The Pichon Baron is a great wine and on any other night I am sure it would take first place as wine of the night but to my palate it cannot live up to the Lalande’s… Dark and rich with dried prunes, and dark chocolate on the nose. The palate was complex with a lively acidity backed by firm tannins and mellow alcohol.
1996 Cos D’Estournel – Cos is another of my favorite Second Growths and one of the few that can compete with Pichon. The 96 was still tight but showing a nice dark fruit characteristic backed by rock hard tannins and pleasant mix of barnyard and sweaty gym socks.
1979 Jaboulet La Chapelle – A great way to finish off the night was the La Chapelle. Softened by age the syrah was delicate and creamy with a texture of satin. The fruit was almost non-existent but the earth was of rolling grassy hills and I swear when I put my nose in the glass I could smell Northern Rhone.