We started the evening with 1996 Dom Perignon Rosé. Savoury, fraise des bois, candy floss. Fleshy, opulent, creamy and generous texture with vibrant acidity. Still plenty of energy and freshness. Very appealing and very long spicy and fruity finish. A brilliant start - so yummy! 18.5/20
Then it was time for the moment of truth for the 1943 Canon......good level and a firm cork.....we might be in for a treat?? And we were! Deep garnet hue. Aromas of violet, tobacco, coffee, leather, laced by caramel notes in the nicely mature bouquet. Medium bodied, very smooth texture. Harmonious and persistent finish with just a hint of dryness and acidity pushing through the end. Otherwise still energetic and much life ahead. 17/20 (It went rather well with my roast chicken, caramelised baby carrots and roast potatoes!)
As with all great mature wines, the 1943 Canon slipped down rather nicely, and almost too quickly. So we opened a half bottle of 1949 La Mission Haut Brion. A deeper colour, ruby-garnet. An extremely sensual bouquet redolent of cassis, dark raspberry, blueberry, leather saddle, mocha, sweet tobacco with bacon fat, herbal and bell pepper notes. Still vivacious with a firm structure. Not particularly fleshy but there is a very fine minerally graphite and smokey note on palate. A persistent finish. Simply jaw-dropping! 19/20
We finished with a 1975 Rieussec (half bottle). A tawny colour. Fully mature notes of marmalade, dried fruit (raisin and apricot), with honey and treacle. Rich and intense on the palate. A little dryness on the lusciously sweet finish. It went beautifully with the birthday cake (orange marmalade cake, served with vanilla flavoured yoghurt)! For my style, I would have preferred this Rieussec a few years earlier.....16/20 (the 1975 Coutet that we had recently contrasted quite interestingly with the Rieussec....the 75 Coutet was made in a lighter, less concentrated style but showed a little more freshness, purity of fruit and elegance at this stage.....16/20)
We finished with a 1975 Rieussec (half bottle). A tawny colour. Fully mature notes of marmalade, dried fruit (raisin and apricot), with honey and treacle. Rich and intense on the palate. A little dryness on the lusciously sweet finish. It went beautifully with the birthday cake (orange marmalade cake, served with vanilla flavoured yoghurt)! For my style, I would have preferred this Rieussec a few years earlier.....16/20 (the 1975 Coutet that we had recently contrasted quite interestingly with the Rieussec....the 75 Coutet was made in a lighter, less concentrated style but showed a little more freshness, purity of fruit and elegance at this stage.....16/20)
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