TN Pinot Noir SFWS

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As with any year, the quality of Burgundy ranges greatly in 1990 because of variatlions in microclimates, and quality of care in growing the grapes and making the wines. Many of the top Burgundy wines of 1990 have been highly rated by many critics who know Burgundy well, such as Coates and Broadbent. Some of the top 1988 Burgundy wines also have been highly rated, but they often are of a style that requires more aging than the 1990s to resolve the considerable tannins they often have. I can remember the young 1959s, many of which were very easy to drink when relatively young but still only a shadow of what they became with long aging as they developed secondary aromas and tastes. Many top 1959s, including La Tache, are still very good. I would guess the better 1990s will still be decent to serve at a wake for most of us. On the other hand, 1988s might be a better choice for leaving for children and grandchildren.

According to Decanter, a single bottle of 1990 Romanee-Conti sold for

4725 UK Pounds at a Christies auction. A case of Georges and Henri Jayer's 1990 Echezeaux brought 10687 Pounds. Of the DRC wines, some of the 1990s are more desired and expensive than some of the corresponding 1988s and vv. Of the best top Burgundy now at , or near peak, 1985 and 1978 often seem to be the best, and unfortunately the price reflects this. The 1978 Romanee-Conti now goes for about 32992 UK Pounds per case at auction, while the 1985 costs about 34100. The 1978 La Tache goes for about 21850 while the 1985 sells for about 14375. These auction prices come from a recent issue of Decanter. The top Burgundy from Leroy is not tracked in Decanter, but it sometimes is better, lasts longer, and is more expensive than the wines of DRC. Both DRC and Leroy are more willing to take risks than most, and they are likely to leave the grapes on the vine to ripen more in less ideal years, etc. The small vineyards of their top grapes can be very rapidly harvested in the case of a turn in the weather for the worst. A very few other growers take such good care of their grapes and will take considerable risks in less ripe years, but most can not afford to do so.

I always remember the 1959 and 1961 Bordeauxs. Early on, many rated the 1959s as superior to the 1961s, many of which were quite tannic and harsh when young. In the short term, for those who drank their wine before it was mature, they were right. Then in a few years, the

1961s often were rated higher. Some, as was usual back then, managed to make poor wine in both years. However today the finer wines of 1961 perhaps are better than the finer wines of 1959 on average, although there are many exceptions. Many would select 1959 Lafite over 1961 Lafite, for example.

"Mark Lipton" wrote ..........

Hi Mark, John

Felton Road produce three PNs.

Block 3 and Block 5 are essentially "single vineyard' wines - although they are really different clones grown in separate blocks, in the same (Elms) vineyard in Bannockburn, Central Otago which was planted in 1992.

The third wine, designated simply Felton Road Pinot Noir, may be from several plantings in their vineyards, and may be slightly less expensive, but don't think that is a lesser wine.

IMHO, all three rate among the best of the Central Otago Pinots.

Interesting web site -

(Mark, I will not let you miss Central Otago next visit !)

My brother in law swears by the "block" wines.

I have had Felton Road pinots many times and am always impressed by their complexity.

OT, St Helier, the NZ are giving ref Barnes a hard time...........sour grapes comes to mind. My b-in-law sent me an e-mail listing the refs faults.

"John T" wrote ...........

JT - the Block 3/5 wines are probably a little more "serious" and would benefit for an extra year or two in the bottle - but, frankly, all three are quite superb.

[OT - Rugby Rant] John, I am over it - yes, Barnes got tired and probably would like to have that second half of the game over again.

BUT, the ABs f*****d up! We lacked a captain who could take control; the strategy to work the ball into the middle of the paddock and the backs to pepper the posts with dropped goals - the overall stats don't lie - we blew it - all credit to the tricolours.

I shall now be content to be the disinterested bystander this weekend.

Good Luck England Good Luck France Good Luck South Africa ARGENTINA TO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Totally OT

The best result for the future of world rugby IMHO

As you seem to have some experience with those vintages, I wonder if you might have an opinion about the '59 Ch. La Mission Haut Brion. I was unfortunate enough, (sad, I know,) to have inherited 4 bottles (in the original case, no less) a couple of years ago. They look to be in good shape and I am looking forward to opening them. As I have no experience with this vintage or this chateau, Maybe you have some memories that will enrich my/our experience when we do open them. I will, of course, offer tasting notes when they do go the way of all bottles...

I bought very few 1959 and 1961 wines when they were first released. I was just out of college then and did not have a lot of money to spend for wines to age. I did buy a case of 59 Yquem and a case of 61 Lafite at the then high price of about $US 11 per bottle. I picked up a few more bottles of 59 and 61 wines a few years after release, but by then the prices had greatly increased, but still were very low compared with what first growths cost today, even considering inflation.

Michael Broadbent likely has tasted more of these old wines over the years than most. You must consider that he has a "classic" English taste for Bordeaux, and not a "California" taste. Parker was not important on the wine scene back then.

Back in 1959 La Mission Haut-Brion was still owned by the Woltners who were making it at their best. It often was a more powerful wine than Haut-Brion itself, and many, especially those in the US, often considered it better than Haut-Brion - a matter of taste. Broadbent says it took 20 years for the 59 La Mission Haut-Brion to lose enough tannin for the wine to be decent. It was at first restrained, but had perfectly evolved by the early 90s. He last reported tasting it in

2000, where he found plenty of everything in good balance. He then rated it 5-star out of 5-star and said that it would keep. If your wine has been properly stored over the years, it likely now is a very great wine, and you might want to plan some special event to serve it. If storage has been less than ideal, all bets are off and it could range from undrinkable to still outstanding.

Both La Mission Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion were outstanding in 1959 and

1961 and all should still be drinking well and should hold longer if properly stored. Any combination of these wines would make a most interesting tasting.

The star of both 1959 and 1961 is Ch. Latour. Broadbent gave his very rare rating of 6-star out of 5-star (over the top) for both of these. In the late 90s he thought both of these had not even peaked yet, and that the 59 might have another quarter century and the 1961 another half century of life. Wines such as this are very difficult to evaluate either young or at a decade or two old. Here blind tasting is of little help, other than to detect flaws such as a corked wine or poor storage condition. If one knows the wine is Latour and has followed the development of Latour from youth to maturity over many vintages, then one may be in a position to predict how a new young Latour will develop (and one is by then usually quite old). Wines such as this can in youth have very aggressive tannins and acids, and mainly "label" drinkers will say they like them at this stage. For many, if not most, such aggressive young wines, the wine often just dries out with age or oxidizes before it becomes liked by many.

Many thanks!

Ahhh the good old days - I remember in '67 going through emotional turmoil, and finally deciding I couldn't possibly pay all of $5 for a bottle of '59 Yquem.

This case of La Mission was stored "OK" as far as I know - Was purchased originally by Matt Sterling, the archiologist who discovered the Olmec civilization in Central America. He wrote "Very good wine!" on the side of the case and I suspect they took good care of it in a DC cellar. His wife subsequently became my step mother in law, and I know it was well kept for the last 25 years. In any case, it will be fun to try!

JB

Wish I had bought D'yquem at $5 but I was only 20 then and they wouldn't have sold to me. My last D'yquem was only a 1/2 bottle and $125. But I bought a Chateau Figeac in 1969 for $5.