By: AJ McClellan
An unexpected Thursday with a great group of members opening some splendid wines! The night started with an exceptional lineup of 90 Pol Roger Rose, 91 Leflaive, and 96 La Chapelle. On most nights there would be nowhere to go from there but last night the members found a way to surpass the wonderful wines that were already on the table and open some absolutely wonderful bottles!
1990 Pol Roger Rose – This wine was good upon opening but after some time in the glass it became amazing! Very floral on the nose and palate with blooming red roses and stunning fresh baby strawberry patch. Some light yeist notes. Rocking finish.
1991 Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet – This bottle of Leflaive was drinking much better than the last one we had. All the classic notes of Chevalier that I love. Toasty popcorn, quince, Asian pear, big lean minerality, and a classic floral finish.
2005 Remonet Chassagne Montrachet 1er Morgeot – This bottle was a little pre-moxy with honeyed characteristics on a very young wine. There was still some good tropical fruit and a pleasant minerality on the finish.
1976 Grange – This was an interesting bottle. It might have been corked, dead on the nose and palate with very earthy notes and faded fruit notes.
2001 Grange – Big vibrant Grange with classic cut grass and huge black fruits that is indicative of Grange.
1996 La Chapelle – The La Chapelle is stunning. Great smoke notes with tar, leather, plum, and anise.
1969 Remoissenet Clos Vougeot – Soft and elegant as always. This bottle was drinking very well with all the elegance that we have come to expect from the 69 Remoissenet wines.
1989 Leoville Barton – Classic Bordeaux with earthy notes of forest floor and tilled earth. Big spicebox and dried red/black cherries.
2003 Mouton – I quadruple decanted this wine and it was still massive but defiantly drinkable. Like a young Harlan there was big blue and black fruits with heavy smoke and a subtle earthy note in the back ground.
2003 Pichon Lalande – Drinking well with hard tannins and a earthy finish.
2003 Pichon Baron – Almost as good as the Lalande but bigger and more extracted.
1988 Remoissenet Clos Vougeot Magnum – Still elegant but with slightly harder tannins than the 69.
2006 Nobel One Half Bottle – I can say that this was the most pleasant surprise of the night. A wonderful bottle of desert wine from Australia with huge honey and caramel notes that would rival some of the great Sauternes of France.