Easter Treats - 1990 La Mission Haut Brion, 2000 Guigal La Turque and 1949 Cheval Blanc!

24 April 2011:  A very sumptuous lunch at Patrick and Debra's....we were treated to a wood oven roasted Pyrenean lamb, all the way from France!  It was really yummy and the wines were a definite treat.  The 1989 Latour was not so impressive....rather drying out...but the highlights for me were:

1990 La Mission Haut Brion

Smokey, tobacco, violet. Very stylish. 18/20

2000 Cote Rotie La Turque, Guigal
Vibrant and intensely complex nose of black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, black pepper, cloves, liquorice, with hint of coffee. Powerful, concentrated, showing very ripe fruit and a lot of finesse. Rich mouthfeel, smooth texture, gorgeously spicy and savoury. Drinking beautifully now, but will continue to evolve over next 10- 15 years. The best is yet to come for this wine! 18/20


After attending the choral evensong at St. John's Cathedral, we settled in for a quiet evening.....and a lightish supper, but Richard couldn't resist treating ourselves to a half bottle of 1949 Cheval Blanc..... 

1949 Cheval Blanc (half) - into neck level

Spellbinding, glorious, sensational. Complex nose of tobacco, blueberry, violet, cedar, with just a hint of aromatic spices. Harmonious, totally integrated. Magnificent structure (very fine tannin and lively acidity) and complexity on the palate. Finish that goes on and on and on! Drinking at peak and will continue to drink well for the next 5+ years (better in larger formats!) Definitely one of the most memorable wine experiences for me! 19.5/20