Paul organized a couple of dinners to welcome friends from the West Coast who were visiting NYC, I was privileged to be part of round 1, claret at Hawksmoor. We started with excellent scallops, good marrow bones, and very disappointing (based on previous try) potted beef and bacon. After we split some very good meat (porterhouse, rib chops, and sirloin), carrots, beef fat fries, mashed potatoes, spinach, and Caesar salad.
2006 Vilmart “Coeur de Cuvée” Brut Champagne Full-framed, pear and tangerine, brioche. Excellent A-2014 Vilmart “Coeur de Cuvée” Brut Champagne Powerful and a bit tight, apple with orange zest, floral notes, stony finish, I enjoy but give time. B with potential
Some ‘86 to start
1986 Lynch Bages Quite giving, though you can still feel some tannin on backend. Cassis, pencil lead, just a hint of green. Nice finish, B+1986 Cos d’Estournel Pretty open, black fruit and cedary/oaky notes. There’s nothing wrong with this wine it just fails to excite me. B-
Next was a great flight of Pomerols
1982 La Conseillante Black plum and raspberry, coffee, and sandalwood. Exotic, long, complex. A-1982 L’Evangile Wowsa showing, black cherry and cassis, cigarbox, leather, great texture, long finish. A-/A
1982 Haut-Bailly I liked this more than some. If you are looking for a lush opulent ‘82, not for you. But this is classic Graves, red and black fruits, tobacco, snappy acids, fine tannins. B+1982 Cos d’Estournel Cassis, a little mint , touch of barnyard. Perfectly fine wine but to me lacking the interest and complexity of the other ‘82s. B
1982 Calon SegurI also liked this more than some. Black cherry, soil tones, a little animal note. Nice length, good complexity on finish. B+1982 Leoville Las Cases I’m not biggest LLC fan, but this is an excellent (young) wine. Cassis accented with black plum, espresso, tobacco A-/B+
I just realized I didn’t take a note on a port that went around, I believe ‘91 Fonseca. I was just spitting at this point, remember big figgy flavors and some (expected) heat, but don’t really have a take on it (and I’m certainly no port expert).
Really fun night with excellent wines and company.
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.