A nice group of 8 met at Calliope in the East Villlage last night for a ver tical of La Conseillante with a couple other Pomerols. Restaurant was nice if a tad noisy- we had half of a big table in the middle. Restaurant was ge nerous with stems and the food was very good.
While we gathered we had some anchovy toast and radishes, and a few starter whites:
2007 Boxler Kirchberg Riesling Just a touch of RS, floral, good. B/B+
NV Ulysse Collin Champagne Didn’t note designation on this one. Full, rich, a bit toasty, I enjoyed. B+
1994 Laville Haut Brion I thought this a little flat and possibly tired at first, but revisited at end of the night it was one of my wines of the night. Livelier with time, f ull with solid acids, melon and pit fruit with a bit of vanilla and coconut . A-
2006 R&V Dauvissat “La Forest” Chablis 1er This is a bit round/fat to be classic Chablis, but despite the vintage char acter had nice minerality. Wouldn’t think this would be one for the ages though. B+
Kept some white for my first course of uni toast, as we moved to reds
First flight (I liked a bit more than my neighbors)
1996 La Conseillante Some rather firm tannin, cassis, lead pencil, I thought not bad in a rather stern fashion. B/B-
1996 L’Evangile Fully mature, dark fruit with a little barnyard and forest floor, drink up. B-
Second course arrived about here, I liked my beef tongue a lot, but a taste of the tete de porc was even better.
Second Flight
1983 La Conseillante DOA, volatile (someone said corked, but I didn’t want to resniff), by tim e I stopped talking and took first sip others were dumping.
1988 La Conseillante Drinking pretty well, dark fruits with leather and meat, I enjoyed. B+/B
We had next 2 flights with main - rabbit pappadelle for me, very good, neig hbors’ steaks looked good too.
Third Flight
1998 La Conseillante Young, undeveloped, though plenty of dark fruits. Good, but I liked more at a 1998 horizontal a few years ago. B+
1999 Vieux Chateau Certan This was surprisingly backward for a 1999, a bit tight on palate, but seeme d to have all the right stuff - I wouldn’t mind having couple of these in cellar. B+
Fourth Flight -very tight race, table about evenly split re favorite, but I think everyone’s favorite flight
1989 La Conseillante This got my vote for the WOTN. Expressive nose with black fruit and coffee, rather lush on palate, long finish. A-
1990 La Conseillante Tighter nose, full and rich, lots of cassis, long. A-
Got a cheese plate for last flight, an Ossau Iraty was my fave. Fifth Flight
2000 La Conseillante This was so tight I really had trouble getting a read. Big fruit profile , lots of structure. B+/A-??
2001 La Conseillante A little barnyard, juicier fruits than others, velvety, quite good if young . B+
Nice night with nice group, restaurant was very good.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. 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.