Needed 20 minutes or so to open up, but very good. Nuanced and balanced; not a ton of power or fruit. More secondary flavors, but well done. Starting to show its age a bit, but still a fine showing. Popped and poured
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From a very good looking bottle, cork intact, removed with a Durand, soaked maybe 75% through, no signs of seepage, high neck fill. Dark ruby/garnet with just a touch of aged browning on the rim. Based on color, this could be a 1998, or a 2008. Does not show its age at all on the color. Neither does it show it on the nose. Nose is developed but still very much on the fresh red fruited side. Red fruits, cranberries, little bit of rustic brettiness, burnt tobacco, cedar, vanilla, touch of menthol, licorice. Palate is medium bodied, red fruited, chocolate and some earthiness, not overly complex, but still very enjoyable. Finishes medium+ with smooth resolved tannins. This is likely right at peak, it probably won't improve but isn't going downhill either any time soon.
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Evolves over 2 to 3 hours.....decanted for 75 minutes and was not open. An hours later...hints of the dark fruits and good integrated structure. After another hour....obvious improvemnt in complexity and finish....Wow. Good for another 5-10 years...
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The color is a beautiful dark red with some rim variation—way brighter and fresher than expected for an ‘88. The nose shows tobacco leaves, leather, and cigar box. Not much dark red fruit but I could imagine some. The palate is fresh but no obvious fruits. Well integrated tannins, and a finish forever. 95 points
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(Chateau Cos d'Estournel) #3; COLOR-dark; NOSE-green, herbaceous components; distinct black tea component; sour cherry; little rusted nail; TASTE-a little hot; the tannins are a little bitter and the wine is a little dull on the mid-palate; a tomato component; little beef jerky; driven mainly by sour cherry; solid effort; has some class, but a little hot for me; RP-87; WS-95; GV-89+
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4/9/2024 - BernieMSY wrote: 92 Points
We were reluctant to decant such an old wine, but it apparently needed it. No discernable fruit initially, with lots of mushroomy savory notes.
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4/8/2024 - BrendanMcS wrote: 94 Points
Needed 20 minutes or so to open up, but very good. Nuanced and balanced; not a ton of power or fruit. More secondary flavors, but well done. Starting to show its age a bit, but still a fine showing. Popped and poured
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4/3/2024 - dera Likes this wine: 93 Points
From a very good looking bottle, cork intact, removed with a Durand, soaked maybe 75% through, no signs of seepage, high neck fill.
Dark ruby/garnet with just a touch of aged browning on the rim. Based on color, this could be a 1998, or a 2008. Does not show its age at all on the color.
Neither does it show it on the nose. Nose is developed but still very much on the fresh red fruited side. Red fruits, cranberries, little bit of rustic brettiness, burnt tobacco, cedar, vanilla, touch of menthol, licorice.
Palate is medium bodied, red fruited, chocolate and some earthiness, not overly complex, but still very enjoyable.
Finishes medium+ with smooth resolved tannins.
This is likely right at peak, it probably won't improve but isn't going downhill either any time soon.
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3/15/2024 - edjBoca Likes this wine: 94 Points
Evolves over 2 to 3 hours.....decanted for 75 minutes and was not open. An hours later...hints of the dark fruits and good integrated structure. After another hour....obvious improvemnt in complexity and finish....Wow. Good for another 5-10 years...
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1/17/2024 - HalaniMD Likes this wine: 95 Points
The color is a beautiful dark red with some rim variation—way brighter and fresher than expected for an ‘88. The nose shows tobacco leaves, leather, and cigar box. Not much dark red fruit but I could imagine some. The palate is fresh but no obvious fruits. Well integrated tannins, and a finish forever. 95 points
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