Last night our Bordeaux group was doing 1966 (and a couple '64s) at Riverpa rk. I was slightly delayed (nutcase on Metro-North, train got held for a bi t), so I was last to arrive. I was greeted by the 2009 Ledru "Cuvee Goulte" Blanc de Noirs. What a lovely bottle of bubbly- full but bright, pit fruit s, floral notes, flint. Minerally, long. A-
We had the Farm (family style) dinner. Started with a charcuterie platter - great veal tongue, couple pates, duck prosciutto, etc
1964 Figeac This was pretty musty at first, but cleans up and fllls out. B (I retasted at end of night and thought it had improved a lot, probably at least a B+)1964 Lynch-Bages I thought this was corked from start and nothing changed my mine (others th ought it metallic but not corked I think) NR
Next we had 4 big bowls- a green salad, smoked lamb ribs with yogurt sauce, sugar pea panzanella with white anchovies (said ramps as well but if there quite subtle), baby octopus with fava.
1966 Pichon Baron Weird nose ("scorched earth " was a descriptor, a bit more mainstream on pa late, but tacky tannin remaining and fruit is fleeting. B-1966 Giscours Sweet fruit, black cherry, floral, leathery. Quite nice B+/A-
Next were the pasta course - bigoli w/ramps, and cavatelli w/merguez
1996 Beychevelle Medium bodied, seemed thin at first, slightly lifted nose, definitely puts on weight. B+1966 Ducru-Beaucaillou Sweet, cigarbox and leather, full, nice length. A-/B+
1966 Leoville Poyferre Black fruit, cedar, quite full, rich. A-/B+Main courses were smoked Berkshire pork, whole red snapper with farro, plus asparagus, roasted radishes, and charred spring onions
1966 La Mission Haut Brion A little herby (though Josh who has had several times says a bit less green than some bottles), but nice redder fruit, sandalwood. A touch exotic. B+/ A-1966 Haut Brion Damn, maderized (it had to be the HB?)
Rhubarb Custard pie w ginger Ice cream and lemon sorbet
Overall I thought the wines showed well, but all were opened at restaurant after travel. I'd prefer my 50 year old wines at a dinner table near cellar .
Voting for WOTN. Ducru-Beaucaillou 15 pts LMHB 13 pts Poyferre 11 pts Figeac 5 pts Giscours 3 pts
Diane order a bottle off the list, NV Savart L'Overture. Good, creamy, nice . B/B+
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a p arty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.