96: Meaty and bouncy, quite put together, a little hairspray top note, the wine I would most likely guess Roty GC blind. Unbelievably a point - gorgeous stuff, in a charcuterie kind of way. Coffee came and went. I will admit here for the record that the 96 was the first Lapierre I had, and was one of a handful of bottles that really turned me on to wine. It was a $10 bottle (or so) in a closeout bin at a local grocery store - with likely poor storage, a bottle that propelled us to visit Lapierre and enjoy a very nice long visit. I recall mentioning the 96 to him and him mentioning it with pleasure and chagrin that he had no bottles in the cellar. This is for me why I love wine.
97: A tad blown out in the nose (and really, just a tad), and a couple folks guessed 03 based on that, but it was not that bad. Iron, iodine. Ashy, a bit of tobacco, open and diffuse. Peanuts, too, which are usually not a good sign for me. Remarkable affinity with the 96 though in the mouth, but without the depth. Still, great balance, though I sense its best days are past. Though, as I take the last sip, the acidity in this is solid, which makes me wonder...hmm!
98: This one in some ways was the most interesting with dill, olive, violet, but again just beautiful. A bit dusty in the nose. More subdued than the last two and a little spikey, without the depth of tannin, and less acid, but still a fine wine. Some felt this was the candidate for the long haul but in my mind that goes to the 96. And with my last sip - definitely.
These had obviously been well stored with beautiful corks.
These were drunk with our Burgundy group and I must say it is telling to me I am so compelled by this little trio relative to so much of what we have drunk.
97: A tad blown out in the nose (and really, just a tad), and a couple folks guessed 03 based on that, but it was not that bad. Iron, iodine. Ashy, a bit of tobacco, open and diffuse. Peanuts, too, which are usually not a good sign for me. Remarkable affinity with the 96 though in the mouth, but without the depth. Still, great balance, though I sense its best days are past. Though, as I take the last sip, the acidity in this is solid, which makes me wonder...hmm!
98: This one in some ways was the most interesting with dill, olive, violet, but again just beautiful. A bit dusty in the nose. More subdued than the last two and a little spikey, without the depth of tannin, and less acid, but still a fine wine. Some felt this was the candidate for the long haul but in my mind that goes to the 96. And with my last sip - definitely.
These had obviously been well stored with beautiful corks.
These were drunk with our Burgundy group and I must say it is telling to me I am so compelled by this little trio relative to so much of what we have drunk.