Dinner with friend January 2016

2009 Arlaud Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes
Bright ruby. Red berries, spices, some darker fruit notes beneath, some spices and vanilla notes in the back. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, somewhat staccato, not fully integrated with the oak, red berries, seems to start to get together if not fuly there, long. 90

2008 Hudelot-Noellat Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers
Bright ruby. Red berries, touch of sous bois, starting to mature, elegant nose, scented, raspberries and a touch darker fruits notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, elegant, playful, some mint and red berries, fresh and playful with touch of sweet prunes and again sous bois. Real charmer. 93

1992 Château Montrose
Ruby, thin brick rim. Mint, maturing nose, figs, leather, tobacco, some cassis still. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner palate, some red berries, cherries, leather, anise, touch of cassis and blueberries. Bit lean and skinny but has some (fainting) beauty still. 89

2011 Penfolds Grange
Opaque. Rich nose, intense, layered, needs hours to open and even after almost seven hours in the glass (after decanting), it still builds. It still ads. Anise, pepper, dark fruits, some red fruits comes and goes, touch of mint and eucalyptus, some vanilla, some spices, some blackberries. Even some floral notes shows up every now and then. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rich, fruity, sweet dark fruits, layered, detailed, nuanced, but nothing is up front. Everything is hidden, compact and tight, yet it reveals layers upon layers. Long. Very long indeed. Save it for twenty years, will last fifty years more, or longer. 96

2004 Château Climens
Golden. Apricots, quite ripe, fruity, some grilled pineapples and cinnamon, slight vanilla note. Fresh acidity, vanilla, fruity, rounded, creamy, quite lively before a slight bitter note in the finish, long. 94