Six Bottles Of 1964 Pomerol

Earlier this week it was my turn hosting our monthly tasting in our tasting group. I selected to open my entire collection of 1964 Pomerol´s. It is a tough job... :-)

But first I opened this as a starter while waiting for all to arrive.
1964 Klosterdottor Spätlese Naturrein, A. Weigand
This Rheinhessen oldie has a soft, mature nose with notes of old red apples, saffron, stale nuts, dried apricots and some band aid. A fairly interesting nose.
The taste is fresher than the nose with notes of ripe yellow apples, grass, saffron and some plastic. A good acidity. Semi dry still. Good.
82p   (tasted 2014/05)

The Pomerol´s were decanted 30 minutes before the first pour, but in hindsight I should have decanted them earlier - they kept on growing during the evening. Had in been 64 Barolo, I would have decanted them at least two hours before, but my experience with old Bordeaux is that they sometimes, unlike Barolo or Burgundy for that matter, can wither away quickly in a decanter.

1964 Château Beauregard
This one definitely grew on us all night long. It opened shy and rather foursquare but blossomed into a lovely mature Pomerol. Later, the glass was full of aromas of dark plums, sweet tobacco, fresh stables, undergrowth and cloves. Very, very fine.
The taste is round, ripe with a fine backbone and notes of black cherries, plums, tobacco and forest floor. Finely tuned tannins. A very good balance in this wine. Fully mature but will surely keep on this level for another 5+ years.
91p   (tasted 2014/05)

1964 Château La Conseillante
Too bad. The bottle looked great and the level was fine, but alas, this bottle wasn´t up to scratch. Drinkable - yes. Even nice - yes. But not on the level of which La Conseillante can perform.
The nose is old, soft and sweet with notes of dried cherries, rosehips, coffee powder and Christmas spices. Loose on the edges. Good though.
The taste is big, mature and tender with notes of dried red fruit, molasses, dry tobacco and undergrowth. The finish is round and warm but trails of fairly quickly. I guess that this bottle, although you couldn´t tell by its appearance, have been manhandled somewhere along the line.
84p   (tasted 2014/05)

1964 Château L´Evangile
This was my favourite in the line up. A stunning bottle from start to finish. The nose is intense, tight and perfectly mature with notes of black cherries, ripe plums, bay leaves, iron, tobacco, stables and cloves. Just lovely. A stunningly perfumed note that lingers on.
The taste is big, impressive and focused with notes of black cherries, bay leaves, liquorice, pipe tobacco and forest floor. A old vine feeling in the mouth. Long and refined. I don´t think it will get any better but there is no hurry to drink this nectar.
95p   (tasted 2014/05)

1964 Clos René
A cool, mature and soft nose with notes of cold coffee, plums, fresh stables, Christmas spices and moist undergrowth. This one also evolved in the decanter and glass, but is a bit withdrawn in character. Very good.
The taste is mature and taut with notes of black cherries, tobacco, forest floor and candle grease. A long, warm finish, Very good but a bit anonymous.
87p   (tasted 2014/05)

1964 Château Rouget
A big, mature, spicy nose with gorgeous black fruit - cherries, currants and plums, alongside notes of stables, pipe tobacco, cloves and red Christmas sealing wax. Very deep. This has an old vine feel about it. Some roasted coffee notes. Lovely.
The taste is big, warm and generous with notes of black cherries, sweet tobacco, spices and some animal notes. There is still some steady tannins here. Very long and fine. This is really fine. Feels like the youngest in the line up. Great wine. The one that won the vote for best wine, the others tasted double blind.
93p   (tasted 2014/05)

1964 Château de Sales
The largest estate in Pomerol with its 117 ha and therefore the Pomerol that one usually see often on merchants list, even in older vintages. The 1964 version opens with a big, generous, warm nose full of ripe plums, sugared coffee, Christmas spices, sandalwood and bay leaves. Maybe not that deep or complex but very yummy.
The taste is big, steady and vigorous with notes of black cherries, black currants, tobacco, stables and autumn leaves. A good length with a nice warmth. A very fine mouthful of a mature Bordeaux. Drinking great and it is no hurry to drink up any remaining bottles.
88p   (tasted 2014/05)

To finish the evening of - some cantuccinis and a bottle of
1964 Vin Santo di Montalcino, Fattoria dei Barbi
A deep, mature, interesting nose with notes of dried apricots, detergent, sweet rotting flowers, iodine, dry chocolate and candied orange peel - there is a lot going on here! Very likeable. Very, very good.
The taste is big, tight and impressive with masses of dried fruits and notes of white pepper, iodine, rubber carpet and dried flowers. Very long, intense and yummy. This I like!
89p   (tasted 2014/05)