Private Event Bordeaux Tasting at Cafe Levain
Starter Whites
1998 Zind Humbrecht Riesling Turckheim (Alsace)
Medium gold. A little petrol and mineral on the nose. The palate reveals mineral, candied fruit, and floral character. The finish was a little too bitter for my taste. A few of us thought the wine was slightly oxidized. 85 points
2000 Dr. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer)
Light gold. On the nose floral and mineral but very light indeed. The palate showed more with candied apples, mineral, and pear with a touch of sweetness. A short finish with nice acidity caps off the wine. 86 points
2001 Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken
(Pfalz)
Light gold. This wine was on its last legs which was a surprise. After referencing Cellar Tracker I believe it was just a poorly made wine. A little minerality on the nose and the palate showed roughly the same. Drink up if you have any left. 81 points
2004 Spreitzer Oestricher Lenchen "303" Riesling Spatlese (Rheingau)
My favorite starter wine. Light gold with a nose of floral, mineral, apricots, slate. On the palate this wine blossomed with an almost Auslese level of sweet following by apricots, slate, golden apples, and peaches. There is plenty of acidity on the finish which indicates some serious cellaring potential. 92 points
2005 Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac-Leognan White
A light gold color with aromas of grapefruit, peach, minerals. The palate reveals a balance of floral, peach, and honey. The finish contains moderate concentration of flavors allowing for a pleasing medium finish. A well made wine. 89 points
The Reds
1994 Montrose Saint-Estephe
Medium purple. A nose that packs a tobacco, ink, and oaky quality. A little sweet fruit featuring cherries and plums is quickly revealed and then transforms into an earth dominated wine with oak, rustic flavors and vanilla. A medium finish of moderate concentration. I don’t see this wine evolving much more and would recommend drinking up in the next few years. 88 points
1994 Angelus Saint-Emilion
Medium purple. Aromas of tobacco, cocoa, cherry, cedar. A tannic wine at this state and I don’t believe it was decanted. This medium finishing wine features coffee, cigar box, and minerals. I would image this has some serious life left in it. 90 points
1990 Brane Cantenac Margaux
Light purple. Mineral and tobacco on the nose with a dirty, tired palate. This wine appears to be on decline so drink up. 85 points
1990 Lagrange Saint-Julien
Color dark purple. Wow on the nose and palate. Cherry, oak, minerals, and cigar box are featured on this completely balanced wine. Great, fresh acidity and this has some serious life left. I need to source some of this wine. My wine of the night! 94 points
1995 Pichon Baron Pauillac
Medium purple. Nose features pencil lead, sweet fruits, and earth. Palate is concentrated with raspberries, pencil lead, and oak with a smooth finish. This is a nice wine overall. 90 points
1998 Lynch Bages Pauillac
Medium purple. Aromas of floral, mineral, and cherry jump out of the glass. This is an intense wine without plenty of muscle. There is a hint of cigar box and the acidity is perfect. This certainly outperformed the 2001 Lynch. 91 points
2001 Lynch Bages Pauillac
Dark purple. The nose features cherry and mineral but is very subtle. On the palate the concentration is very weak. There is almost a water downed feel to this wine. It is lacking the qualities of the 1998. 85 points
1999 Cos d’Estournel Saint-Estephe
Medium purple. Vivid expression on the nose with cherry, coffee, mineral. The palate is impressive with cherry, coffee, earth and features nice acidity. A medium finish follows with everything in good harmony. 91 points
2000 Pavillon Rogue du Margaux Margaux
Medium purple. People really liked this wine and I was also impressed. Spices and dark fruits are intense on the nose. The taste of this wine is really impressive and shows great concentration. Everything is balanced and features mulit layered flavors. Well done. I wish I purchased this on release as pricing is $100 plus a bottle. 92 points
2000 Leoville Poyferre Saint-Julien
Dark purple. There is an ink, black fruit, mineral and coffee featured on the nose. This wine was very concentrated and would have been fun to try right out of the bottle. I decanted 2 hours and regretted the decision. One of the more fruity wines of the night. 92 points
2000 Calon Segar Saint Estephe
Dark purple. Truffles, mineral, cherry on the nose. This wine is multi layered and is very youthful. I loved the balance of earth and fruit on this medium finishing wine. 92 points
2000 Giscours Margaux
Dark purple. One of the most intense noses of the night with coffee, truffles, cigar box. I found a hint of raspberry in the palate and it was very concentrated. This is a super value at its release price. My second favorite wine of the night. 93 points
2000 Rauzan Segla Margaux
Dark purple. Mineral, tobacco, and spices are featured on the nose and palate. This wine was really concentrated and showed well despite being last. Tons of wine left in this one. I am glad I own a bottle and will revisit it in 5 years. 92 points
Dessert Wines
1995 Joh Jos Prum Graacher Himmelreich Auslese
Medium gold. Nice petrol, slate and floral are featured on the nose. The palate showed some thickness and featured lovely fruits and minerals. A medium finish and I would image this has some great life left. 92 points
2003 A J Adam Dhronhofberger Tholey Auslese
Light gold. A nose of floral and honey. The taste on this was not near the concentration of the Prum and featured floral, light honey and minerals. 87 points
2005 Chateau Guiraud Sauternes
Medium yellow. A nose of golden apple, honey, and apricots. A sweet wine with thick concentration featuring lovely fruits. This is extremely young and should evolve into a great wine. Currently 91 points