One can immediately recognize a strong masterclass, look at the stage... there isn't enough room for all representatives from the the châteaux in question.
Eric Perrin, Ch Carbonnieux; Gilles Maligne, Ch Fieuzal; Clément Bouriez, Ch Couhins; Karim Nasser, Ch Malartic-Lagravière and Laurent Lebrun, Ch Olivier. Of course Decanter publishing director Sarah Kemp is around.
In front of me, David Ornon, Ch Smith Haut Lafite and Andrée Ebersole, Ch Couhins-Lurton
I has been great experience and rare chance to explore the fascinating terroir of the Graves. Wines I've tested includes legendary Graves producers like for example Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, and more.
First flight - red wine:
Château Carbonnieux Rouge 2003
Cedar-wood and earthy (mushrooms/wet wood). Nutty finish. (88pts.)
Domaine de Chevalier Rouge 2003
Cedar-wood, smoky pencil lead. very elegant. Light (medium) bodied and excellent minerality. (89pts.)
Château de Fieuzal 2003
Fresh fruit, graphite, pencil lead and toasted oak. Drinks very well now. Good acidity with creamy/rounded and smooth tannins. (89pts.)
Château Haut Bailly 2003
Tobacco, smoke and spice. Quite complex, fresh and elegant. Superb minerality on the finish, the hallmark of this château. (90pts.)
Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2003
Cedar-wood, concentrated, masculine, very silky and rip tannins, long and pleasant finish. Beautiful wine. (93pts.)
Château Pape Clément 2003
Floral, cedar-wood, hay concentrated, masculine, very silky and rip tannins, long and pleasant finish. Still young but a wonderful wine; I want a box of this wine... (94pts.)
Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2003
Dark ruby, smoke, flint-stone, red fruit, tobacco... lots going on and lot of flagrance. Concentrated but not over extracted, sweet and round finish. (92pts.)
Château Haut-Brion 2003
Flagrant, chocolate, tar, and tobacco. Smooth, rounded, silky and very very long finish. Outstanding! (94pts.)
Second flight - 2007 white and they have everything – the complexity, the richness and the finesse.
Château Bouscaut Blanc 2007
A vibrant nose and notes of smoky barrels. Bit grassy. (87pts.)
Château Couhins 2007
Gooseberry, fresh and lovely(88pts.)
Château Couhins-Lurton 2007
Citrus, grapefruit, mineral, fresh, fruity, long and lovely finish. (89pts.)
Château Latour-Martillac Blanc 2007
Clean nose, lively, floral. Fresh, slightly creamy but full of exuberant fruit;(91pts.)
Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc 2007
In my opinion, this is fantastic wine for Asian food. (89pts.)
Château Olivier Blanc 2007
And this, in my opinion a perfect wine for seafood or fresh salads.(89pts.)
At the end, I been lucky enough to win a book on Grave signed by all representatives and an open invitation for visiting château at the beginning of June.
I'll exercise my rights :-)
Eric Perrin, Ch Carbonnieux; Gilles Maligne, Ch Fieuzal; Clément Bouriez, Ch Couhins; Karim Nasser, Ch Malartic-Lagravière and Laurent Lebrun, Ch Olivier. Of course Decanter publishing director Sarah Kemp is around.
In front of me, David Ornon, Ch Smith Haut Lafite and Andrée Ebersole, Ch Couhins-Lurton
I has been great experience and rare chance to explore the fascinating terroir of the Graves. Wines I've tested includes legendary Graves producers like for example Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, and more.
First flight - red wine:
Château Carbonnieux Rouge 2003
Cedar-wood and earthy (mushrooms/wet wood). Nutty finish. (88pts.)
Domaine de Chevalier Rouge 2003
Cedar-wood, smoky pencil lead. very elegant. Light (medium) bodied and excellent minerality. (89pts.)
Château de Fieuzal 2003
Fresh fruit, graphite, pencil lead and toasted oak. Drinks very well now. Good acidity with creamy/rounded and smooth tannins. (89pts.)
Château Haut Bailly 2003
Tobacco, smoke and spice. Quite complex, fresh and elegant. Superb minerality on the finish, the hallmark of this château. (90pts.)
Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2003
Cedar-wood, concentrated, masculine, very silky and rip tannins, long and pleasant finish. Beautiful wine. (93pts.)
Château Pape Clément 2003
Floral, cedar-wood, hay concentrated, masculine, very silky and rip tannins, long and pleasant finish. Still young but a wonderful wine; I want a box of this wine... (94pts.)
Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2003
Dark ruby, smoke, flint-stone, red fruit, tobacco... lots going on and lot of flagrance. Concentrated but not over extracted, sweet and round finish. (92pts.)
Château Haut-Brion 2003
Flagrant, chocolate, tar, and tobacco. Smooth, rounded, silky and very very long finish. Outstanding! (94pts.)
Second flight - 2007 white and they have everything – the complexity, the richness and the finesse.
Château Bouscaut Blanc 2007
A vibrant nose and notes of smoky barrels. Bit grassy. (87pts.)
Château Couhins 2007
Gooseberry, fresh and lovely(88pts.)
Château Couhins-Lurton 2007
Citrus, grapefruit, mineral, fresh, fruity, long and lovely finish. (89pts.)
Château Latour-Martillac Blanc 2007
Clean nose, lively, floral. Fresh, slightly creamy but full of exuberant fruit;(91pts.)
Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc 2007
In my opinion, this is fantastic wine for Asian food. (89pts.)
Château Olivier Blanc 2007
And this, in my opinion a perfect wine for seafood or fresh salads.(89pts.)
At the end, I been lucky enough to win a book on Grave signed by all representatives and an open invitation for visiting château at the beginning of June.
I'll exercise my rights :-)
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