Ian was visiting from London and Ramon organized a group to celebrate his v isit. Jim and JC arranged dinner at Sutton Inn, an improvised tasting menu by ordering 4 orders of various mains for the 8 os us- worked great, and re staurant did a good job.
We started with the 2006 Phillponnat La Leon Blanc de Noirs. Full, ripe but balanced, citrus zest and pit fruits, pretty sure I wouldn’t have guessed 100% PN but enjoyed. B+
With heirloom tomato salad with a corn milk sauce and tapioca puffs
2004 Laville Haut-Brion Blanc Really tight at first, but deep. I wrote down B+/B but revisited later and it was a different beast, delicious,heading toward excellent.2005 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc Oak, thick, a little hot. C+/B-
Really nice charcuterie plate, I surprised myself by especially loving the mortadella
1982 Figeac Jim who brought was worried, and at first there was a kind of pruney note, but it transformed into something that seemed more representative of that F igeac CF-ishness. Herby, leafy, red fruits, earth. B+/B1982 Lafon Rochet A bit workman like, ok but without any 82 glamor. B-
1982 Leoville Barton Corked, alas.Gnocchi, I thought it was to have a mushroom sauce, but more tomato (or sun dried tomato). Hard match, but the wines pulled through
1985 Leoville las Cases Divisive wine, some really liked , I thought somewhat sturdy/blocky. Might have been better with a steak. B1985 Rausan Segla Lovely, elegant,red fruits and sandalwood. I’ve always thought 86 R S was highpoint of the chateau, followed by the 83, but this is maybe my ne w fave. A-
1985 Gruaud Larose Most wines were doubledecanted in advance, this was opened by JC as a backu p (not sure for what!). Took a while to open up, but classic brawny/earthy GL with some tobacco notes. B+My favorite course of the night, duck breast with a orange/ginger sauce/pur ee (deconstructed duck l’orange someone said- but a better red matc h)
1983 Ch. Marguax Big brooding beast, sure will be fantastic, not a load of fun right now. B1983 Chateau Rauzan Segla, A bit reticent compared to other bottles I’ve had, but still lovely with power and grace. B+/A-
1983 Leoville Poyferre (cork broke and fell in during double decant, so in a Juge bottle) Brawny for LP, cassis and gunflint, needs time. B/B+ for now1983 Pichon Lalande Cassis and black raspberry, green tobacco leaf, balanced and long, A-
Dry aged steak, snap peas, excellent potatoes
1986 Ducru-Beaucaillou Corked1986 Gruaud Larose I always love this wine, but an especially giving bottle. POwerful, complex , dark fruits with earth and cigarbox, just a hint of Cordier funk. A-/A
1986 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, Corked.Some had baked Alaska
1988 Climens Usual orange marmalade/zest, good color, but shorter than other bottles I ’ve had. B-/B1988 Ch. D’Yquem (375) Deep, long., classic. A-/B+
Really fun night.
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.