Catching up on some notes - first a small dinner party.
2003 Vergelegen (white) - the estate white wine is made from sauv blanc and Semillon and has a fairly full fruit and oak nose, a very Bordeaux like presentation (people looking for ringers take note), and good persistence in the mouth. On the high side in terms of price, but a well made wine.1988 Ch. Clerc Milon - we chose a couple of 88 Bordeaux for the lamb main course, from opposite ends of Pauillac. This one showed nice fruit in the nose, a decent middle, still softly tannic, and it became a little harder with time. It was a bit simpler than the next wine and the fruit faded after awhile in the glass. I'd say drink up in the next few years.
1988 Ch. Pichon Baron - weightier with a darker nose, hint of anise and vanilla backed by currant, less tannin than the Clerc Milon and more complex.. Good stuffing and structure, this showed no sign of fading or losing fruit.1997 Torres Mas La Plana - switching to 100% cabernet from across the Pyrenees was a bit jarring. Tasted side by side, this was my choice for best wine of flight. Dark with lots of oak (no surprise), smooth and drinking very well. They used a much fancier heavier bottle for this vintage - not sure when they switched.
1995 Torres Mas La Plana - this wine had its champions, and it did show lighter edges, not as much in the nose, higher acidity, more elegance, and was quite presentable. Neither wine had much complexity and I think that the Bordeaux was a difficult act to follow.BTW, I see you have a new town idiot on the group - too bad. Glad to still see the odd wine post among the dross.