Pessac-Leognan

Pessac-Leognon
2005 Chateau Picque Caillou - I bought this one from Bistro Moulin for $75 to blind-taste Ben Edwards and Arturo Salazar. It tasted austere. There was not much fruit, but that’s why I like the wines from this part of Bordeaux. There were some nuances of cedar and resin. I saved some for the next day and it didn’t taste much better. Last tasted fall of 2010 Drink now 
2004 Château Le Pape – Pessac Leognan – 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. I get a dark berries and really funky ammonia quality that reminds me of the skin of brie cheese. The color looks like it could stain your feet purple like fresh ink would. The 30 year-old vines are at the highest elevation in Pessac Leognan and Chateau Carbonnieux is next door. This winery has been around since the 12th Century and was owned by Bishop Clement before he became a pope. See what wine is capable of? This was left over from a Bicyclette tasting. Kris took a left-over half bottle of Viader and I took this. I think I got the better deal. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. Olivier, Pessac Leognan (rouge) - I felt like I was back in Bordeaux drinking from a wine skin. It was very clean. I remember staggering around town with purple teeth looking in all the wine shops and market places. I got to meet Damien's old boss who had tried to set up a tasting for me. I groveled in mortification. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2003 Carmes Haut-Brion (Pessac-Leognon) - Real ripe, hot vintage with peppery nuances. This wine showcased bright fruit and reminded me of a 00' Ch Magdelaine. The aromatics were more enjoyable than the mouthfeel, probably because the wine is too young to be drunk. Kind of austere, yet nice and luscious. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Pauillac

2004 Ch. Batailley Grand Cru Classé, Pauillac - round, with a long finish. Give me some weed to smoke. It had a real cigar box nose, but was quite balanced. It wasn't like tobacco, but more like a cigar box. Walter and Sylvia demanded that I taste this wine. It was pretty good and I remember it being a great value. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Clerc-Milon, Pauillac - there was more merlot in this and I picked up on the clay soil. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. D'armailhac, Pauillac - more cab and cola with a gravelly quality. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Lynch-Bages, Pauillac - Hey look, there's Karen MacNeil. It wasn't showing as approachable as the Pontet-Canet, but should improve. It's cool to be in the same sphere as the greats. Oh wait a minute, I'm still a kook! Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Pichon Longueville, Pauillac - it had modern cola softness with a new world lack of backbone. All of the sample bottles were finished, so that seemed like a good sign. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Pontet-Canet, Pauillac - better than Lynch-Bages and very masculine. It reminded me of the 86' Mouton and had a dark black currant character mixed with licorice espresso grinds. Linden's licorice cough drops. Menthol and definitely herbaceous and eucalyptus. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2003 Les Tourelles Longueville from Pauillac priced at $75 on Casanova's list. Lunch wine! Real masculine, but not astringent. I felt like I tasted black velvet lava rocks I just found on some other planet. The chocolaty nuances in the wine most likely inspired the two customers to finish the bottle with ease. It's a good thing their wives were drinking a half bottle of Latour's 03 Puligny Montachet 1erCru. They must love rich wines that make the salivary glands come to life. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2001 Grand Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac - it was hot, ripe and young. It wasn't alcoholic in terms of heat but it almost tasted a like a little rubbing alcohol from the grapes being baked or something. It had some licorice and elegance. I thought it could pass for a Duckhorn "Three Palms" because it wasn't displaying much terroir. Gabe thought it was either Californian or Italian and I definitely thought Californian. It was still young and I picked up on the Merlot. Steve stumped me again. Last tasted 9/4/07 Drink now-2015 

2001 Lafite - really lean and green tobacco leaves. The nose was stinky enough to be deemed Bordeaux. Supple, yet smelling like vanilla and horse manure. Nonetheless, really classy and high quality. It almost had an orange citrus quality in the background. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2001 Lafite, Pauillac - for $210 a bottle, I thought it was quite rugged without the fruit you'd want to have when drinking it. It was all muscle and not much fruit. It had an orange hue on the rim like a blood red sun and it had an exotic citrus quality too. The ladies liked it more than the guys. Last tasted 9/6/07 Drink now-2015 

1999 Mouton Rothschild - had vanilla wasn't very astringent and wasn't watery either. It had an orangey citrus with plenty of dry earth coming through. Coffee and teaberry notes. Almost the style of a red Burgundy. It's good to be happy at work! Last tasted 7/05/07 Drink now-2015 

1989 Haut Bages Liberal - Libourne, Pauillac - this was tasted on and it was so dam good that I had no qualms in quaffing this beverage like a true alcoholic. There were tobacco leaves; it was stony sativa with a slight mousey quality that was far from being offensive. The sassafras and root beer quality was like drinking Barq's root beer. It had some cola character. The eucalyptus and barky pine tree aroma's sent a message to my olfactory bulb that urged me to consume. This was worth the hang-over. It was leathery and inky but the tannins were so far from being harsh. Thank you Steve and Cheers to Selby. Last tasted 9/4/07 Drink now-2015 

1986 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac - What an intense black color that was about as masculine as they come. Although, the wine was decanted it wasn't as mature as it might become. When I think of this wine, I think of a fist covered in armor. The knight must have forgotten his velvet gloves because this wine was rough. A true example of a powerful Cabernet that's showing well but is still maturing. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

1995 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac - This was a perfect example of statutory wine drinking. The host wanted a big wine and he mentioned how much he likes drinking Diamond Creek wines. They had two magnums and a 750ml. The 750ml was showing a bit better than the mug’s but it was so rough and powerful. The black fruit cola character was there but the wine hadn't had time to
mature. I can't wait till she grows up and mellows out. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

1983 Mouton - kind of astringent and rough compared to some other years I've tasted. This wine was delicious, but probably won't improve much.
Champagne. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

1982 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac - (a guest on table 30) It was orange maroon in color and had a peppery rawhide character with traces of vanilla. It was held together nicely for such an old wine. The fruit wasn't jumping out of the glass, but the earth was there. Kris thought the wine was somewhat tired for such a great vintage. Its nice viscous and tobacco qualities mixed with a mysterious orange citrus made this wine enjoyable and interesting although a bit underwhelming. Maybe the bottle wasn't stored right or maybe the wine is going through a bitchy phase. Either way, I'd love to drink a whole bottle. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Pomerol

2004 Ch. Clinet, Pomerol - dark and smooth. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. Gazin, Pomerol - very monstrous, very tannic. No 82' Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. La Conseillante, Pomerol - a little bit of a bitter edge Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. Petit Village, Pomerol - this was one of the better Pomerols. It was approachable and soft. Maybe a little watery though. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
1995 Chateau La Croix du Casse, Pomerol - ($140.00 on Casanova's list) the host and his two guests drank this bottle remarkably quick. It seemed like the best way to taste. You can swirl for the nuances and pound for the pleasure. A truly elegant wine with crushed velvet all over the place. I notice less funk and earth in Pomerol than St. Emillion. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
1959 Petrus - there was no sign of the brick oxidative character you'd get when drinking an old wine. Instead, I saw black and purple tones that reminded me of crushed velvet. The guest of honor was born in 1959, so the host thought it would be a good idea to have this wine. It would've been nice to sit down and drink an entire bottle to monitor its evolution. Cue the cliché’: an iron fist in a velvet glove. Truly one of the best wines I've ever tasted. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-or in another 100 years 

Haut-Medoc

2004 Ch. Beaumont, Haut-Medoc - complex nose, but watery in the center of the palette. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2003 Château Cantemerle Cabernet (blend) - Haut Médoc, (Bordeaux) France
It’s youthful, masculine, tannic and delicious. The wine’s earthy notes go well with its subtle cigar box and pencil shaving qualities. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2001 Chateau Coufron, Haut-Medoc ($209 case) - too old and a bit bitter. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Pessac-Leognan

Pessac-Leognon
2005 Chateau Picque Caillou - I bought this one from Bistro Moulin for $75 to blind-taste Ben Edwards and Arturo Salazar. It tasted austere. There was not much fruit, but that’s why I like the wines from this part of Bordeaux. There were some nuances of cedar and resin. I saved some for the next day and it didn’t taste much better. Last tasted fall of 2010 Drink now 
2004 Château Le Pape – Pessac Leognan – 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. I get a dark berries and really funky ammonia quality that reminds me of the skin of brie cheese. The color looks like it could stain your feet purple like fresh ink would. The 30 year-old vines are at the highest elevation in Pessac Leognan and Chateau Carbonnieux is next door. This winery has been around since the 12th Century and was owned by Bishop Clement before he became a pope. See what wine is capable of? This was left over from a Bicyclette tasting. Kris took a left-over half bottle of Viader and I took this. I think I got the better deal. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. Olivier, Pessac Leognan (rouge) - I felt like I was back in Bordeaux drinking from a wine skin. It was very clean. I remember staggering around town with purple teeth looking in all the wine shops and market places. I got to meet Damien's old boss who had tried to set up a tasting for me. I groveled in mortification. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2003 Carmes Haut-Brion (Pessac-Leognon) - Real ripe, hot vintage with peppery nuances. This wine showcased bright fruit and reminded me of a 00' Ch Magdelaine. The aromatics were more enjoyable than the mouthfeel, probably because the wine is too young to be drunk. Kind of austere, yet nice and luscious. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Pauillac

2004 Ch. Batailley Grand Cru Classé, Pauillac - round, with a long finish. Give me some weed to smoke. It had a real cigar box nose, but was quite balanced. It wasn't like tobacco, but more like a cigar box. Walter and Sylvia demanded that I taste this wine. It was pretty good and I remember it being a great value. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. Clerc-Milon, Pauillac - there was more merlot in this and I picked up on the clay soil. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. D'armailhac, Pauillac - more cab and cola with a gravelly quality. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. Lynch-Bages, Pauillac - Hey look, there's Karen MacNeil. It wasn't showing as approachable as the Pontet-Canet, but should improve. It's cool to be in the same sphere as the greats. Oh wait a minute, I'm still a kook! Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. Pichon Longueville, Pauillac - it had modern cola softness with a new world lack of backbone. All of the sample bottles were finished, so that seemed like a good sign. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. Pontet-Canet, Pauillac - better than Lynch-Bages and very masculine. It reminded me of the 86' Mouton and had a dark black currant character mixed with licorice espresso grinds. Linden's licorice cough drops. Menthol and definitely herbaceous and eucalyptus. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2003 Les Tourelles Longueville from Pauillac priced at $75 on Casanova's list. Lunch wine! Real masculine, but not astringent. I felt like I tasted black velvet lava rocks I just found on some other planet. The chocolaty nuances in the wine most likely inspired the two customers to finish the bottle with ease. It's a good thing their wives were drinking a half bottle of Latour's 03 Puligny Montachet 1erCru. They must love rich wines that make the salivary glands come to life. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2001 Grand Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac - it was hot, ripe and young. It wasn't alcoholic in terms of heat but it almost tasted a like a little rubbing alcohol from the grapes being baked or something. It had some licorice and elegance. I thought it could pass for a Duckhorn "Three Palms" because it wasn't displaying much terroir. Gabe thought it was either Californian or Italian and I definitely thought Californian. It was still young and I picked up on the Merlot. Steve stumped me again. Last tasted 9/4/07 Drink now-2015 
2001 Lafite - really lean and green tobacco leaves. The nose was stinky enough to be deemed Bordeaux. Supple, yet smelling like vanilla and horse manure. Nonetheless, really classy and high quality. It almost had an orange citrus quality in the background. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2001 Lafite, Pauillac - for $210 a bottle, I thought it was quite rugged without the fruit you'd want to have when drinking it. It was all muscle and not much fruit. It had an orange hue on the rim like a blood red sun and it had an exotic citrus quality too. The ladies liked it more than the guys. Last tasted 9/6/07 Drink now-2015 
1999 Mouton Rothschild - had vanilla wasn't very astringent and wasn't watery either. It had an orangey citrus with plenty of dry earth coming through. Coffee and teaberry notes. Almost the style of a red Burgundy. It's good to be happy at work! Last tasted 7/05/07 Drink now-2015 
1989 Haut Bages Liberal - Libourne, Pauillac - this was tasted on and it was so dam good that I had no qualms in quaffing this beverage like a true alcoholic. There were tobacco leaves; it was stony sativa with a slight mousey quality that was far from being offensive. The sassafras and root beer quality was like drinking Barq's root beer. It had some cola character. The eucalyptus and barky pine tree aroma's sent a message to my olfactory bulb that urged me to consume. This was worth the hang-over. It was leathery and inky but the tannins were so far from being harsh. Thank you Steve and Cheers to Selby. Last tasted 9/4/07 Drink now-2015 
1986 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac - What an intense black color that was about as masculine as they come. Although, the wine was decanted it wasn't as mature as it might become. When I think of this wine, I think of a fist covered in armor. The knight must have forgotten his velvet gloves because this wine was rough. A true example of a powerful Cabernet that's showing well but is still maturing. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
1995 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac - This was a perfect example of statutory wine drinking. The host wanted a big wine and he mentioned how much he likes drinking Diamond Creek wines. They had two magnums and a 750ml. The 750ml was showing a bit better than the mug’s but it was so rough and powerful. The black fruit cola character was there but the wine hadn't had time to mature. I can't wait till she grows up and mellows out. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
1983 Mouton - kind of astringent and rough compared to some other years I've tasted. This wine was delicious, but probably won't improve much.
Champagne. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
1982 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac - (a guest on table 30) It was orange maroon in color and had a peppery rawhide character with traces of vanilla. It was held together nicely for such an old wine. The fruit wasn't jumping out of the glass, but the earth was there. Kris thought the wine was somewhat tired for such a great vintage. Its nice viscous and tobacco qualities mixed with a mysterious orange citrus made this wine enjoyable and interesting although a bit underwhelming. Maybe the bottle wasn't stored right or maybe the wine is going through a bitchy phase. Either way, I'd love to drink a whole bottle. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
Margaux
2004 Ch. Durfort Vivens, Margaux - had a sweaty barnyard character. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. Labegourge, Margaux - really elegant, quite approachable and rather nice. The tannins were soft. Damien thought it was watery. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. Lascombes, Margaux - this was more approachable than anything so far. I kept going back to this wine because I liked it so much!!! It was beautiful with cassis, dark purple berries and purple velvet colored. Most memorable of the whole tasting. I love elegant wines. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. Siran, Margaux - kind of barnyard. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2003 Château Larruau Cabernet (blend) – Margaux, (Bordeaux) France
If this were a person, it would be an elegant woman who enjoys smearing red lipstick on her lips to prove her femininity. The wine’s texture is like that of satin sheets, smooth and clean. ‘03 was a hot year, which means the grapes ripened easily. That’s a good thing. In off years, there’s a lack of sun, which makes for offensive bell pepper nuances. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2002 Chateau Larruau, Margaux - Soft and elegant with lots of bouncy red fruit. It had the earthy complexity that many New World wines exhibit. It had a fruit-forwardness without feeling like someone sprayed perfume into your glass. It was a little watery, kind of one dimensional but a really approachable with youthful elegance. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2001 Chateau Margaux $350 (9/26/07) – A little tight and a bit thin, right now. Gabe thought it was Italian because of the slight brettanomyces character. The customer didn’t ask me how I thought the wine would taste. Therefore, he drank 98-percent of the bottle and complained about the last sip. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Pomerol

2004 Ch. Clinet, Pomerol - dark and smooth. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. Gazin, Pomerol - very monstrous, very tannic. No 82' Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. La Conseillante, Pomerol - a little bit of a bitter edge Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Ch. Petit Village, Pomerol - this was one of the better Pomerols. It was approachable and soft. Maybe a little watery though. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
1995 Chateau La Croix du Casse, Pomerol - ($140.00 on Casanova's list) the host and his two guests drank this bottle remarkably quick. It seemed like the best way to taste. You can swirl for the nuances and pound for the pleasure. A truly elegant wine with crushed velvet all over the place. I notice less funk and earth in Pomerol than St. Emillion. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
1959 Petrus - there was no sign of the brick oxidative character you'd get when drinking an old wine. Instead, I saw black and purple tones that reminded me of crushed velvet. The guest of honor was born in 1959, so the host thought it would be a good idea to have this wine. It would've been nice to sit down and drink an entire bottle to monitor its evolution. Cue the cliché’: an iron fist in a velvet glove. Truly one of the best wines I've ever tasted. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-or in another 100 years 

Pomerol

2004 Ch. Clinet, Pomerol - dark and smooth. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Gazin, Pomerol - very monstrous, very tannic. No 82' Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. La Conseillante, Pomerol - a little bit of a bitter edge Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Petit Village, Pomerol - this was one of the better Pomerols. It was
approachable and soft. Maybe a little watery though. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

1995 Chateau La Croix du Casse, Pomerol - ($140.00 on Casanova's list) the host and his two guests drank this bottle remarkably quick. It seemed like the best way to taste. You can swirl for the nuances and pound for the pleasure. A truly elegant wine with crushed velvet all over the place. I notice less funk and earth in Pomerol than St. Emillion. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

1959 Petrus - there was no sign of the brick oxidative character you'd get when drinking an old wine. Instead, I saw black and purple tones that reminded me of crushed velvet. The guest of honor was born in 1959, so the host thought it would be a good idea to have this wine. It would've been nice to sit down and drink an entire bottle to monitor its evolution. Cue the cliché’: an iron fist in a velvet glove. Truly one of the best wines I've ever tasted. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-or in another 100 years 

Saint Emillion

2004 Ch. Angelus, St. Emillion Grand Cru - pretty clean but somehow a little tooth-coating. Oh wait, that's an oxymoron. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Canon St. Emillion Grand Cru (1er Grand Cru Classé) - there was backbone; it was luscious, clean and real nice. It was focused, well-balanced and seemed like the better of the ones from St. Emillion. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Canon-La-Gaffeliere St. Emillion Grand Cru - at first I thought it was killer and complex and then Gabe, Damien and myself all picked up on a bacteria finish. You've got to revisit the wines that you thought were great. Last tasted 2007Drink now-2015 

2004 Ch. Figeac, St Emillion "Premier Grand Cru Classé" - I expected a little more from this one. That's because I had the 1982 not long before trying this vegetal, tannic monster. I got some sweat sox mixed with meatiness and green vegetables. It was sweat leaking out of a mouse's fur. Very nice! Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

1986 Chateau Canon, St Emillion $230 – this is pretty muscular for a right bank. The cola nuances make me think this is more of a left bank than anything. I’m glad there’s enough sediment for these bitches to chew on. Last tasted 10/15/07 Drink now-2015 

1982 Domaine de la Gaffeliere $375 - The nose was sweet and the sight revealed brick edges with plenty of color in the center. There's something about red wines from St. Emillion that make me want to have some pate'. There wasn't any brettanomyces and the tannins were so soft and supple that I knew how a mature wine should behave. It should behave elegantly, like a well-dressed and wise old man. I gave them a cellar tour so they decided to leave me $100 side-tip. Last tasted 8/23/07 Drink now-2015 