18 June 2011: After a dinner of salt-baked seabass (our new favourite), Richard was gasping for red wine. Disappointed by the seriously corked half bottle of 2004 Cos d'Estournel, he proceeded to open a half bottle of 1959 Margaux. Bright garnet. A very fragrant bouquet meets the nose, reminiscent of a walk in the autumn forest, splendid with the rich aromas of fallen autumn leaves, cedar, figs, dried blossoms, spiced up with cardamon, nutmeg and tobacco, and just a hint of sweet leather. Harmonious, charming and graceful, but the seduction was more on the nose than the palate, which faded to a hollow mid-palate. Good length. This bottle probably should have been drunk 10 years ago for better enjoyment. Wonder if larger formats would have weathered the years with more vigour. 17/20
Not a great believer in food and wine matching, Richard also opened a 1991 DRC Montrachet. Golden colour, with copper highlights. On the nose, a rich and layered bouquet of lemon confit, honey, macadamia nuts, shortbread and dried fruit (apricot) and creme caramel, showing rather distinct botrytis character, almost like a dry Sauternes. The alcohol was sticking out at 14% giving it a somewhat unbalanced hot finish, but the evident acidity managed to balance the richness of the wine, to avoid it becoming cloying. We don't think this wine would benefit from further ageing, but in fact it should have been drunk a while ago! 15/20
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