DALLAS 2ND WEDNESDAY - MARCH 2008 - Lola's, Dallas, TX (3/12/2008)

Apertif

• N.V. Krug Champagne Grande Cuvée - France, Champagne
  WIML91+
  
  Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of dough, candied apples, ginger and lychee. Flavors of yellow apples, yellow pears and lemon. Vibrant acidity, medium to full body. Drink or hold. (91 pts.)

White for starter course

• 1996 Château de Fieuzal Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
  WIML90
  
  Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of diesel, orange, acacia flower and wet stones. Flavors of orange, pineapple and grapefruit. Medium acidity, light to medium body. Drink now. (90 pts.)

Bordeaux 10 years or older

• 1995 Château Corbin Michotte - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
  WIML89
  
  Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, slightly cloudy throughout. Nose of dried herbs, licorice and a hint of leather. Flavors of black licorice and Bing cherries. Medium acidity, tannins and mody. Drink over the short term. (89 pts.)
• 1998 Château Nenin - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
  WIML90
  
  Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of anise, acacia flowers, plums and a hint of cinnamon. Flavors of plums, black cherries, berries and a little bitters on the finish. Medium to high acidity, firm tannins, full body. Hold. (90 pts.)
• 1998 Château La Fleur de Gay - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
  WIML89
  
  Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of wet stones, plums and saddle soap. Flavors of black licorice, berries and bitters on the finish. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink or hold. (89 pts.)
• 1990 Château Léoville Barton - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
  WIML91-92
  
  Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of dried herbs, wet stones, white pepper and thistle. Flavors of plums, black berries, Bing cherries, black currants and bitters on the finish. Medium to vibrant acidity, firm tannins, full body. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold. (91 pts.)
• 1990 Château Lynch-Bages - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
  WIML93+
  
  Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Elegant nose of plums, briar patch, florals and a hint of smoke. Flavors of rich berries, plums, cherries and minerals. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full body. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold WOTN for me. (93 pts.)
• 1990 Château Cos d'Estournel - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
  WIML90+
  
  Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose is a bit subdued giving way to some rose petals, anise and thistle. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and bitters on the medium finish. Medium to bright acidity, firm tannins, medium to full body. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold. (90 pts.)
• 1994 Château Cos d'Estournel - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
  WIML91?
  
  Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and decanted about an hour or two before serving. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of thistle, wet stones, a hint of cocoa, some graphite notes and a bit of plum. Flavors of black cherries, berries and some bitters on the finish. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full body. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold. (91 pts.)
• 1995 Château Calon-Ségur - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
  WIML90
  
  Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and decanted about two hours before serving. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Subdued nose giving way to some florals, white pepper, berries and maybe some currants. Flavors of black currants, black berries and a hint of bitters on the finish. Medium to high acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full body. Drink now with a decant. Maybe hold. (90 pts.)
• 1995 Château La Mission Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
  WIML92+
  
  Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and decanted about two hours before serving. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of white pepper, smoke, black currants and florals. Flavors of black currants, rich berries and black cherries. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full body. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold. One of the better 1996 Bordeaux I've had to date. (92 pts.)
• 1996 Château Lagrange Pomerol - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
  WIML90?
  
  Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of wet stone, pepper, potpourri, maybe some roasted meat and some plums. Flavors of black currants, rich berries, raspberries and pepper on the medium finish. High acidity, firm tannins, full body. Drink with a decant or continue to hold. (90 pts.)

Double blind

• 1999 Joseph Phelps Insignia - USA, California, Napa Valley
  WIMLNR
  
  Tasted March 12, 2008. Served double blind. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. New world nose, "woody" from a heavy oak treatement with big jammy fruits with additional notes of white pepper, blueberries amd cocoa. Rich and jammy berries and cherries on the palate. Also "hot" on the palate as well. My double blind guess was a 2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia. Not rated because frankly it didn't show well, especially after the Bordeaux line up.