TN: Ch Corbin plus Pomerols, CaliCabs, Champagne

Anabelle Cruse Bardinet from Ch. Corbin was in town, and my friend Mark arr anged a dinner at Benoit. A nice group gathered, we started with gougeres a nd a couple bubblies.

2004 Pascal Doquet Premier Cru Vertus Champagne Crisp, citrus and green apple framed by bread dough, very nice. B+

1995 Henriot Brut Champagne- Strange cheesey note, declared corked by more sensitive

Tarte flambee was my favorite part of the meal.

2011 Divin de Corbin Angular, unfriendly, green notes, not my fave. C+

2012 Ch. Corbin Fairly full, round, ready to go, plummy. B

2010 Ch. Corbin Anabelle likes, but this seems roasted/pruney to me, and comes across as ho t. C+/B-

A sturdy sweet French onion soup was my next course

2008 Ch. Corbin Lovely, elegant, balanced. B+

2005 Ch. Corbin Big, tannic, this is going to be good but needs time, B+/A- (but B for drin king now)

2001 Ch. Corbin My favorite of the Corbin, complex, rich but fresh, delicious. A-/B+

I had halibut with mushrooms and kale with a meurette sauce

1976 Ridge Montebello This was declared corked

1994 Ridge Montebello Rich, full, yet only 12.7 degrees. Cassis, smoke, mineral/seashell. A-

1973 BV George de la Tour Cabernet Sauvignon I opened a '76 Jordan that was hideously corked, this was only other old Ca liCab I had standing up. Opened (plenty of slushy sediment) and double deca nted- there's a whiff of oxidation but some fruit, But it sat open a long t ime at restaurant, maderized. We discussed how the BVs don't seem to have s urvived as well as other 70s CaliCabs.

1975 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon I liked this more than others. Tight, yes, but a real solid core underneath . Suave and burly at same time. A-/B+

1992 Stony Hill Chardonnay Weird showing, quite advanced compared to last bottle, then it seemed to fr eshen up a bit in glass. Nutty, marzipan notes over sweet fruit, then more oxidized notes reappeared. Not good bottle

1966 Ch. La Conseillante Funny vinyl note on nose, better on palate, red fruit and cocoa, ok but ove rshadowed by the '71. B/B-

1971 Ch. La Conseillante I love 71 RB, and this is a superb example. Plush black fruits, truffle, mo cha. Classic Pomerol at perfect stage. A-A-

1959 Ch l' Angelus What a shame, maderized bottle

OK some off bottles, barely ok food, well-intentioned but spotty service. S till, fun night- Anabelle (and rest of group) a delight, some brilliant win es.

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.

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DaleW
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