TNs: EWG Does Bordeaux, Champagne and Flannery

EWG BORDEAUX WITH FLANNERY AND A COUPLE CHAMPERS - Tom Altmayer's (1/18/2009)

Tom Altmayer Graciously hosted us for a night of Champagne and Bordeaux with Flannery steaks for the Eastside Wine Group. Tom also cooked us up some great potatoes and terrific green beans(a personal fav) to balance out the meal. Conrad took care of the grilling which he handled excellently giving the fine meats just the perfect amount of heat.

We got together a terrific line up of Bordeauxs. For me the quartet of 1996's stole the show with each one being very good in its own way. The Pierre Peters Champagne was also a personal high light. The Monbousquets were a disappointment to me showing way too modern in style.

Thanks everyone for a terrific night. Looking forward to the next event.

• 1999 Pierre Peters Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Cuvée Spéciale - France, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Champagne
  Blatantly Blanc de Blancs showing doughy citrus with a pure rich character. This had a terrific smooth mouth feel. A lovely Champagne with plenty of time ahead of it. Excellent.
  
• N.V. Duval-Leroy Champagne Brut - France, Champagne
  Not normally a favorite of mine but this performed below its usual standards. The usual tart apple profile with good balance but very chunky and rough.
  
• 1996 de Venoge Champagne Brut Millésime - France, Champagne
  Very similar in style to a Duval-Leroy this should plenty of tart green apple character. Pretty good depth and purity. A bright fresh styled wine for shorter term drinking.
  
• 1986 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Cask - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Well aged Cab nose that is woodsy and showing signs of oxidation in the way of truffles and caramel later on. Soft palate that is again woodsy in nature with tannins building later on with air. Unfortunately air did not allow this one to become more expressive. Past it's best days but not gone by any stretch.
  
• 1989 Château La Conseillante - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
  Nose was on the vegetal side for me. Elegant bright palate that gains some thickness with air. Shows notes of green pepper and tobacco with plenty of grip still. This was nicely balanced but it didn't take to me like it did some of my compatriots. The greenness was too far to the vegetal side for me.
  
• 1996 Château Duhart-Milon - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
  Wee bit of reductive stink and plenty of tobacco that ultimately made for an interesting expressive nose for me. Nice balanced with a lean styled palate and plenty of tobacco. A more classicly styled Bordeaux. Very good and with a ways to go.
  
• 1996 Château Lynch-Bages - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
  Overall this still seemed tight but with plenty of power simmering. Very nice balance and classic Bordeaux notes. Would love to try this in another 10 years. Very nice.
  
• 1996 Château Montrose - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
  The nose shows pencil lead and tobacco initially and becomes very perfumey later on. Tight and young palate with a classicly lovely finish. Excellent.
  
• 1996 Château Cos d'Estournel - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
  Cedary nose leading to a thick rich palate full of baby fat still. Plenty of potential here but a ways from its peak. Very good.
  
• 1999 Château de Fieuzal - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
  Nose of fresh cut steak with teriyaki sauce. Big broad palate with a thick feel,loads of tannin. Needs time.
  
• 2000 Château Léoville Las Cases - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
  Nose showing some oak. Classic Bordeaux notes on the palate that is a bit sweet and juicy at this point. A clumsy child, check back in 10 years.
  
• 1998 Château Monbousquet - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
  Interesting to try this next to the 2003 as this seemed to show some oaky heaviness but it was more relaxed and integrated. Touch of heat on the nose. Still thick and broad this is a more hedonistic styled Bordeaux and not for everyone.
  
• 2003 Château Monbousquet - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
  Decanted about 7 hours prior to consumption. Very primary still with tons of oak. On the ripe side and the finish is a bit rough. Took about a glass home to try the next night which found the greener cedary type notes peaking thorugh and balancing this some from it's soft dessert like oak characters. Needs plenty of time but will never be a classic Bordeaux.....but not really a Cal Cab bomb either.
  
• 2004 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Big fruity juicy Cab showing plenty of ripeness and sweet fruits. Hard pressed to identify this as Cabernet but a crowd pleasing wine.
  
• 2003 Château La Tour Blanche - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
  The sugar seems to be integrating quickly on these. This is the 2nd time I've had this in a month and both times I noticed that it wasn't painfully fat 'n sweet as it seemed over a year ago. Fat apricot expression and still strong sugar but closer to being balanced now. Very nice.
  

Posted from CellarTracker

Um, the R-M sort of sticks out.

You must have brought that one.

Todd F r e n c h wrote:Um, the R-M sort of sticks out.

You must have brought that one.

Not me. Greenbaum of all people. He also brought the old Inglenook.