FRENCH16 DOES DALLAS! - Suze in Dallas, TX (4/29/2008)

french16 was in town doing a little training and requested a dinner with some DAWGS. We had to oblige. Theme for the dinner was "French Wines". You can't get any easier than that.

Now onto the show...

• 1996 Duval-Leroy Champagne Blanc de Chardonnay Brut - France, Champagne, Côte des Blancs, Champagne
  WIML92
  
  Tasted April 29, 2008 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of light sherry notes followed by yellow fruits and wet stones. Flavors of light sherry notes with tart yellow apples and a dash of lemon. Medium to bright acidity, medium to full body. Drink over the short term. (92 pts.)
• 2004 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
  WIML91
  
  Tasted April 29, 2008 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of lingenberry, grapefruit, peach, wet grass and wet stones. Flavors of limes, lychee, minerals and an usual taste of corn tortillas on the finish. Bright acidity, medium body. Drink or hold. (91 pts.)
• 2000 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
  WIML90
  
  Tasted April 29, 2008 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Dark yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of grapefruit, sulphur and yellow fruits. Flavors of cinnamon, yellow apples and minerals. Light to medium acidity, medium body. Drink over the short term. (90 pts.)
• 2001 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
  WIML89
  
  Tasted April 29, 2008. Tasted double blind. Opened and served immedaitely. Dark garnet color in the glass, sllightly cloudy throughout. Nose of tar, leather, black berrie and a hint of blueberry. Dry and dusty on the palate with dominating notes of blackberries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium body. Drink over the shorter term. My first thought was this was a Chinon because of the floral aspects but after tasting felt it was either from Provence or the Rhone. (89 pts.)
• 2001 Reignac - France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur
  WIML91+
  
  Tasted April 29, 2008 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Tight nose giving way to notes of leather, plum, berries and flowers. Flavors of black cherries, berries and some light notes of bitters on the medium finish. Medium acidity, firm tannins, medium to full body. Drink now with a decant or over the medium term. (91 pts.)
• 2000 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Caillou Les Quartz - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  WIMLNR
  
  Tasted April 29, 2008 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Tight nose showing some notes of dark fruits and florals. Flavors of berries, cherries and bitters. Vibrant acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full body. Not rated simply because this wine is way too young. Continue to hold.
• 1999 Château Pontet-Canet - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
  WIML90?
  
  Tasted April 29, 2008 at and offline. Opened and served immediately. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of smoke, graphite, dark fruits and saddle soap. Fairly simple and straightforward fruits on the palate. Fairly high acidity, drying tannins, medium body. Drink with a decant or hold over the medium term. (90 pts.)
• 1996 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
  WIML91
  
  Tasted April 29, 2008 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of balsalmic, licorice, chocolate and dark fruits. Flavors of currants, dark berries and cherries. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink or hold. (91 pts.)
• 1989 Château Troplong Mondot - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
  WIML92+
  
  Tasted April 29, 2008 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, slightly opaque. Nose of roses, chocolates, black cherries, light notes of leather and light notes of spices. Flavors of black berries, black cherries, licorice and some light bitters on tghe medium to long finish. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink or hold. (92 pts.)
• 2001 Château Léoville Barton - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
  WIML90-91?
  
  Tasted April 29, 2008 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of saddle soap, leather, florals, wet stones and dark fruits. Flavors of dark fruits on the palate with some bitters on the medium finish. Medium acidity, firm tannins, full body. Continue to hold. Difficult to properly evaluate at this youthful stage but my best guess is around WIML90-91. (90 pts.)
• 1998 Château Roûmieu-Lacoste Haut Barsac - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
  WIML89-90?
  
  Tasted April 29, 2008 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Yellow to dark yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of pineapple, apricot and honeysuckle. Flavors of apricots, honey and bitters. Medium acidity and body. Drink over the short term, maybe the medium term. (90 pts.)