Solihull Fine Wine, June meeting. A warm and pleasant evening in Edgbaston.
Blind as usual Roland told us there were 7 clarets and one ringer, just to keep us on our toes.
Chasse Spleen 1996 Mature and rather dull, confirmed on the nose with slight oxidation. Spicy nose and soft entry but fruit fading and tannins gone. Well stored, / poor bottle or typical?
Clos de Marquis 1997 Bright with no age, cassis, spice old cupboards, complex, soft fruit but good grip and, drinking wonderfully now, all in balance.
Ducru -Beaucaillou 1997 brick red, no age, bright, cedar and cigar box, iodine, seaweed, soft and long, blackberrys.
Gruard-Larose 1997 Huge extract, big legs, cedar orgaic farmyard, stunning entry of fruit and tannins, spicy and blackcurrants, long, what a drink, perfect now and for a few years, my 2nd WOTN
Carruades de Lafite, 1996 Depth, bright, no age, restrained complex nose that opedned after half an hour, cedar and blackcurrants, immature tannins balancing the spicy fruit. Not yet. Try again.
Pavillon Rouge de Margaux 1996 Same depth as the carruades, but a wonderful ethereal perfumed, cinnamon and some farmyard. Soft spice and fruit, very long. Great now, but will keep. Two members got it right.
Penfolds 707, 1997 Pass the port please!!, thick wadge of extract dark. Nose of oak oak and oak, chocolates and cassis. Chewy soft unctous, balanced long, drinking now, but will the oak mellow in time? All spotted the ringer, especially up against the last wine.
Leoville Lascases 1996. Massive extract to the rim, bright, restrained, cedar, leather, smoke, almonds, huge palate of fruit and tannins , spicy, long, wonderful and with years of life ahead. My WOTN
What this tasting showed is the maligned 1997 is now drinking well and at reasonable prices, first growths at £ 120 0r there about.