WTN: RWC Champagne Le Mesnil, Leeuwin Art Chard, Reserve de la Comtesse 95

Notes from today's lunch at Nanohana with the usual suspects. All the wines once again supplied by Jojo.

Rare Wine Company Champagne Le Mesnil Grand Cru NV - Very fresh tasting although as it warmed up it did pick up some bready/yeasty character. A bit lemony. Medium bodied. There seems to be a very slight sweetness on the attack but finishes quite dry and long. I thought this was excellent and a great match for my sushi.

Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay 2004 - On the nose, mandarin orange and smoky oak. Surprisingly soft and well integrated for such a young wine. The oak is noticeable but not intrusive. Already good to drink.

Reserve de la Comtesse 1995 - From Magnum. Second wine of Pichon Lalande. Lovely ripe fruits with an underlay of cedar on the nose. Well-balanced and quite easy to drink. There's a slightly jarring acidic punch on the finish but with food, it doesn't really matter much. The tannins are very fine with a dusty/powdery texture. A good wine that's probably at peak now.

[David M. Bueker]

Reserve de la Comtesse 1995 - From Magnum. Second wine of Pichon Lalande. Lovely ripe fruits with an underlay of cedar on the nose. Well-balanced and quite easy to drink. There's a slightly jarring acidic punch on the finish but with food, it doesn't really matter much. The tannins are very fine with a dusty/powdery texture. A good wine that's probably at peak now.

Interesting notes Jay. I'm a big fan of 2nd wines from top Bordeaux Chateaux, at least until price goes beyond reason (i.e. 2005). I've had the 2000 Reserve de la Comtesse in the last 6 months, and it needed maybe another year or so to totally blossom from 750ml. Obviously a mag will progress more slowly.

Hi David,

The 2000 Reserve de la Comtesse is possibly one of the finest second wines I've tried although I haven't had it in a while. Recently, a '98 Pavillon Rouge was also very impressive.

[David M. Bueker]

Hi David,

The 2000 Reserve de la Comtesse is possibly one of the finest second wines I've tried although I haven't had it in a while. Recently, a '98 Pavillon Rouge was also very impressive.

When my group tasted a bunch of 2000 2nds we were thrilled by the Pavillon Rouge.

I'm a big fan of the Clos du Marquis (in many vintages), though it's not really a 2nd wine, more a different plot of land than Las Cases.