A nice group got together at Quality Italian for a 1989 Right Bank Bordeaux tasting last night. The main room at QI is quite loud, but service was good and so was the food.
As we gathered and chatted, a couple of bubblies and a couple of still whites
1995 Charles Heidsieck ?Blanc de Millenaires? Brut Rich and sweet, pears, vanilla, and chalk. Full bodied, refined, long. A-2008 Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon Champagne Obviously young, but tasty nonetheless. Good acids, great length, creamy without being fat. A-
2014 Raveneau ?Chapelot? Chablis 1er I?ve never had this bottling before. Again, young but lovely. Chalky, citrus and apple, quite floral. I love it. A-2014 Domaine du Clos des Rocs Pouilly-Loché Les Barres Well, we were on a streak but something had to give. This has Red Delicious and lemon fruit but with a touch of Epoisses stored in a tanning booth. Strange wine, though apparently respected producer. C
Table shared calamari, baked clams, Italian style guacamole (pistachios), agnolotti, etc before we moved to the Bordeaux. With the reds I had lamb chops with farro, yogurt, and a mint pesto, table had spinach, fries, and polenta creme brulee (!!!)
I believe all double-decanted in advance.
1989 Ch. du Domaine de l?Eglise Fragrant when decanted, had somewhat shutdown by serving time, but bounced back in glass. Red fruited, light tannins, smooth, not very complex, but only one I thought ?ready? B1989 Ch. Magdelaine A bit subdued at first, opened up, black cherry, herbs, tobacco leaf. . Really quite good but not best showing I?ve seen. A-/B+
1989 Ch. Angelus Iis this first year without the L' ?)Lush plum fruit, cocoa, Nice nose and flavors, it?s just on the finish that the tannins are a bit tacky. Some liked a lot more than I did, some less. B/B+1989 Ch. Certan de May This was somewhat brutish at first, but calms down. Black cherry, mushrooms, cigarsmoke, just a hint of barnyard. Lovely but needs time. B+
1989 Ch. L?Evangile Young, lush red fruits with a little meaty note (smoked duck breast!), touch of coffee, not as big as some of the other wines but long and balanced. A-1989 Vieux Chateau Certan Black cherry, plum, mocha, very long, very young, very complex. A-
1989 Ch. La Conseillante This is pushing the ripeness window for me, but there?s enough tannin and acid to keep it balanced. Ripe black plum and cassis, mocha, some sandalwood and spice. Another delicious wine that needs time. A-I admit I came into this with bias, always loved these wines, expectations were met. But everything (absent maybe the Domaine de L?Eglise) would show better with some time I think. Really fun group, good food (thanks Jon for arranging), interesting wines. Do again in 2029.
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 party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.