Union de Grand Cru de Bordeaux MAIN TASTING 2013 Los Angeles, CA
UGC MAIN TASTING 2013 Los Angeles, CA sponsored by Wally’s
Note: Most of these wines were open an hour or so before I tasted them, they are are big wines, that deserve several hours of decanting. None-the-less, here are my notes. Also be aware that the pH numbers are just a guide and not meant in any way to be an absolute measure of acidity–they are just a relative scale of what I noticed by tasting them, meaning 3.2 pH very acidic and 3.9pH barely acidic.
Domaine de Chevalier 2010– Violet in color, medium density with plum on the nose and palate, not exhibiting any green notes, yet showing some minerality, (3.9pH*), relatively open, WB 92 +.
Chateau Haut-Bailly 2010-, Red in color. impressive depth on the nose, layered plum on the nose and palate. Musky, yet manly and racy at the same time.. Medium density. (3.6pH*), some minerality, open. Long finish of over 15 seconds. One of my favorites of the tasting. WB 96+
Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion 2010– Violet color, medium to medium-light density, lemony blackberry on the palate, silky tannins, (3.4pH*), open, with some minerality, WB 92+
Chateau Pape Clement 2010– Violet color, very integrated, medium density, chalky on palate, med-high minerality, (3.75pH*), WB 94
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2010– Candied asparagus, with a good underbody/backbone tannic structure (provided by merlot?), medium density, lemony blackberry on nose and palate, somewhat green, (3.6pH*), longer finish of 15 seconds.WB 92
Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere 2010– Lime, plum and round blueberry-like flavors on the palate, lemony raspberry on the nose, (3.6pH*), WB 93
Chateau Clinet 2010– Round, sour plum on the palate, dark red color, medium-light bodied, somewhat closed nose (early in the tasting), ripe, (3.5pH*), WB 93+
Chateau La Lagune 2010– Deep backbone (merlot?), dark red color, medium-light bodied, somewhat closed on nose (early in the tasting), black pepper, spice, and dark sour cherries/plums on the palate. Some minerality as well, . (3.45pH*), WB 91
Chateau Cantenac Brown 2010– Less vinous than Brane-Cantenac, dark red color, light body, a bit watery, not green, somewhat minerally, open, medium dry cherry on palette, (3.6pH*), WB 91+
Chateau Brane-Contenac 2010– Watery, definitely vinous, dark red color, very light body, somewhat minerally, open, sour dry cherry on palate, (3.7pH*), WB 89
La Conseillante 2010– Dark red in color. Delicate on the palate, , medium-to medium light in weight, flowery nose — daffodil, lavender on palate, open, (3.8pH*), WB 93
Chateau Giscours 2010– Sweet Meyer lemon, depth of berry fruit on palette. Score?
Chateau Lascombes 2010– Red/violet color. Aromas of lilacs, gritty tannins, , medium-high density, not green, some minerality and blackberry on palate, (3.8pH*), WB 92+
Chateau Pieure-Lichine 2010– Red violet in color, medium density, pencil lead on palette, blueberry/raspberry on palette and on nose, a bit acidic (3.8pH*), WB 93
Chateau Rauzan-Segla 2010– Medium dark red, medium density, with fine tannins, light and playful, yet tight underlying structure, open on palate with sour plum notes, (3.8pH*), WB 92.
Pavie Macquin 2010– color?, bit green on the palate, with an eclectic nose, it shows quite a bit more acidity than many of the others in this tasting, (3.5pH*), too early to really evaluate WB 91+
Leoville Barton 2010– Red violet in color, not green, fine tannins, orange peel and tangy orange on palate along with raspberry and cherry, (3.5pH*), some minerality, open on the nose, WB 92 +
Saint Pierre 2010– Medium-plus toast on nose, most apparent oaky notes of any wine in this tasting. , Aromas of coffee and chocolate also present, red-violet in color, with medium to high density, showing minerality, and orange citrus on palate, (3.7pH*) WB 94+
Grand-Puy Ducasse 2010– Medium dark red in color, with medium density, delicate yet hot sparkling on tongue- secondary fermentation?, some minerality, lilac on palate, seems like mushroom and earth tones will surface in the future, WB 92+
Lynch-Bages 2010– Red in color, medium density, dry fig and plum on the palette, very fine tannins, (3.8pH*), little minerality, longer finish WB 93
Pichon-Longueville 2010– Dark red in color, medium density, chocolate on nose, very very fine tannins, well balanced, delicate, bit hot (from alcohol level), some minerality, open on palate with a stony cherry, best wine of the tasting, (3.8pH*), WB 96+
Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2010– Very dark red in color, medium plus density yet strangely watery also, lighter brighter fruit on palate than above, bit hot (from alcohol level), (3.7pH*), less minerality than above, open on palate with dry cherry notes, WB 94
Phelan Segur 2010-Medium dark red color, medium high density, not green, open on palate with cascading layers of fruit, great depth of fruit-somewhat sour cherry, cherry on the nose, WB 94+
Chateau Cantemerle 2010-Medium dark red violet color, medium density, acidity not very noticeable on palate, picked at the moment the fruit turned ripe, it is a model wine for discussing acid/fruit balance, at this point the fruit, though lush and brooding, seems to overpower the acid, later after aging for 2-3 years the fruit balance with acid should be more even. The improvement on fineness of tannins over previous years (probably due to the use of all French oak vs. some American and some French), beauty of fruit, and the price point make this the wine buy of the tasting, (3.85pH*), WB 92-93.
La Tour Blanche 2010– Dessert wine with white grapefruit on the palate and nose, with very good acidity, WB 92
Note: Most of these wines were open an hour or so before I tasted them, they are are big wines, that deserve several hours of decanting. None-the-less, here are my notes. Also be aware that the pH numbers are just a guide and not meant in any way to be an absolute measure of acidity–they are what I noticed by tasting them.
