ARE YOU KIDDING?

So I get a call from my friend who as you know works for the ever generous Dionysus. He mentions that he has attained a bottle of wine from his boss that I may want to try. I ask what it is, although I know that it will be awesome, and he says he has a bottle of 2000 Haut-Brion Pessac-Leognan. I give it a thought, perhaps less then a second and say I will stop by after work. As my wife is driving home, I tell her about the Haut- Brion and that it is worth a lot of money. I tell her how excited I am to try the Bordeaux and that there is another Bordeaux that would be awesome to try… Cheval-Blanc.

I drive to Bob’s and when he pours me some wine, I notice it is not a Haut-Brion. I look closer and notice it is a 2000 Cheval-Blanc! Surprised I say that I thought he said a 2000 Haut-Brion. “Didn’t you read my text?” He says.Obviously I didn’t, but who cares. Sitting in front of me is a bottle of Cheval-Blanc and a Haut-Brion. Needless to say, this is the best thing to happen to me since the birth of my children and my marriage to Bridgett. I cannot express to any of you how appreciative I am to be able to taste these wines and yet I still feel complete if I have not. I know this sounds geeky but you have to remember that I am the Blue Collar Wine Guy and this provides a whole new point of reference for me. Will it endanger my ability to seek out great values? Actually quite the opposite. It helps me understand what some wine makers are striving to accomplish and how close they come to that for far less money. Here are my impressions of these fantastic wines we tasted…

2000 Cheval Blanc Grand Cru Classe

Considered one of the top Chateaus on the right bank, a Premier Grand Cru Classe winery. Unlike many of the chateaus surrounding it in Saint-Emilion, Cheval Blanc plants more cabernet franc then merlot and uses more then 50% cabernet franc in their Bordeaux blend.

The 2000 Cheval Blanc reminds me of a beautiful woman taking a nap. This wine has about five more years to come to it’s full potential but it is absolutely breathtaking now. A bouquet of menthol, cherries, anise, black tea and minerals. This wine is amazingly soft and elegant on the palate. Notes of iron, black tea, and herbs with a deepness that implies that this wine has more to offer down the road. Sweet tannins on the mid-palate with some tart cherry and black currant coming through to a long finish that had some black olive notes to it. This wine was not fully awake yet and will blossom nicely over the next five years. 99 points

2000 Chateau Haut-Brion Cru Classse`

The only Chateau outside of Medoc to receive Grand Cru status in the 1855 Classification. This renowned winery in France got it start before many of it’s prestigious neighbors in the Medoc. Thomas Jefferson mentions Haut-Brion in his diary. Does the wine live up to the hype? I would have to say YES!

Much livelier then the Cheval, this Bordeaux has excellent acidity. On the nose there were notes of mint, fennel and blackberry with this the slightest hint of oak. Much brighter on the palate showing notes of red currants and cassis. Very plush mouthfeel up front. Hits of cedar on the mid-palate followed by hits of cassis and red currants on a long finish. Mouth-watering acidity with some menthol notes on the back end. This wine stood up and said “Hello” letting you know that it will age very nicely over the next 20 to 25 years. If you don’t have the patience, by all means drink it now because it is fantastic. 99 points

Although different in style, I scored them equally because of what they are at the present. The Haut-Brion will age better in my opinion and may score better ten years from now. I will probably not get the chance to compare, but I hope someone does and publishes their thoughts. Right now, I am still in La La land and enjoying the opportunity to have tasted such stellar wines. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man