TN: Bdx at Apiary (accidental Ducru vertical, plus others)
DaleW
Scott Bryan (formerly of Veritas) has put together a nice fairly
casual place. I really enjoyed my food, an appetizer of lightly smoked
salmon topped with a runny egg, roe, and a remoulade-ish sauce, and a
main course of excellent duck breast over whipped celeriac and some
lentils (nice portion sizes).
Starter wine was the 1985 Charles Heidsieck "Champagne Charlie"
Brut. A sniff of the bottle at first seemed a little funky/cheesy,
but disappeared as it was poured. Medium to full bodied, lots of
citrusy fruit, just a hint of Parker house rolls. Good length. Nice
though not profound. B+
The reds were (mostly) blind and (mostly) in flights of 2. I took only
rudimentary notes, made mostly poor guesses, but had a good time:
First Flight:
#1 - Medium bodied, some tannins, fairly high acidity. Group goes
Medoc, I venture '79 based on acids. Nope. Both red and black fruits,
earthy, cedary. Pretty good, might have been a bit better if paired
with meat. B+ 1975 Ducru Beaucaillou
#2- no guesses from me (my wine). Cork broke, it was decanted but a
bit cloudy. Nose is pretty nice, earthy forest floor notes with some
tobacco. Cassis fruit, resolved tannins. Group got Medoc right away,
and Taylor called St Julien early,. B+/A- 1970 Ducru Beaucaillou
Second Flight
#1 - a bit lighter, but fairly good fruit- red plums with lots of
minty/herby notes. Group says Right Bank, I'm guessing Figeac, nope.
I'm surprised and impressed with the 1976 Magdelaine. B/B+
#2- groups goes Right, but our guesses center on 70s and early 80s.
Good fruit, still some tannins, there's some cigarbox aromas. Begins
to fade after a while, but impressive for 48- the 1961 La Gaffeliere
Naudes. B+/A-
Third Flight
#1 - balanced, elegant, classic Medoc with young black fruit combined
with a complex mix of loamy earth, cocoa, herbs, cedar. Lovely, long.
A very good showing. My WOTN. A/A- 1982 Ducru Beaucaillou
#2 - lighter, a bit older. Showing age, but still a nice wine. Some
baking spices, forest floor, red fruits, a few remaining tannins.
After someone guesses '71 and is told "no, but good guess" a couple of
us go with '67.
B/B+ 1967 Mouton Rothschild
Fourth Flight
#1 Corked. Aaaggghh. 1989 Angelus
#2 isn't blind, the 1990 Angelus was mistakenly revealed in planning
stages, so served non-blind. Rich deep cassis and kirsch fruit, lush
and luscious. Fruit dominates, but there's lot happening here-
cocoa, flowers, earth. Needs time. A-
Richard pulls out a bonus bottle, others tell him to blind it, as I've
glimpsed I don't guess. Paul quickly declares Right. Nice ripe black
plum fruit with an overlay of leather and herbs, I'm pretty impressed
with the 1981 La Conseillante. B+/A-
I haven't been spitting, and really don't need any more wine, but
somehow I have a couple pours of the 1986 Climens with my cheese
course. Sweet with just a touch of heat, honey and orange peel, good
length, nice. B+
Another table sent over a pour of the 1990 (Hubert?) Lignier Clos de
la Roche, I just smelled, but a great nose of cinnamon, black
cherries, smoke, and mushrooms.
Fun evening, excellent restaurant, nice crew. Except for the sadly
corked Angelus, I'd happily drink any of those wines any night.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent
wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't
drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no
promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.
Bi!!
The '82 Ducru is one of my all time favorites. I still have a few
left a at least one 3L.
DaleW
3L? Just let us know when to be there.....
My friend Craig from Zachys auctions says the Lignier he sent over
was Georges, not Hubert.