MNSC Dinner - the Principal

MNSC dinner at The Principal, hosted by Pineapple.

Theme: 100-point First Growths and their second wines from the same vintage.

1992 Moët and Chandon Cuvée Dom Pérignon - drinking very nicely.  Nose of caramelized sugar, a little straw, mineral and custard.

First pair:

2000 Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion - opened for 3 hours and decanted just prior to serving.  Sweet, smoky, a bit metallic, pine, wood, a hint of coconut, minty.  93 points.

2000 La Mission Haut-Brion - opened and decanted for 3 hours.  Sweeter than the Chapelle, with mineral and dried herbs.  94 points.

Second pair:

1996 Carruades de Lafite - opened for 4 hours and decanted just prior to serving.  Smoky, grassy, toasty, chalky and black pepper.  94 points.

1996 Lafite-Rothschild - opened and decanted for 3 hours.  Pimento, bell peppers, a bit ripe on the nose, a little dusty later, with savory minerals.  96 points.

Third pair:

1990 Pavillon Rouge de Château Margaux - opened for 3½ hours and decanted just prior to serving.  Savory minerals, a little gamey, really grassy, smoky, vegetal, green pepper.  98 points.

1990 Margaux - opened and decanted for 3½ hours.  Really salty, soy sauce, black olives, served really cold and warmed up in glass.  A bit of leather, and a little sweet.  96 points.

Fourth pair:

1982 Les Forts de Latour - opened for 3½ hours and decanted just prior to serving.  Really ripe, smoky, brett, mineral, pencil lead.  Lovely.  95 points.

1982 Latour - opened for 3½ hours and decanted just prior to serving.  A bit smoky, pencil lead.  94 points.

1966 Lafite-Rothschild - a bit ripe and oxidized, with savory nori seaweed.

Full post on dinner is here.